Pakistan-China 5th gen fighter jet plan a concern, but we possess necessary capabilities: IAF Chief

[Beijingwalker]

Pakistan-China 5th gen fighter jet plan a concern, but we possess necessary capabilities: IAF Chief​

Singh stressed on effectiveness of a fighter aircraft depends not only on the platform itself but also on how well it is integrated.​

Oct 3, 2026, 21:40:44 IST
Priyanjali Narayan

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Saturday said Pakistan's reported collaboration with China on fifth-generation fighter jets is a cause for concern for India, but added that the Indian Air Force has the capabilities to deal with the threat for now.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh addresses the annual press conference ahead of Air Force Day at the Air Force Auditorium, Subroto Park, in New Delhi, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (PTI)

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Saturday said Pakistan's reported collaboration with China on fifth-generation fighter jets is a cause for concern for India, but added that the Indian Air Force has the capabilities to deal with the threat for now.

Speaking at an annual press conference ahead of Air Force Day, Singh said India needs to accelerate the induction of fifth-generation fighter aircraft and push ahead with the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.

"Reports suggest that Pakistan may acquire them in the near future. There are even reports that their pilots are already undergoing training in China. Undoubtedly, this is a cause for concern. However, is it a no-go situation? I wouldn't agree with that," he said.

Singh stressed that the effectiveness of a fighter aircraft depends not only on the platform itself but also on how well it is integrated with other military capabilities.

“Pakistan has possessed other platforms in the past, yet they haven't been able to achieve anything significant with them during Operation Sindoor. Similarly, if we effectively integrate the platforms we are purchasing and inducting, we should be able to counter this threat—at least for the time being, until they fully integrate these new aircraft into their own systems,” the Air Chief Marshal said.

He further said India cannot afford delays in acquiring aircraft of the next generation and would need to consider alternatives if the AMCA programme does not progress as planned.

"We must prioritise the early induction of an aircraft of this generation. We need to push the AMCA program forward; if there are delays, we must make alternative decisions," he also added.

India looks to finalise MRFA deal​

India is looking to finalise the much-awaited multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) deal within the current financial year, provided the ongoing process proceeds as planned, Singh said.

The government in February cleared a long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets from France under a government-to-government framework. The proposed acquisition is aimed at strengthening the combat capability of the Indian Air Force.

The deal follows nearly two decades of efforts to expand the IAF's fighter aircraft fleet. Price negotiations and other key issues related to the proposed acquisition are currently underway.

Singh also disclosed that Russia has offered its Su-57 fighter jets to India, although no decision has been taken on the proposal.

"Russia has offered us Su-57 jets, but no decision has been made on it," he said.

IAF needs more fighter aircraft​

On the declining strength of the IAF's fighter squadrons, Singh said the force needs to induct at least 36 to 40 aircraft every year over the next few years.
He stressed that air power remains an important component of India's overall military capability and said the country needs to continue strengthening its air power.

The Air Chief also spoke about the role of emerging technologies in the IAF's modernisation, particularly artificial intelligence.

"We have to have an AI-augmented force," he said.

Singh further emphasised the importance of self-reliance in strengthening India's combat preparedness.

He also underlined the need for India to develop and manufacture a fighter jet engine domestically as part of its efforts to build indigenous aerospace capabilities.

 

[Beijingwalker]

'Cause For Worry': Air Force Chief On Pak-China Fighter Jet Collaboration​

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh also flagged concerns over Pakistan collaborating with China on a fifth-generation fighter jet.​

Oct 04, 2026 12:51 IST

At present, the Army, Navy and the Air Force have separate commands

The inordinate delays in inducting new combat jets, including the Tejas aircraft, are hurting the Indian Air Force (IAF) in view of the depleting strength of its fighter squadrons at a time when air power is increasingly becoming crucial to deal with security challenges, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference ahead of the 94th Air Force Day, the IAF chief also said that the force requires induction of at least 36-40 fighter jets annually for the next few years to plug the gaps and hoped that the situation will improve with the induction of indigenously-built Tejas Mark-1A aircraft as well as Rafale combat jets to be procured under the multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA) programme.

Air Chief Marshal Singh also flagged concerns over Pakistan collaborating with China on a fifth-generation fighter jet.

"It is a cause for worry," he said, adding: "We do have capabilities. It is not that one platform matters so much."

Elaborating on measures to enhance the IAF's combat prowess, he said the government is looking at finalising the MRFA deal by this financial year, provided things go as per plan.

In its largest-ever defence acquisition push, India in February cleared a long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government framework with France, nearly two decades after the plan was originally rolled out to boost the Indian Air Force's combat prowess.

The price negotiations and other critical issues relating to the project are currently being finalised.

"I think if things go well, we should be able to sign it (MRFA deal) in this financial year. That's what my hope is. But it is a two-way process," he said while referring to negotiations between the Indian and the French sides.

The IAF chief also voiced concerns over delays in supply of Tejas Mark-1A jets to his force "There is some extra delay, and there is no doubt that it is going to hurt us," he said.

"We need to induct two fighter squadrons every year. That means anything between 36 and 40 aircraft should be produced and inducted into the IAF for us to stop going down from the current 30 fighter squadrons and start improving towards the target of 42 squadrons. Actually, we need even more than that," he added.

In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF. The first set of aircraft was to be delivered in March, 2024. However, not a single jet has been supplied to the IAF till now.

The IAF wants to induct the warplanes as the number of its fighter squadrons has gone down significantly from the officially sanctioned strength of 42.

The defence ministry in September last year sealed another deal worth Rs 62,370 crore with HAL to procure 97 Tejas MK-1A light combat aircraft for the IAF.

The Chief of Air Staff said the IAF is looking forward to getting the Tejas Mark-1A jets, aircraft under the MRFA programme, Tejas Mark 2s and the combat planes under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.

At the same time, he said the IAF may have to look at procurement of another platform if the AMCA programme faces delays. Russia has offered Su-57 jets, but no decision has been made on it, he said.

"If there are delays in the AMCA fifth-generation fighter programme, we may have to look at other options. Russia has offered the Su-57, but no decision has been taken yet," he said.

Responding to a question on the proposed theaterisation plan, Air Chief Marshal Singh indicated that the proposed structure is being looked at with a fresh perspective following Operation Sindoor.

"I have made it clear that the Indian Air Force is not against theatre commands. We have been working towards it, and we have been a part of discussions throughout," he said.

The Chief of Air Staff said following Operation Sindoor, the discussions on the theatreisation plan have taken a "slightly different direction".

It is because we gained some first-hand experience during Operation Sindoor, he said.

The government had announced the theaterisation plan in 2019 to ensure greater synergy among the three services. However, no visible forward movement has been made towards it.

Under the theaterisation model, the government seeks to integrate the capabilities of the army, air force and navy and optimally utilise their resources for wars and operations.

The IAF chief said the government will take decisions on what kind of organisation for theaterisation will have to be created, in what sequence should it be made, whether it should be in one go or whether it should be incremental.

"Those decisions, I am sure, government will take when we project it to them that these are the options that we have," he said without elaborating further.

As per the theaterisation plan, each of the theatre commands will have units of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force and all of them will work as a single entity looking after security challenges in a specified geographical territory.

At present, the Army, Navy and the Air Force have separate commands.

Air Chief Marshal Singh also emphasised the growing importance of air power in the current geopolitical context, asserting that India needs to further ramp up its air power.

On modernisation of the IAF, he said the force has to be augmented through artificial intelligence, but added that humans will continue to take critical decisions.

"We have to have an AI-augmented force," he said.

The Chief of Air Staff also underlined the need for India to produce a fighter jet engine in the country.

To a question on whether the IAF is considering creating a separate "drone force", he said no such move is being contemplated.

"Drones are not revolutionary to the Indian Air Force, but evolutionary. We are growing the number of drones and loitering munitions. Whether we need a separate drone force, I don't think so. They should be a part of the same setup, and we have to be operating together," he said.

"These have to be together along with other weapons so that they bring in that effect. We cannot be operating one type of weapon separately somewhere and another type of weapon separately. So we have not thought of having a separate drone force."

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cause-for-worry-chief-of-air-staff-air-chief-marshal-ap-singh-flags-pakistan-china-fighter-jet-collaboration-12136402

 

[Beijingwalker]

India May Consider Foreign 5th-Gen Jets Like Su-57 if AMCA is Delayed, Says IAF Chief While Downplaying Pakistan's Chinese Stealth Jets Acquisition​

Monday at 1:50 PM
As the geopolitical and military landscape in South Asia rapidly evolves, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is keeping a close watch on the fifth-generation stealth fighter capabilities emerging in its neighbourhood.

Speaking at his annual press conference ahead of Air Force Day, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, outlined India's strategic roadmap.

He emphasised that while the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme remains the ultimate priority, the IAF may be forced to explore foreign alternatives, such as Russia's Su-57, if domestic timelines slip.

Addressing the Threat from Neighbours​

Recent reports have indicated that Pakistani pilots are training on Chinese fifth-generation stealth aircraft (such as the J-35 series), raising questions about a potential shift in regional air dynamics.

Addressing these developments, Air Chief Marshal Singh acknowledged that while the situation is a matter of concern, it should not be viewed as a "major concern" or an overwhelming threat.

Drawing vital lessons from history, he referenced the outcomes of past aerial engagements like Operation Sindoor, noting that Pakistan has previously acquired advanced aerial platforms without achieving a decisive advantage.

The IAF Chief stressed that simply purchasing modern aircraft does not guarantee military success. The true differentiator in modern aerial warfare is how seamlessly those platforms are integrated into a comprehensive combat system alongside advanced weaponry and tactics.

India's definitive answer to its fifth-generation requirement is the ambitious AMCA project, which aims to provide the IAF with a domestically designed and manufactured stealth fighter.

However, the IAF Chief made it clear that time is of the essence. With China already operating the J-20 and actively developing newer stealth platforms, India cannot afford a capability gap.

If the AMCA faces significant developmental delays, India will be forced to look at alternative solutions.

Russia has proactively pitched its Su-57 stealth fighter to India, though Singh confirmed that no official decision has been made regarding foreign procurement.

This cautious stance aligns with recent statements from Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, who recently reiterated the government's steadfast commitment to seeing the indigenous AMCA project through as India's primary fifth-generation solution.

India May Consider Foreign 5th-Gen Jets Like Su-57 if AMCA is Delayed, Says IAF Chief While Downplaying Pakistan's Chinese Stealth Jets Acquisition

As the geopolitical and military landscape in South Asia rapidly evolves, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is keeping a close watch on the fifth-generation stealth fighter capabilities emerging in its...

defence.in

 

[Vapnope]

Pakistan has possessed other platforms in the past, yet they haven't been able to achieve anything significant with them during Operation Sindoor.

Got his most prized AC shot in the air and still says "nothing significant was achieved" by Pakistan. What a clown !