F-A 18 Super Hornet vs Rafale -M: Which is good for the Indian Navy?

Recently the Indian Navy has been testing the American made- F-A 18 Super Hornet and the French made Rafale- M to be used as primary aircrafts for its Indegenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-1).

The chosen aircraft will replace the Mig 29-Ks that are currently in use. The aircrafts will be part of the airfleet of INS Vikrant when it is commissioned in August 2022.

This article will draw the comparisons between the two aircrafts within the context of the IAS Exam.

F-A-18 Super Hornet vs Rafale M-Download PDF Here

Brief about INS Vikrant

The INS Vikrant is the first aircraft carrier to be entirely designed and built in India. It operates on the STROBAR design.

STOBAR (“short take-off but arrested recovery” or “short take-off, barrier-arrested recovery”) is a system used for the launch and recovery of aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier, combining elements of “short take-off and vertical landing” (STOVL) with “catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery” (CATOBAR).

Aircraft launch under their own power using a ski-jump to assist take-off (rather than using a catapult). However, the planes are conventional, rather than STOVL aircraft, and thus require arrestor wires to land on the ship.

Since both the FA-18 and Rafale M were primarily designed to be used on AIrcraft carriers that do not have the STROBAR facility, they both needed to undergo a battery of tests that would assess their compatibility for Indian- aircraft carriers.

Rafale M versus Super Hornet

1.Sensors: Both the Block II Super Hornet and the F3R-standard Rafale M are equipped with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars as their primary sensor. The Super Hornet Block II is equipped with the APG-79 while the F3R-standard Rafale M is equipped with the RBE2-AA. As AESA radars, they are both able to perform simultaneous scan and track functions of air, maritime and ground targets simultaneously.

2.Within visual range combat : Within visual range, the Rafale M would be in a very dominant position against a Super Hornet in almost all circumstances. The Super Hornet has low energy retention and acceleration capabilities, and its performance falls off dramatically with external loads and at altitudes above 25,000ft. The Rafale M itself is most at home at altitudes below 35,000ft and can best the Super Hornet in instantaneous and sustained turn rate at all comparable loadings at all altitudes.

3.Beyond visual range combat : With a slight advantage in general radar detection range for the APG-79 on the Super Hornet over the RBE but a significantly lower frontal radar cross section and better ECM capabilities on the Rafale, the Rafale will probably get the first look.

A F3R standard Rafale M brings the very-long ranged Meteor missile to the BVR arena, comfortably out-ranging the F/A-18E even from a similar launch speed and altitude with AIM-120D. Rafale is also capable of supercruise comfortably at around 30,000ft, with the option of going higher without issues, whilst the Super Hornet cannot supercruise and is more comfortable at lower altitudes, meaning its missiles start with significantly less energy at launch.

4. Instantaneous turn rate / sustained turn / High alpha / G loadings/ sustained G

The Rafale M wins on most counts, with the advantage in instantaneous turn, sustained turn and sustained G turning performance. The Rafale M is cleared to +9G whilst the Super Hornet is limited to +7.5G. However, if carrying a multirole load, both would likely be limited in terms of permissible G loading more by stores than airframe strength. The Super Hornet wins on high alpha but not by as much as when compared to many other aircraft.

5. Range/endurance 

Range is extremely subjective for combat aircraft since a huge amount depends on the weapons and other stores carried, the external fuel tanks carried, mission profile flown, time on station required at the destination, and reserve allocation for recovery to deck or diversion. Both Rafale M and Super Hornet are also capable of air to air refueling using probe and drogue equipped tankers, or buddy buddy refueling.

6. Weapons options 

The Super Hornet is the winner on most counts on weapons options. Whilst the Rafale M can carry a significantly greater external payload, especially when also carrying three external fuel tanks, the Super Hornet benefits in terms of flexibility and cost of munitions from being cleared to carry and deliver practically every weapon in the vast US air-launched inventory. This gives it relatively affordable options for close air support, interdiction, long range strike, anti-shipping strikes and air superiority, as well as the ability to draw on forward position stocks all over the world during deployed operations.