Flankers were shot down by the J-10, turning into butterfly wings, and the European sixth-generation fighter is in trouble

The incident of the Indian Rafale fighter being shot down by Pakistan's J-10C has just begun to trigger a chain reaction.

This is the first time that the Rafale has been destroyed in actual combat, and it is also the first failure of Western fourth-and-a-half-generation aircraft against China's kill chain.

Although India tried to downplay the incident, and France chose silence, the current disputes within Europe speak volumes.

Europe has a joint sixth-generation fighter project called FCAS.

France has long complained about the unequal structure of the FCAS project, believing that France has the highest level and should take the lion's share. However, before France could secure its voice, the Rafale was defeated.

For Dassault, this is not only a major setback for its flagship aircraft but also the breaking point of the so-called air superiority myth built by France.

If even the Rafale cannot withstand the combination of non-stealth platforms and long-range missiles, how will it fight against China's sixth-generation fighters on the real sixth-generation battlefield?

Therefore, Paris strongly advocated that Dassault should fully lead the design of the next-generation fighter (NGF) in the second phase of FCAS, even proposing the condition of "80% technical control rights."

Airbus Group from Germany immediately expressed strong dissatisfaction, arguing that FCAS was originally a symbol of equal cooperation, and France's move is equivalent to trying to turn Germany into a technology outsourcing contractor.

At this critical moment, the German Parliament's Defense Committee proposed to freeze funding for the second phase of FCAS, implying that Germany may independently strengthen the Typhoon upgrade project, or explore alternative paths for the sixth-generation fighter with Sweden.

Another participant in the project, Spain, is in an awkward middle ground, wanting to participate but lacking the strength.

Meanwhile, the GCAP project led by the UK, Japan, and Italy is accelerating its progress, planning to complete the first flight of the prototype by 2030.

This sharp contrast in pace has caused a trust crisis in the entire FCAS.

If Paris and Berlin cannot mend the rift by the end of 2025, the already fragmented European sixth-generation fighter picture will only further split.

And all of this began with that Rafale being shot down.

A butterfly flaps its wings on the Kashmir plateau, yet causes a trust tsunami along the Danube River.

Moreover, apart from Europe getting into chaos, the United States also quickly added nearly $1 billion to catch up with China's PL-15, showing even more anxiety than Europe.

Next, the shock from this air battle is likely to continue to cause new tsunamis.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841862115662860/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.