If Chinese fifth-generation fighter jets were truly as capable as claimed, why isn’t any country buying them? Why is everyone instead choosing the far more expensive F-35?
Although faced delays, I’m 100% confident that the AMCA will be a genuine fifth-generation fighter jet — not a so-called fifth-gen jet like the J-20 or J-35.
J-20's are not sold for export. China has never advertised the J-20. This is like what USA did with the F-22. The J-35 has just started serial production. There are rumors that the J-35 have another export partner other than Pakistan. What makes the AMCA a genuine fifth-gen aircraft in which the J-20 and J-35 do not possess? The constant chest thumping of AMCA does not make it better than other fighter jets, cmon. We need more logical thinkers here.
Fighter jet sales have often to do with international politics and relations, more than technological prowess. Buying from China is risky on the international stage as currently, the USA has more leverage and control of the global economy. Not only are fighter jets expensive, they hold political strings. There are not many "Rich" countries that are allied with China, mostly poor backwaters like pakistan. They cannot afford such expensive technology.
It's extremely bad logic to say that more exports = better fighter jet. By your logic Tejas mk1 is worse than JF-17, because JF-17 has more export orders. India has lacked export success in any of it's domestic aircraft, so how can you say that AMCA will be 100% genuine fifth-gen? Where are all the countries lining up to buy AMCA over the F-35?
I'm afraid the Indian defense sphere needs to play less on emotions, and more on practicalities. Downplaying Chinese advances while hyping up Indian advances literally serves no purpose than to please a domestic audience.
When this kind of thinking makes it's way up to the minds of the babus, they start to believe their own propaganda and slows AMCA down even more. I remember when top IAF genrols and chiefs stated that Rafale can easily shoot down chinese junk fifth gen aircraft. With this kind of thinking, why does IAF even need AMCA? Rafales can do the job already.. Due to neglience, strategic programs in Indian defense have been delayed and delayed, due to lack of priority.
If IAF truly wanted strategic autonomy and feared advances of adversaries, Kaveri would've gotten far more funding, I believed more resources could've been allocated to Tejas, and MK2 would already be in service. YET there is no sense of urgency in the government or the military establishment? Do they feel content with their current predicament? Why is progress so slow, it's because they feel safe and do not worry about external threats.
This is exactly the problem that slows down IAF procurement again and again, you people spreading the same narrative over and over, SCREWING OVER THE IAF.
