Su-30 MKI is indeed obsolete, and need mid-life upgrades. But at least the upgrades involve our own stuff, that help us then iterate for newer tech for the future.
Sure ... but that's still better than having the bubble of imaginary superpower status being popped where the sun don't shine.
Take that 740 billion up where sun doesn't shine, because when it comes to a fight, u have to send obsolete Mig 21s to be slaughtered....
Yet on 7th may something very different happens and India gets a BVR whooping - please stop posting nonsense feel good repetitive information for flamebaitz otherwise I will have to ensure you don’t post here again.
This is all whining to not recognize the problems facing IAF. I suggest you stop worrying about PAF issues here.
Good to know that we can at least afford to have imaginations about being a super power, and not about getting bigger loans from IMF.
No it doesn't. PAF knows it only has 1 option, that is China, so go get the latest they have asap. Might work out now, PAF might field a few J-35s much before IAF gets it's hands on it's 5th gens. But when it gets the tech and supply chains mature, it will have a seamless supply of aircrafts from a single source within the country while contributing to industrial and economic growth simultaneously.
The LRUs are at various stages of development, and it by the plan itself will take some time. The project will commence upon CCS grant. But at least, we'll get own LRUs and independence in terms of IPR reliance.
A squadron of J-35 isn't gonna make it a generation ahead of IAF. Especially when they're a lot more maintenance intensive due to being 5th gen, but also have two engines. Would love to wonder what percentage out of them would be combat ready at any point to cover entire PAF airspace at all times, otherwise they're sitting ducks in maintenance hangars.
militarymachine.com
No, Astra Mk-1 is more or less equivalent to AIM-120. The part about F-16 is it's easier maintainability and high operational readiness that is beneficial to PAF.
No. It's about priorities. For some it is getting a few jets at the cost of country's economic future. For others it is about maintaining a balance.
Yeah as if PAF isn't going to face salvoes of cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, drones and GMLRS which we can produce in quite a lot more numbers to disrupt their fighting capabilities.
Yes, IAF's situation is bad in short term, that's what I discussed. But number of jets doesn't mean much, how many sorties they can pull of matter too. I wonder how many sorties can a Rafale pull off against any PAF asset, bar the F-16
Is your imagination of getting back to me stuck on the IMF loan? Circling your tail much?Good to know that we can at least afford to have imaginations about being a super power, and not about getting bigger loans from IMF.
How Much Does an F-22 Raptor Cost? Full Breakdown (2026)
The F-22 Raptor costs $334M per aircraft including R&D, $143M flyaway, and $85,000 per flight hour. Full cost breakdown vs. the F-35, F-15EX, and why restarting production would cost $50 billion.
Good to know that we can at least afford to have imaginations about being a super power, and not about getting bigger loans from IMF.
No it doesn't. PAF knows it only has 1 option, that is China, so go get the latest they have asap. Might work out now, PAF might field a few J-35s much before IAF gets it's hands on it's 5th gens. But when it gets the tech and supply chains mature, it will have a seamless supply of aircrafts from a single source within the country while contributing to industrial and economic growth simultaneously.
And IAF, unlike PAF, operates a much larger helicopter, and fixed wing transport fleet. We already have an assembly line in India for Airbus C-295, will get one for C-390 here too, that generates economic output here and ensures stable supply of those aircrafts to IAF, along with HAL's rotary division which seamlessly produces helicopters within India.
Good luck replacing all the C-130s and Il-78s etcetera. Even if PAF manages to replace the 200+ fighters that are at or are close to retirement age with some token J-10C and J-35s. Leave the old stuff with pak army and navy aviation.
The LRUs are at various stages of development, and it by the plan itself will take some time. The project will commence upon CCS grant. But at least, we'll get own LRUs and independence in terms of IPR reliance.
A squadron of J-35 isn't gonna make it a generation ahead of IAF. Especially when they're a lot more maintenance intensive due to being 5th gen, but also have two engines. Would love to wonder what percentage out of them would be combat ready at any point to cover entire PAF airspace at all times, otherwise they're sitting ducks in maintenance hangars.
The F-22 in 2014 used to spend 30-40 hours in maintenance for every hour of sortie, and it's availability rate with some of the most mature and advanced avionics and engines was ~40% as per recent info. All the while USA owns the entire end to end maintenance infra and supply chain, and don't have to send their jets to China for overhauling.
How Much Does an F-22 Raptor Cost? Full Breakdown (2026)
The F-22 Raptor costs $334M per aircraft including R&D, $143M flyaway, and $85,000 per flight hour. Full cost breakdown vs. the F-35, F-15EX, and why restarting production would cost $50 billion.
Now imagine what happens during a conflict when a missile ends up destroying your maintenance infra, even if no 5th gen jets are stationed inside to get directly hit.
So, ask more from IMF, and get at least 3-4 squadrons of J-35 to become a serious headache for IAF and surpass them as a "generation ahead"
No, Astra Mk-1 is more or less equivalent to AIM-120. The part about F-16 is it's easier maintainability and high operational readiness that is beneficial to PAF.
No. It's about priorities. For some it is getting a few jets at the cost of country's economic future. For others it is about maintaining a balance.
Today we're $4.2 trn, might become $10 trillion by 2035-36 ± some years, that's a bigger strategic advantage than what being dependent on foreign handouts is.
Yeah as if PAF isn't going to face salvoes of cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, drones and GMLRS which we can produce in quite a lot more numbers to disrupt their fighting capabilities.
Not everything is about air to air combat.
Yes, IAF's situation is bad in short term, that's what I discussed. But number of jets doesn't mean much, how many sorties they can pull of matter too. I wonder how many sorties can a Rafale pull off against any PAF asset, bar the F-16
Now, what is the status of PAF's loyal wingman future?
We have 2 in development, prototype of one exists, other is under construction and is a stealth flying wing bomber with good enough internal payload capacity. Uh oh, PAF has none. Good luck targeting VLO drones dropping glide bombs and ALCMs from 100s km away with PL-15Es
IMF loans isn't the only issue mate, I can also talk about industrial capacity. Be it capacity to produce 155mm shells, air defence interceptors, offensive missiles, drones, rockets, and so on. India is far ahead by a mile. And not to mention the dangerous proximity of those whatever little production facilities are to Indian border.
A squadron or two of fancy imports won't win you a conflict against us, unless of course definition of victory is shooting down a Rafale.
Same applies for India too. A few squadrons of F-35s won't win us a war with China. But our priority is not to win against China, coz we can't. It is to build enough capabilities across all dimensions to ensure a conflict with china never takes place due to deterrence.
comparing apple with orange here, F-22 is having maintenance nightmare for many reason, one of the most important reason is, it's 1990s jet where stealth coating and many other techs were not mature enough, so it's like a golden egg but obviously not the case for J-20 and J-35.
Obviously not worth it responding to reality, for someone who finds the fact that Indian firms have their own Wankel engines for long range loitering munitions funny, despite being an IMF customer than really can't make a 50cc moped engine, let alone anything for OWA drones, at scale.
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The reason our chinese neighbours succeeded and the other ended up becoming addicted to IMF is the very fact that one is self-aware, the other is boastful in their own imagination.
It already is delivering a lot if you haven't realised it, but then again, boastfulness and lack of self awareness is a trait among those who're too disconnected to realities.
China is delivering AESA fighters @4.15% interest rate, while not even giving localisation. Good luck sustaining that. Again, we can fix IAF by throwing money, till our tech is matured. Good luck trying to replace 200+ jets reaching obsolescence, apart from transporters, refuellers, helicopters
Meanwhile IAF and Indian Naval Aviation is moving towards loyal wingmen, long range drone swarms, and Space Based Surveillance. While IMF customer waits for another tranche of loans for buying a squadron of J-35 at maybe 5% interest rate, and India continues to thrive economically and industrially.
No no it were 11 Rafales as mentioned by Trump.
More like that's what you do here, and don't like hearing uncomfortable realities
