The sudden threat has left the Indian military anxious, and the fifth-generation aircraft program has suffered repeated setbacks, and its national defense strength seems to be struggling. Under the cover of a huge population and rapid economic development, the Indian Air Force is facing a serious problem of lagging behind in the development of fifth-generation aircraft. After a new round of emergency meetings, the Standing Committee of National Defense finalized an emergency plan: it is necessary not only to promote the delivery of domestically produced "Tejal" MK1A fighters, but also to quickly introduce a fifth-generation aircraft from abroad to stabilize India's national defense strength.
India's fifth-generation aircraft plan twists and turns:
India was originally ambitious and wanted to rise on the world stage with its fifth-generation aircraft. However, the project to purchase 114 multi-role fighters has been delayed, and the domestic fifth-generation aircraft "AMCA" project has been difficult to deliver, leaving India in an unprecedented predicament. India** warned that in the domestic fifth-generation aircraft facing an unprecedented vacuum period, how to deal with China's J-20 and J-35 has become the most serious challenge for the Indian Air Force.
Urgent decision-making under the pressure of national defense:
India's Standing Committee on National Defence (NDC) urged the Modi authorities not only to speed up the production and delivery of Tejas fighters, but also to quickly purchase a ready-made fifth-generation aircraft to ensure national defense strength and avoid falling into the competition. At the same time, India has encountered a series of embarrassments in its search for suitable fighters.
The tangle of the Su-57 and Su-75:
The United States refuses to provide F-35** fighters, and is only willing to provide F-15 or F-16 fighters of the relatively older generation. Russia extended a helping hand, expressing its willingness to cooperate in the development of an export version of the Su-57E fighter, and even mentioned the recently unveiled Su-75 "General" fighter. However, the decision caused an embarrassment in India. Previously, India had developed a fifth-generation aircraft based on the Su-57 with Russia, but due to the slow progress of the project and Moscow's lack of sincerity, India finally did not hesitate to give up the initial investment and withdraw from the cooperation project. Now, it has turned to Russia again, which has undoubtedly put India in an embarrassing position.
The helplessness and challenges of India's fifth-generation aircraft plan:
India's domestically produced fifth-generation aircraft project "AMCA" has been postponed, and even the first flight and service time have not yet been determined. The Indian military has always regarded China as its main hypothetical enemy, but after the successful development of the J-20, India found itself lagging behind China in the competition in the field of fifth-generation aircraft. The fifth-generation aircraft project, as an expensive and responsible vehicle project, has gone beyond the current level of industry and scientific research in India. China's successful achievements in the J-20 have made India realize that it is difficult to replicate this "miracle".
Trade-offs between challenges and costs:
India's National Defence Standing Committee is deeply worried about this and urgently asks the Modi authorities and the military top brass to make early plans to prepare for the postponement of the development of domestically produced fifth-generation aircraft. The urgent purchase of foreign fifth-generation aircraft has become a response, at least to ensure that India is not dragged too far away by China on paper. However, India may be overly wishful thinking, and if it believes that it can easily acquire fifth-generation aircraft, then India does not have to withdraw from the fifth-generation aircraft program with Russia. However, as confident as ever in the "build rather than buy" strategy, India is destined to pay a heavy price for this decision.