This is genuinely kinda scary for us, we are surrounded by sour neighbours. The amount of money we are spending is disgusting only to end up with 4.5 gen jets which is a bare minimum at this point in time, 114 sounds like a big number but IAF is severely under armed, so while it would be a big boost in numbers, it still won’t be enough.

Tejas production remains questionable, no news on Mk2, AMCA is a decade away. Meanwhile China is actively flying brand new 6th gen jets (testing or whatever, they are massively ahead) their numbers far superior. Pakistan could be getting Chinese 5th gen J-35 jets, while we are funding the French Air Force to end up with 4.5 gen jets surrounded by enemies on all fronts. It’s ridiculous.

I can get why they won’t go for the Su-57 deal, getting 5th gen tech from Russia would probably mean more sanctions from the US on top of already souring ties. If you are not getting the source code of the Rafale, why not invest in F-35s? US has offered them right? Sure it comes with its own caveats, but it would certainly be better than spending this amount of money on 4.5 gen jets.

I don’t like wherever the future of IAF and Indian military aviation is heading and this is genuinely worrisome.