Eurofighter GmbH Eurofighter Typhoon vs Dassault Aviation Rafale F4
Full specs: Eurofighter GmbH Eurofighter Typhoon Dassault Aviation Rafale F4
Eurofighter GmbH Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 are both fighter aircraft, compared here on public specifications. The Eurofighter GmbH Eurofighter Typhoon leads on max speed (2,495 vs 1,912 km/h).
Verdict
Both are mature, combat-proven European 4.5-generation fighters that share the Meteor missile, but they were optimized differently. The Typhoon leans toward air superiority and interception, with a slightly higher thrust-to-weight ratio (1.15) and a faster climb rate, backed by the Captor-E AESA radar and Praetorian defensive suite. The Rafale is a true omnirole design, built in carrier, single- and two-seat variants from one common airframe, with the longest range of the pair (3,700km vs the Typhoon's 2,900km) and a wider weapons menu including the nuclear-capable ASMP-A and the Exocet anti-ship missile. Neither has a clear overall edge; the Rafale is the more versatile single airframe across air, land and sea missions, while the Typhoon is the sharper pure air-to-air interceptor.
Analysis by Cole Merrick, Defense-systems data columnist, WeaponSpecs · Last updated 2026-08-06
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Full data
Full spec sheet
| Performance | ||
| Max speed (km/h) | 2,495 km/h ✓ | 1,912 km/h |
| Max speed (Mach) (Mach) | 2.35 Mach ✓ | 1.8 Mach |
| Range (km) | 2,900 km | 3,700 km ✓ |
| Combat radius (km) | 1,389 km | 1,850 km ✓ |
| Service ceiling (m) | 19,812 m ✓ | 15,235 m |
| Rate of climb (m/s) | 315 m/s ✓ | 305 m/s |
| Thrust-to-weight | 1.15 ✓ | 0.99 |
| Firepower | ||
| Hardpoints | 13 | 14 ✓ |
| Weapons payload (kg) | 9,000 kg | 9,500 kg ✓ |
| Physical | ||
| Length (m) | 15.96 m | 15.27 m |
| Empty weight (kg) | 11,000 kg | 10,600 kg |
| Combat weight (kg) | 23,500 kg | 24,500 kg |
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Propulsion | ||
| Thrust (kN) | 90 kN ✓ | 75 kN |
| Program | ||
| Unit cost (USD) | $124,000,000 | $115,000,000 ✓ |
| Units built | 630 ✓ | 280 |
| Operator countries | 9 ✓ | 8 |
Analysis
Eurofighter GmbH Eurofighter Typhoon vs Dassault Aviation Rafale F4: how they match up
Radar and sensors
The Typhoon's Captor-E AESA radar (progressively upgraded to ECRS Mk2 on later-standard aircraft) pairs with the PIRATE infrared search-and-track system and the Praetorian (DASS) defensive-aids suite. The Rafale F4 uses the Thales RBE2 AESA radar alongside the OSF front-sector optronics and the SPECTRA integrated electronic-warfare suite, widely regarded as one of the most capable self-protection systems on any fourth-generation-plus fighter, plus a Talios targeting pod for precision strike.
Weapons and role breadth
Both jets carry the Meteor beyond-visual-range missile, giving them the same long-reach, no-escape-zone advantage in air-to-air engagements. Beyond that, the Rafale F4's compatible weapons list is broader for a single airframe: MICA for shorter-range air-to-air work, SCALP-EG for deep strike, AASM Hammer precision-guided bombs, the Exocet AM39 anti-ship missile, and the ASMP-A nuclear cruise missile, reflecting France's doctrine of one jet covering air, land, and naval strike plus nuclear deterrence. The Typhoon's weapons load (AIM-120 AMRAAM as an alternative BVR option, Storm Shadow, Brimstone, Paveway IV) is oriented more toward air superiority with strong strike capability layered on.
Performance and variants
The Typhoon has a higher thrust-to-weight ratio (1.15 vs the Rafale's 0.988) and a faster rate of climb (315 m/s vs 305 m/s), consistent with its air-superiority heritage. The Rafale counters with substantially longer range (3,700km vs 2,900km) and a genuinely carrier-capable variant (Rafale M) alongside its single- and two-seat land-based versions, all sharing a common airframe, a flexibility the Typhoon's land-based-only design does not offer.
Export footprint and cost
The Typhoon has a longer service history (in service since 2003 vs the Rafale F4 standard's 2023) and a larger built total (630+ vs 280), with nine operators split across four founding nations plus export customers. The Rafale, at an approximate $115 million export unit cost against the Typhoon's roughly $124 million, has won recent high-profile export contracts (India, Egypt, Qatar, Indonesia among others) that have kept its production line active well past the Typhoon's.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rafale better than the Eurofighter Typhoon? +
Neither has a clear overall edge. The Rafale is the more versatile omnirole platform (air, land, naval strike, nuclear deterrence from one airframe); the Typhoon has a slight edge in pure air-to-air kinematics and climb rate.
Do the Typhoon and Rafale use the same missile? +
Yes, both carry the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, giving them comparable long-range engagement capability despite their different radars and airframes.
Can the Rafale operate from an aircraft carrier? +
Yes, the Rafale M variant is carrier-capable, a role the Eurofighter Typhoon, a land-based-only design, does not fill.
Which has the longer range, Typhoon or Rafale? +
The Rafale F4, at 3,700km published range versus the Typhoon's 2,900km, though combat radius in practice depends heavily on mission profile and external fuel/weapons load for both.
Which is faster, Eurofighter GmbH Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Aviation Rafale F4? +
The Eurofighter GmbH Eurofighter Typhoon is the fastest of the 2 compared here, at 2,495 km/h.
Which has the longer range? +
The Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 has the longest range at 3,700 km.
Which carries the larger weapons payload? +
The Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 carries the largest weapons payload at 9,500 kg.
Which is cheaper? +
The Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 has the lower public unit-cost figure at 115,000,000 USD. Treat this as directional, defense pricing varies by contract and configuration.
Which has the higher max speed (mach)? +
The Eurofighter GmbH Eurofighter Typhoon has the higher max speed (mach) at 2.35 Mach.
Which has the higher combat radius? +
The Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 has the higher combat radius at 1,850 km.
Is the Eurofighter GmbH Eurofighter Typhoon better than the Dassault Aviation Rafale F4? +
On the public specs we track, Eurofighter GmbH Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 are closely matched, Eurofighter GmbH Eurofighter Typhoon leads on max speed, max speed (mach), thrust-to-weight, while Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 leads on range, weapons payload, combat radius. See the full spec sheet for the metric-by-metric breakdown.
Where does this comparison data come from? +
Every figure in the table is sourced from public manufacturer pages, defense-ministry releases and reference publications, and is verifiable on each system's spec page. WeaponSpecs does not accept vendor placement.
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