[Source/Observer Network, Liu Chenghui] The India-Pakistan conflict has become a "litmus test" for Chinese weapons, and the one victory of J-10C over "Rafale" has also made the buyers of this French aircraft feel uneasy.
The Hong Kong English media South China Morning Post noticed on May 14 that this conflict has raised questions in Indonesia about the government's decision to purchase 42 Rafale fighter jets for $8.1 billion. Indonesian social media users believe that the cost-effectiveness, combat capability, and strategic value of the Rafale are insufficient, while Chinese fighters are cheaper and more reliable, urging the government to consider purchasing Chinese equipment.
The report mentioned that this controversy stems from the air battle at dawn on May 7, when Pakistan announced that it had shot down three Rafale fighters. On the internet, the loss of the Rafale has sparked discussions among Indonesian netizens, with some questioning the rationality of purchasing the Rafale.
A user on the X platform said, "As an Indonesian, I regret buying this plane after hearing that it might have been shot down by the much cheaper J-10. I hope the president will also buy some J-10 fighters and other Chinese military equipment."
"Indonesia eventually bought the Rafale? Those Chinese-made fighters seem cheaper and more reliable," another X platform user commented.
Indonesian netizens: The government should buy some J-10 and other Chinese military equipment.
Public information shows that the Rafale fighter is developed by Dassault Aviation of France and was officially put into use in 2001. Both the French Air Force and Navy are equipped with it, with a total of 143 aircraft in service. Major overseas users include India (before the war 36 aircraft), Egypt (54 aircraft), Qatar (24 aircraft), Greece (24 aircraft), and Croatia (12 aircraft); Indonesia (42 aircraft), Serbia (12 aircraft), and the UAE (80 aircraft) have signed purchase contracts, while Malaysia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil have expressed intentions to purchase.
In January 2022, Indonesia completed negotiations for the fighter jet procurement with France. A month later, the French side announced that Indonesia had officially signed a contract to purchase 42 Rafale F4 fighters, including 30 single-seat and 12 twin-seat models, with a total contract value of $8.1 billion.
Some foreign media analysis mentioned that the export unit price of the Rafale is between $200 million and $250 million. For example, in 2016, India spent $8.8 billion on 36 Rafale fighters, with a unit price exceeding $240 million. The procurement price for Indonesia is also close to $200 million. In comparison, the procurement price for the J-10CE does not exceed $60 million. Although specific contracts involve various accessories, weapons, and after-sales maintenance, precise comparisons cannot be made, but there is indeed a significant difference in price between the Rafale and the J-10CE.
In response to the current controversy, Dave Laksoni, a member of the first committee responsible for defense and foreign affairs in the Indonesian Parliament, tried to defend the procurement. He said, "Unverified claims from the conflict zone cannot be used as the sole basis for evaluating weapon systems."
Rafale fighter jet亮相克罗地ia航展 on May 10. Visual China
"In modern military history, even top-tier fighters like the F-16, F/A-18, and F-22 have been shot down or crashed under specific tactical conditions," Laksoni said. "Therefore, we cannot measure the performance of the Rafale based solely on an event that has yet to be fully confirmed."
Laksoni insisted that the Rafale is a necessary choice for the modernization of Indonesia's air power, and its combat capabilities will enable the country to protect its vast archipelago region. Additionally, this procurement includes technology transfer and long-term logistics support from the French side.
However, Laksoni believed that Pakistan's claim of shooting down the Rafale also provides a "reasonable and constructive" basis for "evaluation."
Experts pointed out that the India-Pakistan air combat provided lessons for Indonesia, including the positioning of the Rafale in Indonesia's overall defense strategy.
Adhi Priyamaliky, a military expert at Singapore's Rajaratnam Institute for International Studies (RSIS), said that the Rafale is one of the best fighters in the world today, and the key lies in how to leverage its multi-purpose functions rather than simply relying on an advanced platform, which is a problem that the Indonesian military needs to deeply consider.
"Indonesia has a lot to learn, especially how to maintain the combat readiness of its troops. This is not only about acquiring advanced platforms but also mastering the skills or knowledge to operate these platforms," he said.
It is worth noting that the excellent performance of the J-10C has also made competitors in the arms trade market very worried.
South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported on the 12th that China and Egypt recently conducted their first joint air force training. At almost the same time, news came from South Asia that the Rafale was shot down by the J-10C. South Korean media worried: Will Egypt, which is negotiating the FA-50 fighter jet order with South Korea, turn around and buy Chinese fighters because of the excellent performance of the J-10C?
Pakistani forces displayed and compared online circulated images of the wreckage with those of the Indian "Rafale," emphasizing the credibility of the kill result.
It is worth noting that although the Indian government has not yet confirmed the loss of the Rafale, and Dassault Company has not responded directly, with the widespread circulation of images of the Rafale wreckage and evidence such as recordings released by the Pakistani military, this result has been widely confirmed by outsiders.
Previously, a French intelligence official confirmed to CNN that India did indeed lose at least one Rafale fighter to the Pakistani side. Reuters also cited two U.S. officials as saying they were certain that a J-10 fighter successfully shot down at least two Indian military aircraft, including the Rafale.
Air Combat Director of the Indian Air Force, Batty, responded to the situation regarding aircraft losses on May 11 without revealing specific models or numbers, defending by saying, "Losses are part of the battle."
In a latest report on May 14, France 24 mentioned that Chinese weapons have passed the test of actual combat in the India-Pakistan conflict, performing far beyond expectations, which has sounded the alarm for people who have long underestimated Chinese weapons.
Carlota Rino, an expert on China studies at the Verona International Security Research Group, said that cognitively speaking, China has achieved a major victory, because China has not experienced practical combat for decades, so its weapons have not been widely recognized like those of France and the United States. However, the situation has now changed.
Carlotta Renaldo, an expert at the Verona Security Research Institute in Italy, said that although Chinese weapons have long been considered "cheap but low-quality," this battle has overturned this perception: "Chinese weapons are no longer inferior to Western ones."
"We used to have an impression that Chinese weapons were, in a way, similar to Chinese goods, with poor quality. But that is no longer the case," Renaldo said. "Initially, China mainly exported tanks and small arms to countries like Pakistan, but now we see them starting to sell extremely modern and technologically complex weapons, which perform excellently in practical combat."
"Therefore, the lesson we learn from this conflict is that Chinese weapons are not inferior to Western equipment. We should abandon this long-standing prejudice," he said.
This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7504584792949735974/
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