Credit
Tim Felce (Airwolfhound) · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source ↗ · Modified
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At a glance
Measured figures
Rafale C, B and M · Length
Single source15.27 m (50 ft 1 in)[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Dassault Rafale | Shenyang J-16 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Multirole fighter[source] | — |
| National origin | France[source] | People's Republic of China[source] |
| Manufacturer | Dassault Aviation[source] | Shenyang Aircraft Corporation[source] |
| Status | In service[source] | In service[source] |
| Primary users |
21.9 m (71 ft 10 in)[source]
Empty; Rafale C, B and M · B
Single sourceGross; Rafale C, B and M · Gross weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; Rafale C, B and M · Max takeoff weight
Single source10,300 kg (22,708 lb) ( B )[source]
15,000 kg (33,069 lb)[source]
24,500 kg (54,013 lb)[source]
Empty; Empty weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; Max takeoff weight
Single sourceRafale C, B and M · hi-lo-hi, on penetration mission with three tanks (5,700 L combined), two SCALP-EG and four MICA AAMs
Single source1,056 km (656 mi, 570 nmi) hi-lo-hi, on penetration mission with three tanks (5,700 L combined), two SCALP-EG and four MICA AAMs[source]
Rafale C, B and M · 2 × Snecma M88-4e turbofans thrust each dry
Single sourceRafale C, B and M · with afterburner
Single source2 × Snecma M88-4e turbofans , 50.00 kN (11,240 lbf) thrust each dry, 75.00 kN (16,860 lbf) with afterburner[source]
2 × Shenyang WS-10B afterburning turbofans with afterburner
Single source2 × Shenyang WS-10B afterburning turbofans , 135 kN (30,000 lbf) with afterburner[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
French Air and Space Force French Navy Egyptian Air Force Indian Air Force See Operators below for others[source] |
| — |
| Number built | 316 / 647[source] | ~ 470 - ~ 500 (As of 2026 )[source] |
|---|
| Manufactured | 1986–present[source] | 2017–present[source] |
|---|
| Introduction date | 18 May 2001 ( 2001-05-18 ) (navy)[source] | 2015–16[source] |
|---|
| First flight | Rafale A demo: 4 July 1986 ( 1986-07-04 ) Rafale C: 19 May 1991 ( 1991-05-19 )[source] | — |
|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4,700 kg (10,362 lb) internal for single-seater ( C ); 4,400 kg (9,700 lb) for two-seater ( B )[source] | — |
|---|
| Guns | 1× 30 mm (1.2 in) GIAT 30 /M791 autocannon with 125 rounds[source] | — |
|---|
| Hardpoints | 14 External hardpoints for Air and Space Force versions (Rafale B/C), 13 for Navy version (Rafale M) with a capacity of 9,500 kg (20,900 lb) external fuel and ordnance, with provisions to carry combinations of: Missiles: Air-to-air: MICA EM and IR (most widely used air-to-air missiles on Rafale; MICA-EM and MICA-IR both used for short-range and also for medium-range BVR combat) Meteor Magic II Air-to-surface: MBDA Apache MBDA Storm Shadow /SCALP-EG AASM -Hammer (SBU-38/54/64) GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-16 Paveway II, GBU-22 Paveway III, GBU-24 Paveway III, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II AS-30L Mark 82 MBDA AM 39- Exocet air-launched anti-ship missile (one AM 39-Exocet at the central under-fuselage hardpoint) MBDA Stratus cruise/anti-ship missile (in development) Nuclear Deterrence: ASMP-A nuclear missile ASN4G hypersonic nuclear missile (in development) Other: Thales Damocles targeting pod Thales AREOS (Airborne Recce Observation System) reconnaissance pod Thales TALIOS multi-function targeting pod Up to 5 drop tanks Buddy–buddy refueling pod[source] | Munitions on 12 external hardpoints, including:[source] |
|---|
| With external tanks | 4,700 kg (10,362 lb) internal and 6,700 kg (14,771 lb) external[source] | — |
|---|
| Maximum fuel | ( C ): 16,550 L (4,370 US gal; 3,640 imp gal) 5,750 L (1,520 US gal; 1,260 imp gal) internal + 2,300 L (610 US gal; 510 imp gal) in 2x conformal tanks[source] | — |
|---|
| Supercruise | on 4 missiles and a 1250-liter belly droptank Mach 1.4 supercruise on Rafale M (navy) version with 6 MICA air-to-air missiles[source] | — |
|---|
| g limits | + 9 − 3.6 ( + 11 in emergencies)[source] | +9[source] |
|---|
| Wing loading | 328 kg/m 2 (67 lb/sq ft)[source] | — |
|---|
| Missiles | Air-to-air: MICA EM and IR (most widely used air-to-air missiles on Rafale; MICA-EM and MICA-IR both used for short-range and also for medium-range BVR combat) Meteor Magic II Air-to-surface: MBDA Apache MBDA Storm Shadow /SCALP-EG AASM -Hammer (SBU-38/54/64) GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-16 Paveway II, GBU-22 Paveway III, GBU-24 Paveway III, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II AS-30L Mark 82 MBDA AM 39- Exocet air-launched anti-ship missile (one AM 39-Exocet at the central under-fuselage hardpoint) MBDA Stratus cruise/anti-ship missile (in development) Nuclear Deterrence: ASMP-A nuclear missile ASN4G hypersonic nuclear missile (in development)[source] | — |
|---|
| Air-to-air | MICA EM and IR (most widely used air-to-air missiles on Rafale; MICA-EM and MICA-IR both used for short-range and also for medium-range BVR combat) Meteor Magic II[source] | — |
|---|
| Air-to-surface | MBDA Apache MBDA Storm Shadow /SCALP-EG AASM -Hammer (SBU-38/54/64) GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-16 Paveway II, GBU-22 Paveway III, GBU-24 Paveway III, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II AS-30L Mark 82 MBDA AM 39- Exocet air-launched anti-ship missile (one AM 39-Exocet at the central under-fuselage hardpoint) MBDA Stratus cruise/anti-ship missile (in development)[source] | — |
|---|
| Nuclear Deterrence | ASMP-A nuclear missile ASN4G hypersonic nuclear missile (in development)[source] | — |
|---|
| Other | Thales Damocles targeting pod Thales AREOS (Airborne Recce Observation System) reconnaissance pod Thales TALIOS multi-function targeting pod Up to 5 drop tanks Buddy–buddy refueling pod[source] | — |
|---|
| Role | — | Multirole strike fighter[source] |
|---|
| Primary user | — | People's Liberation Army Air Force[source] |
|---|
| Developed from | — | Shenyang J-11 Su-30MKK[source] |
|---|