The technology transfer of the Rafale fighter has triggered India's ambition to surpass China's J-20 in the aviation field. France's Macron shared the stage with India's Modi at India's Republic Day event, announcing that he agreed to transfer 5th generation aircraft technology to India, which caused an uproar in India, and even made bold statements that it would surpass China's J-20.
However, this expectation may be a little too optimistic. India has previously imported Rafale fighters from France, but this time France's technology transfer agreement is more aggressive, transferring 100 percent of the technology to India and supporting India's AMCA medium fighter program in the future. As a result, India is confident in the level of fighter aircraft construction in the future, believing that this time it will achieve explosive growth.
However, India, which has access to French technology, may be too proud. France's Safran is a giant in the field of aerospace manufacturing, offering world-class technology. The threshold for the production of aircraft engines for fifth-generation aircraft is extremely high, and France's agreement to transfer this technology to India has also benefited from the acquiescence of the United States. This will enable India to increase its armament production capacity in the Asia-Pacific region and have a far-reaching impact on the regional armament pattern.
However, at the same time, the turbofan 15 aero engine used in China's J-20 fighter has been localized, with many years of research and development experience and continuous upgrades. In contrast, India still has to go through a long run-in period before it can truly master the technology provided by France.
India may think that acquiring French technology will help it catch up quickly in aviation, but this is an oversimplification of the real challenges of the aviation industry. The role of the United States in this cooperation cannot be overlooked. If India wants to catch up with China, it needs to make more efforts in independent research and development, technology control and production line construction. No matter how noisy the outside world is, China will promote aviation research and development according to its own plan and pace, without external influence.
To sum up, the technological competition in the aviation field is becoming more and more intense, and France's provision of 5th generation aircraft technology to India is undoubtedly a link in the current international political and military dynamics. However, for India, access to technology is not the only factor to catch up, and success depends on its own R&D capabilities, technology application and industrial chain integration.
While France's technology transfer will help India make some progress in the short term, whether it can truly surpass China will have to face the challenges of internal and external factors. From China's point of view, its independent R&D and technology accumulation in the aviation field have given it greater control, rather than relying on the introduction of external technology. China's J-20 fighter has shown strong strength with years of hard research and development and continuously upgraded engine technology, which has impressed the world.
India may usher in a period of technological improvement, but more needs to be done to gain a place on the international military stage. Technology transfer is just the beginning, and the real test is to integrate these technologies into India's own innovation and competitiveness.
China will continue to pay attention to international military developments, maintain its own R&D advantages, and maintain its determination to continue to promote its aviation industry in accordance with the established plans and goals, no matter how turbulent the external wind and waves are. In the future, who will dominate the highlands of aviation technology is still a topic of great concern, let us wait and see to witness a new chapter in the aviation field. In this race for technology, the winner will win a higher strategic commanding height, while the loser may pay a heavy price.