How Pakistan Outpacing India in Air Force Modernization Despite Economic Challenges

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In a surprising turn of events, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has seemingly outmaneuvered its Indian counterpart in modernizing its fleet, despite facing significant economic hurdles.

While India boasts a larger defence budget and a booming economy, bureaucratic delays and procedural complexities have hampered the Indian Air Force's (IAF) acquisition efforts.

Pakistan's success can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, the PAF enjoys a more centralized decision-making process, allowing for swift responses to operational needs. This contrasts with India's multi-layered bureaucracy, which often results in protracted procurement timelines.

Secondly, Pakistan's close ties with China have provided access to cost-effective solutions, such as the jointly developed JF-17 Thunder fighter jet and the ZDK-03 AWACS aircraft. These acquisitions have significantly enhanced the PAF's capabilities without placing an undue burden on Pakistan's finances. China's willingness to offer flexible payment options and credit lines has further facilitated these deals.

Thirdly, Pakistan has adopted a pragmatic approach, prioritizing affordable and maintainable platforms that meet its specific defence requirements. This contrasts with India's pursuit of high-end, expensive platforms like the Rafale, which often involve lengthy negotiations and extended delivery schedules.

While India has made strides in promoting transparency and self-reliance in its defence sector, these initiatives have inadvertently contributed to delays. The "Make in India" program, while strategically important, has faced challenges in timely delivery, as exemplified by the HAL Tejas LCA program. Additionally, India's stringent procurement procedures, aimed at curbing corruption, have also added to the timeline.

Experts point to the 2012 MMRCA deal for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft as a prime example of these challenges. Originally intended to bolster the IAF with a large fleet of modern fighters, the deal was mired in delays for over a decade, ultimately resulting in a scaled-down purchase of only 36 Rafale jets.

This situation highlights a critical disparity in procurement strategies. Pakistan, despite its economic constraints, has demonstrated agility and efficiency in modernizing its air force. India, on the other hand, grapples with bureaucratic bottlenecks and procedural complexities that hinder its acquisition process.

The implications of this trend are significant for the regional balance of power. While India maintains a quantitative edge in terms of overall air power, Pakistan's rapid modernization efforts could potentially narrow the qualitative gap. This underscores the need for India to streamline its procurement processes and address systemic inefficiencies to maintain its strategic advantage.
 
No matter what... We should not compromise with Atmanirbharta...

Make in India is utmost necessary.

Pakistanis is in no position to war with India... At least for next 20 years... They have no dollar reserves...

Just focus on Atmanirbharta...

Cancel all phoren import...

Don't buckle down under pressure

In 10/20 years all our Atmanirbhar projects will become reality
 
IAF have its own vision unlike pakistan , who Just want to Fill Numbers with JF-17 & other Chinese Jets.
 
IAF have its own vision unlike pakistan , who Just want to Fill Numbers with JF-17 & other Chinese Jets.
Becoz Pakistanis gets WB UNDP IMF UNBank and begging bowl funds which goes directly into military preparations only... Also, CCP giving them heavily discouted jets tanks and other missiles etc...
 
They are straight forward and try to keep them ahead by whichever means. Here we have indigenous capabilities and engineers but still look like beggars towards government for funding to perform R&D and product realisation.
 
Ministry of defence should be lead by army bureaucrats and technocrats. Only this can change whole scenario in defence procurement process. Only army personnel can understand what is need of armed forces. Cut lengthy procurement process. Fast track reaserch and development. Even DRDO need organisational structural reforms.
 
Money in the budget is the key here. It is totally unlike Pakistan where politicians are subservient to the military. They can get away with anything and everything and bankrupt the nations. As a matter of fact these Pakistani spending spree suit India. It bankrupt Pakistan perpetually.
 
We want Alice in wonderland stuff. Example a MBT with all equipment on earth but it should weigh lesser than 60 tonnes. Trials going on, foreign countries buying the platforms but our forces want imported stuff.
 
Our defence procurement process were deliberately sabotaged by left anti national elements in the 1980's by including procedures that is almost impossible to be met by any manufacturer. If anyone meets those requirements, it will become a single vendor and will be rejected. No government tried to change this process because of political reasons. Only solution is to push our indigenous products.
 
IAF does not have clear vision for strengthening its core; it just wants to do something which is minimal. Early 1990 and 2000 fiasco of tendering and not going for procurement. MFRA deal is another example of foolish endeavor.
 
Plodding worlds largest democracy vs an army with a country that uses India as the boogeyman to keep in power
 
India doesn't need Army's Structural inspirations from Pakistan.... Indian Army's power is de-centralized thats why Government Coup never happened in India like Pakistan since independence.... If Indian Army's power was centralized then then Indian Military would've ruled the country which is never great for Democracy...

Just, the slow Bureaucratic steps needs to be reduced for quick decision making and allocation of funds....
 
They are straight forward and try to keep them ahead by whichever means. Here we have indigenous capabilities and engineers but still look like beggars towards government for funding to perform R&D and product realisation.
No, its better for our country that Army needs to look at the govt. for funds allocation... Democractic Govt. should always have decision making powers rather than Military Generals... Just Slow Bureaucratic Steps needs to be reduced for quick decision making....
 
Ministry of defence should be lead by army bureaucrats and technocrats. Only this can change whole scenario in defence procurement process. Only army personnel can understand what is need of armed forces. Cut lengthy procurement process. Fast track reaserch and development. Even DRDO need organisational structural reforms.
Never... Decision making should always be in the hands of Democratically elected govt. otherwise Like Pakistan, India would also be facing Military Coups... De-centralization of Military power is the reason why Bharat never had military rule despite Indian Army being one of the most powerful army in the world.
 
Pakistani defence purchase are decided by their military not by any civilians. Their civilian govt is for namesake and do not have any power to strike deals without the approval of the Pak military establishment.
India being a democratic country has its own process for finalising deals. Combination of military and civilians.
 
One major factor is that pakistanis dont obsess over tech transfer and local manufacturing. What they want they quickly import it.
 
Its real shame for India, we can say that Pakistan is filling the numbers with Chinese jets but it doesn't matter, when war happens it doesn't matter from where you got those jets.
India is focusing on indigenous jets though engines remain imported, but the pace is not that much good. India is now at 1960s level.
China and Pakistan are watching this, and this has encourage Pakistan to up the peddle in Kashmir and daily we are seeing terrorist attack.
 
Two factors provide an advantage for Pak military over India -
Direct influence of Pak military in political decision making and foreign policy.
Substantial foreign military funding and loans from PRC and to a lesser extent US.
 
Becoz Pakistanis gets WB UNDP IMF UNBank and begging bowl funds which goes directly into military preparations only... Also, CCP giving them heavily discouted jets tanks and other missiles etc...
Sir ji, No Financing Agency such as WB, UNDP, IMF, ADB, European Banks will permit any weapons purchase from its funds given to any country. Pakistanis are much smarter than we think.. they spend almost all their own money in billions of dollars every year on defense development, purchase & implementation..; Most of their government organizations show heavy losses because their funds are actually drained off the record to Defense.. That's why we see them begging all the time for survival & economic development. Just wait 2 yrs or so when we will see them acquire Naval Assets, Submarines, 5th Gen Fighters, develop better guidance & effective deterrence new Missiles, land warfare eqpt, AEW&C eqpt, drone jammers, their own killer HALE drones .. just go into it & surprise yourself.. We on the other hand are talking too much & doing nothing;
 
The reason why Pakistan achieves swift procurement is because their politicians, the military and the scientific community all sing from the same hymn sheet!
 
IAF does not have clear vision for strengthening its core; it just wants to do something which is minimal. Early 1990 and 2000 fiasco of tendering and not going for procurement. MFRA deal is another example of foolish endeavor.
MRFA decision was a political decision not from the military nside. IAF actually wanted 100 plus Mirage 2000 and the jets to be manufactured by HAL with TOT. But their suggestions were overturned and MRCA came into existence.
Please do some research before you put the blame on someone else.
 
India doesn't need Army's Structural inspirations from Pakistan.... Indian Army's power is de-centralized thats why Government Coup never happened in India like Pakistan since independence.... If Indian Army's power was centralized then then Indian Military would've ruled the country which is never great for Democracy...

Just, the slow Bureaucratic steps needs to be reduced for quick decision making and allocation of funds....
Just by appointing Military people in a panel which decides on weapon purchase will not lead to military coup or military rule.
India is a diversified country with multiple languages and cultures. So military rule is.almost next to zero as far as India is concerned.
 
The difference is Pakistan does not have "Bureaucrats controlling all facets of public administration". The military more or less retains total control over defense production and procurement maters. While bureaucrats calling the all the shots itself is the problem, its compounded by IAS cadre trying to administer defense procurement in a manner similar to civil procurement. Defense procurement itself is uniquely technology intensive and requires a different technical skillset that most of IAS cadre do not possess.
 
No matter what... We should not compromise with Atmanirbharta...

Make in India is utmost necessary.

Pakistanis is in no position to war with India... At least for next 20 years... They have no dollar reserves...

Just focus on Atmanirbharta...

Cancel all phoren import...

Don't buckle down under pressure

In 10/20 years all our Atmanirbhar projects will become reality
Shamefully boosting of political propaganda of self reliance of the indigenous production when most of the people eyes for lower ranking jobs since early childhood to get anyway corruptly in the country
 
1. Never ridicule the enemy, learn from it.
2. Accepting our own problems is the first step in the direction of improvement.
So stop bashing pakistan just for the sake of bashing it. We have this century old problem of bureaucratic delays. Weed them out of defence procurements
 
The stupidity of these authors, can be diagnosed easily.
PIA is being sold because they cannot afford Aviation fuel. Their own Army Gen says we have no diesel for vehicles. Pakistan is being broken from within and outside. The cost of 1 Kg wheat is 300. Joke they are updating Aircraft. They may not exist as nation in 5 years
 
Your analysis sucks. The much tauted JF-17 does not have takers other than Pakistan. Even their acquisition might be a major debt-trap. Ontop of that you do have to have not only trained pilots but also also aviation fuel to fly them. Maybe these too will fly onwater like the water povered ballistic missiles of China.
 

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