Rafale is superior to the J-16 in close combat? Gotta get there first!

🇫🇷🇪🇬🇨🇳 Egypte: Selon l’évaluation des pilotes de l’armée de l’air chinoise, le Rafale est supérieur aux J-16 en combat aérien rapproché (dogfight) pendant l'exercice "Eagles of Civilization 2026": "Ses capacités en combat rapproché sont effectivement supérieures, tout comme sa maniabilité. D’une part, on ne peut pas se permettre de sous-estimer cet écart en matière de performances au combat rapproché".

— Restitutor Orientis 🇱🇮 (@restitutorII) October 11, 2026

Don't know how much I believe this and even if we were to believe it does it matter? Close combat is quickly becoming a thing of the past. From my chair it looks like extended range combat when it comes to the air is gonna be all the rage. Getting close is gonna probably mean mutual death at best. There is a reason why everyone is going for longer and longer ranged air to air missiles. Toss in the next evolution, lasers - microwaves - whatever directed energy weapon you want, and its game over. Anyone remember that huge laser they tried on the 747? Single seat fighters are gonna be a thing of the past. BIG, FAST, B-1B type missile carriers are gonna be the future. Don't tell the Air Force or the Navy though. They'll both shit a brick. The fighter mafia is in for a change.