Rafales has made many in roads after a slow start in its sales. It feels like in those days it was Rafales against the world. Many countries loved the idea of Rafales serving in their airforce but due to unfair disadvantages created by their competitors Rafales lack success in its international sales. The Koreans for one was very keen in deciding on the French fighter only to be politically pressured by US to choose the F15. Brazil's government was also keen on Rafales only to delay their decision because of cost, however found themselves pressured again by US government to move their choice to F18. The matter is still undecided until today. Singapore too was interested in Rafales but had chosen F15 because they had better relationship with America. Saudi was duped into choosing Eurofighter only to learn that was it not a mature fighter or a multirole one and was not allowed to used Litening pod, ended up using Damocles pod made of course by who else but the French.
This was to change when India unaffected by the unfair pressure of Rafale competitors chosen the best aircraft offered to them or rather the best in service to this date. The Indians found the French aircraft would be the best because of so many reasons ie. it's overall capability being a multirole fighter, France most fair stance on international matters and relationship ( ie. no arms embargo especially at crucial times) as well future potential of the aircraft. Hence the buy of 126 with further for more option went through.
Super Hornets in turned had a great start. Well F 18 A/B/C/D was great aircraft to begin with. Everything that was good from the old Hornets were incorporated in the F 18 E/F. Short comings from the old aircraft were addressed Ie. its size was increased to add more range, hard points and a better size radar. Better avionics were installed to allowed AESA radar and JHMCS. Most important of all and what matters to its probable clients are its potential in future development. Boeing has a stealth upgrade as well as all glass cockpit upgrade available for the Super Hornet while its arsenal ie. missiles and weapon system are always improved while new ones are developed.
However the infamous source code hingers around any sales of American fighters. Further weakness of the Super Hornets is it is just a 7.5G capable fighter. it is said the earlier Hornets are able to take in more Gs and are more manoeuvrable than E and F type. It too has 11 hard points while most fighter types has a lot more now. By the way the Harpoon air to sea surface missiles used by it is subsonic as compared to Russians and French made ones are of supersonic. Maybe these are the reasons most countries especially the current F 18 operators are moving away from F 18s for future fighter aircrafts.
Most current F18 C/D operators were very interested because they were very good for its time. However F35 stole some of the market away. Only Australia has so far bought into its Super Hornets. That also is just because there is delay in the F 35 programme. Some of its airforce officers too have question this decision favouring the Typhoon instead. Kuwait being one of the old Hornet user now is interested in Rafale too. She is waiting for UAE to leap first along with Qatar and Oman into buying them. While Switzerland has opted Gripen based on cost although they favoured the Rafale. Malaysia too because of cost is still contemplating on Super Hornets or even the lease of Gripen, and trying very hard not to forget Rafale because of its capability and Typhoon because of its potential.
Rafales do not have the same weakness as Hornets has above, furthermore what is best about this omnirole fighter is that it has the ability to use US and European made arsenals apart from its own, that is of the French which by themselves are quite excellent by the way.
Of course Rafales only weakness is that it is not a stealth aircraft. It is also does not has a electronics warfare type like the Growler although I hear Spectra is gud enough. One that worries most airforces the most about it is its avaibility of future development. However it is a ready made plane for all its intent and purposes, more than enough for today existing threat.
Dassault presently has manage to sell 126 Rafales abroad while Boeing has only manage to sell 24 F18 abroad units abroad. It is the sales of the aircraft abroad instead of local ones that sayhow good the aircraft is, would you agree?
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