Comments by "Tara Raboomdiay" (@tararaboomdiay7442) on "ATE CHUET " channel.

IIRC, the ATF requirement was for F-16-level agility (which both designs exceeded). The big advances desired were elsewhere. This was probably a smart realization that the limits of human tolerance were being reached and an acknowledgement of the necromancer of the forthcoming generators of A2A missiles would preclude manned aircraft outmanuevering them within their "no escape zone".
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@fabiena1787 For close in fight exercises, F-22s usually mount a luneberg lens or other kind of device to enhance their radar return. Otherwise there isn't much training value for either side because the result often is simply that the opponents don't even know the Raptors are around until they are informed they have been killed. But when the other fighters can "see" the F-22s to a certain extent, both sides get a good workout in tactics and techniques. Rafale in these situations is a tough opponent and F-22 teams are quire complimentary and have said it turns very well.
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