The Indian Air Force has recently been a bit like a "fashion victim" who always lags behind the trend. First, it was humiliated by Pakistan's F-16, which shot down an Indian MiG-21, prompting the hurried purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France at great expense; then, before the "Rafale" could even make its mark, news broke that it had been "taught a lesson" by the J-10CE. Now, hearing that Pakistan is acquiring the J-35 stealth fighter, India's Ministry of Defense quickly approved the development of the indigenous AMCA stealth fighter! This storyline is like a never-ending nightmare loop, with the Indian Air Force seemingly pleading: "Stop attacking me, okay? I'll buy new equipment!"
According to Reuters, on May 27th local time, India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh approved a framework plan for the development of a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, to be executed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). The ADA will invite interested defense companies, whether private or state-owned, to independently or jointly bid for the development of a twin-engine fifth-generation fighter prototype. The Ministry of Defense emphasized that this project is crucial for the Indian Air Force, aiming to enhance its combat capabilities and alleviate the production pressure on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
However, the background of this plan is rather lamentable. In 2019, Pakistan used F-16 fighters to shoot down an Indian Air Force MiG-21, exposing the outdated equipment and technological gap in the Indian Air Force, forcing India to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets at a high price. Subsequently, the Rafale became the "game-changer" in Indians' mouths, or explained as "expensive but worth it," making Modi seem quite bold. However, the arrival of the Rafale did not reverse the situation. The J-10CE fighter jets acquired by Pakistan successfully shot down three Rafales in one air battle, once again causing the Indian Air Force to lose face. Recently, there have been reports that France's Dassault Company intends to investigate the losses of the Rafale, but this has been rejected by India citing safety concerns.
What's more interesting is that Pakistan continues to hype up the upcoming J-35 stealth fighter, further widening the technological gap between the two sides. Indians have long been accustomed to having superior air combat equipment compared to Pakistan, so they are psychologically unwilling to accept being outperformed technologically. However, even if the AMCA program proceeds smoothly, its lengthy development cycle and questionable technological maturity mean it will struggle to counter Pakistan's modernized air force in the short term. Netizens jokingly commented: "This time we're finally not buying off-the-shelf products, but is the AMCA reliable? Don't let it get ground into dust by the J-35!"
At the same time, the Indian Air Force plans to replace the European "Mica" missiles on its Rafale fighters with domestically produced "Astra" Mk1 air-to-air missiles. The "Astra" Mk1 has a range of 110 kilometers, using a solid rocket engine and a combination of data link + inertial guidance with active radar or infrared guidance, improving upon the "Mica." However, this upgrade remains a "patchwork" solution and cannot fundamentally address the Indian Air Force's disadvantage in air combat equipment.
In summary, the Indian Air Force's "nightmare mode" is not only reflected in its current technological backwardness but also in its strategic passivity. Facing Pakistan's rapidly modernizing air force, every effort by the Indian Air Force seems to be "closing the barn door after the horse has bolted," rather than taking the initiative. Honestly, the Indian Air Force's "nightmare loop" is somewhat like a joke: each time it is shown a new piece of equipment by its opponent, it immediately spends money on a "consolation prize" or draws a big picture promising "next time I'll definitely succeed." While the AMCA program is ambitious, facing the J-35, the Indian Air Force may need to first toughen its psychological resilience to withstand attacks. To break free from this "nightmare," India needs to reduce its reliance on "impulsive purchases" and focus more on self-strengthening!
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7514130171386135090/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author. Please use the "thumbs up/thumbs down" buttons below to express your opinion.