Rafale F4

Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.

Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters.

Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.

Distance an aircraft can fly, complete its mission and return without refueling. Roughly a third of ferry range.

Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.

How fast the aircraft gains altitude. Higher means better energy recovery in combat.

Engine thrust divided by loaded weight. Above 1.0 the aircraft can accelerate going straight up. On a standalone engine record, this is the engine's own thrust divided by its dry weight, the standard figure of merit for jet engines.

Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.

External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts.

Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie.

Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers.

Radar cross-section shaping, RAM coatings, IR suppression. Actual RCS values are classified.

Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.

Wingtip-to-wingtip span.

Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles.

Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.

Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.

Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.

Powerplant model and type.

Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost.

Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable).

Internal fuel volume.

Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…

Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art.

IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.

Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement.

Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper.

Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.

Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.