Turbine D
I've read the article that you have used as a reference.
At this point I will state that I'm on the fence about F35, and I think that Rafale is fantastic and we should have bought it for the RN.
I am not a fighter pilot and never have been, so it is entirely possible I am missing something, but I have to say that it is an awful truly egregious piece of junk masquerading as science.
For example.
Under the "surprising the enemy without being surprised" section:-
"largest aircraft are first to be noticed. All aircraft have largest signature when watched from the top or bottom; relative sizes can be seen here:"
The first question is obviously how much difference size actually makes at the closing speeds involved? At night? IMC? Secondly, how likely is the first spot to be from the top or bottom view?
Under the "outlasting the enemy" section:-
"As already noticed, persistence is determined by fuel fraction"
No. Persistence is quite obviously determined by a range of factors, of which fuel fraction is only one.
I could go on with each section, but I must say that if this is the sort of junk you consider authoritative, then your judgement is wanting.