Rafale or no Rafale runways are extremely hard and deliberately made extra long. Munitions need to penetrate the concrete and dig it up, while other munitions lie unexploded to pose a hazard to repair teams. Runways are also broad enough to allow 2-3 abreast takeoffs and if one side is unusable the other side may still allow takeoffs and landings. Even with all this runways can be repaired overnight by blasting off the unexploded munitions, bulldozing aside the rubble and clearing the surface. Even if CAP aircraft can take off they can cause attrition. Besides enemy missiles can do this to our bases and unless we have repair facilities we won't be able to do much.Singha wrote:cheapest way of grounding the PAF and PLAAF fwd bases is cheap, stealthy cruise missiles.
brahmos-M & Brahmos for heavily protected SAM sites.
we do not need rafale for that. the location of runways and base facilities are well known from satellite photos.
Also recce sorties are necessary to assess damage because a convenient satellite may not be available every time. If the runway is repaired overnight a second attack is required the next day. And a third and more until the opposing air force is subdued into quiescence. That may still leave highways and reserve runways that can be used.