at least typhoon can self designate using its own targeting pod, as opposed to having an Etandard do the job for it
True - but at least Rafale is out in Afghanistan already doing CAS, already flying off carriers, and already also remfing about in an air-defence role.
It could also have flown off the new carriers which we might now never get, especially when the americans cancel F-35 leaving us with no aircraft to fly off it...