IAF Need 100 Su-57, 100 AMCA and 200 Rafales to Challenge China's 300 J-20 Stealth Fighters

India's air power capabilities are facing a critical challenge in the face of China's growing military might. According to senior journalist Vishnu Som, India needs to make significant investments to achieve parity with China or risk facing a precarious security situation.

China's possession of nearly 300 J-20 stealth fighters underscores the urgency of India's situation. The acquisition of 50 additional Rafales, while a valuable addition, would not be sufficient to neutralize this threat. A comprehensive and aggressive approach is needed to bolster India's air power.

Key Strategies to Address the Challenge​

• Immediate Acquisition of Su-57 Fighters: India should consider purchasing 100 Su-57 fighters, provided they meet the advertised performance standards. These advanced stealth fighters could provide a significant deterrent against Chinese air power.
• Accelerated Development of AMCA: The development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) should be a national priority. India needs at least 100 AMCA jets, with the initial iterations meeting a minimum acceptable technology threshold.
• Expansion of Rafale Fleet: The Indian Air Force should acquire 200 Rafales to replace its aging fleet of MiG, Mirage 2000, and Jaguar aircraft. These fighters would serve as the primary heavy-hitters in India's air power arsenal.
• Modernization of Su-30 Fleet: The Su-30 fleet should be stabilized at 80 highly upgraded fighters. These aircraft could be used for heavy standoff weapons, as mini AWACS, and as standoff jammers.
• Production of Tejas Mk2: India should invest in and speed up the manufacture of Tejas Mk2 fighters to strengthen its low-end air power spectrum. A fleet of 50-60 Tejas Mk2 fighters could provide valuable capabilities.

Challenges and the Way Forward​

Implementing these strategies would require substantial financial resources and political will. India would need to allocate significant funds to defence, which could impact other sectors of the economy. Additionally, there may be challenges in acquiring the necessary technology and expertise to develop and manufacture advanced fighters.

The decision of how to address India's air power dilemma will depend on a careful assessment of the risks and benefits. While the cost may be significant, the consequences of failing to invest in air power could be even more severe. India must take decisive action to ensure its security in the face of growing regional challenges.

 

[Kira]

Su-57 - No chance due to a variety of issues.
AMCA - Yeah,you can quicken the development,but still it's a PSU led effort and frankly has multiple complicated tech development,so it will take a while like 10-15 years to reach fruition.
More Rafale - The most practical and obvious solution,but give the sheer costs and complexity of local production,it will take a while,but perhaps IAF could potentially acquire a few dozen Rafale squadrons in batches over the next few years but foregoing any ToT and local production.
Modernization of Su-30MKI - This is a very practical plan,which will infuse the old Russian birds with newer technologies like AESA and modern weapons,but the issue of its rather inefficient engines and heavy maintenance will persist still and not to mention the small issue of sanctions on its readiness levels in future.
Production of MK-2 - A personal favorite of mine,and certainly a good replacement for the greying Mirage and MiGs.Then again with the tardiness shown by NAL and HAL,it's not an entirely safe bet either.

 

[jazz]

Additional Rafael is the only current solution.
India should not go for new aircraft.
Side by Side same kind of wingman concept need to be fitted in all types of Indian Aircraft Inventory. In this era of Beyond visual Wingman/ Drone concept could bring disruptive Air power leep.

 

[Andy]

Immediate acquisition of Su57 my foot. They have made 20 odd in last 3 years. Pending domestic orders of 50+. Political issues separate.

 

[Anshuman Dev]

We need a pragmatic multipronged approach, especially as both China and Pakistan(with Chinese Stealth fighters) are going to posses Stealth fighters. Our own (ADA,HAL,DRDO) Institutions are "planning" for a Prototype in 4 years!!!! This is a sheer luxury we don't have...
We should have a Stealth fighter / credible deterrence within 2 years....
A few practical steps could be-

1. Strengthen Defences- OTH radars/Quantum Radars/ IRSTs/ Accoustic detection (like US Accoustic Siesmic Detection System used for low flying aircrafts)should be prioritised higher than AMCAs.
if we cannot attack China with stealth fighters atleast we can stop them entering our territories

2. Fast track AMCA, Tejas 2- GOI should call an emergency meeting & involve ALL capable private -public companies / Institutions having interest & experience in aviation / aerodefence for fast forwarding AMCA, Tejas 2, Quantum Radar technology, Over The Horizon (OTH) Radars.
Offer them Tax rebates, incentives and what nots...

3. Activate NRI Scientists / Pvt Consultants /Technicians on Stealth fighter and Defence against Stealth fighters.
it's a NATIONAL EMERGENCY. At least some might help the Motherland...
Offer them their proper compensation & recognition...

4. Try SU-57 / Korean Stealth fighter. Even a handful of fighters which can break the enemy defences can help SU 30 MKI, Rafales to bring the rear in....

5. Hypersonic missiles/ Brahmos 2.0 - Unlike fighter tech, Missile tech is now within India's grasp. Accelerate Hypersonic and uninterceptable missile development.
Even if our fighters are unable to target their territories, these uninterceptable missiles will take out their air fields and important military installations ...

All in all, we need an ALL OUT approach to counter China & Pak otherwise we might see a more humiliating scenario than the 1962 fiasco...

 

[sunilanalysis]

govt and ministry of defense and services have started worrying because vishnu som made some unique analysis which IAF and Govt does not know 🙂

 

[swatkats_razor]

Well, that's a given. When you cant even subdue a failed islamist pakii land how we can man up against a deep resourceful and cunning PLAAF. Here we can't even colcusively end MRFA tender we started.

The deep resourcedul and cunning PLAAF soldiers had ran away leaving their posts on a UN peace mission in Somalia.

To be precise, man-to-man, Pokistan indeed is a more of a threat at the personnal level to our soldiers. Only when you bring into the equation, military hardwares does the equation looks favourable for the Chinese.

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

What other choice GOI has, but his only dumb statement is buying 200 Rafale’s, does he want India to go bankrupt, may be if he pays $60-70Bln from his bank account, what is the need for expensive 4th gen Medium weight jet, why not buy a cheaper 4th gen jet like F21, Gripen, F/A-18 or even MIG-35, any way we are going to upgrade SU-30’s and make Tejas MK2 in the next 15-20 years.

You just can't choose a plane just because it is cheap.. You see if there a scope of upgrades in that if so how many block improvements.. How much it will cost for it lifecycle cost because lifecycle cost is 3× of off shelf cost... A rafale of 90 million $ will cost us 270 million for 40-45 years till it remains in service ( No weapons will be integrated for that you have make software & hardware changes ) , Mid-life refit & in every 10 years to have to do upgrades..

Mig-35 is out because it is rebranded Mig-29 even Russian aren't buying it , India not interested in USA fighter jets , Griphen is basically Tejas mk-2 but with a downgrade Version

 

[Banjo Strings]

Since money is a problem, why not go the route of missiles. India is already strong in this field.
Having a strong defensive and offensive missile force would be cheaper than buying the proposed number of fighter aircraft .
High levels of security will still be maintained.

 

[Himanshu Pandey Officials]

We have no choice. We have to buy SU 57

 

[Sridhar]

Since money is a problem, why not go the route of missiles. India is already strong in this field.
Having a strong defensive and offensive missile force would be cheaper than buying the proposed number of fighter aircraft .
High levels of security will still be maintained.

I agree with your point. But India needs jets for ensuring complete air dominance and also for special missions.

 

[Pad UwU]

You just can't choose a plane just because it is cheap.. You see if there a scope of upgrades in that if so how many block improvements.. How much it will cost for it lifecycle cost because lifecycle cost is 3× of off shelf cost... A rafale of 90 million $ will cost us 270 million for 40-45 years till it remains in service ( No weapons will be integrated for that you have make software & hardware changes ) , Mid-life refit & in every 10 years to have to do upgrades..

Mig-35 is out because it is rebranded Mig-29 even Russian aren't buying it , India not interested in USA fighter jets , Griphen is basically Tejas mk-2 but with a downgrade Version

Nope your wrong in explanation of mig35 as rebranded mig29 they look same on the out slide but different inside same goes to to any f15 a/bc/d/ and now the ex version they are different platform just same name designation.... F16 block 10/20/30/40/50 to 70 they are different platform just sharing some useful tech to one another

 

[Anant]

the number he suggested is absolute necessary for 2 front war with 2 5th gen and nuclear capable neighbour. He has already mentioned that it will break the bank , but you don't have choice when national security is at the stake. Decades of incompetence of ADA , DRDO and HAL, and ignorance of govt has put us on this spot when you are not left with any choice but be vulnerable and mercy of enemy.

It may be required for national security, but that is also a program we cannot afford. It is a catch-22, but it is something we have to manage without. This is not just a case of breaking the bank. The program Mr. Som suggested is utterly impossible.

 

[Pad UwU]

First Russia needs to win the Ukee war. Then it needs to demonstrate that it is not afraid of China to provide stealth fighters to its adversary. Doesn't look likely at this point.

They are not afraid of marketing their pseudo 5gen aircraft.... India is just choosey and always asking cheap price with a premium quality because we don't have enough money..... They say we are getting rich and GDP is rising already surpass UK... But in reality we can't afford premium quality weapons most of the time and we always begging for cheapest bid with ToT's bundle 😹😹😹😹

 

[Pad UwU]

Let Mr. Som also come up with the idea on just where we should get the money for 100 Su-57s and 200 Rafales from.

I mean, if only giving proposals is enough, here's mine: Acquire 200 Su-57s, 500 aircraft under MRFA, increase Tejas Mk 1A and Mk 2 production to 50 aircraft a year and place orders for 1,000 aircraft there. Also ensure AMCA is ready next year and get 1,000 of those as well. Moreover, let's get 5,000 tanks better than the Abrams and K2 to immediate retire the T-72s and T-90s for the Army. Also, let's scale up our Armed Forces by a factor of 2 and complete the modernisation tomorrow.

Sirf proposal dene se ho jaata hai to yeh raha mera proposal. Let Mr. Som ensure it is done OTIF.

Too many overprice rafale without ability to license produce or capabilities to produce our own version is waste of money.... Just go buy other cheaper 4.5gen aircraft that is way more useful to outnumber Chinese with our missile in it

 

[MANIVANNAN N]

MRCA must converted into stealth fighter program. No further investment in defence. It makes indisn people begger. Competitin will not be good one. Accelerate ssbn and ssn program. That is enough to challenge chinesh.

 

[Raja Raja Cholan]

It is just like walking aimlessly without much needed concerted effort for a successful outcome. We have the best brains in India but why are we struggling to produce desired results even after taking too much time. Right now in my opinion India should speed up and conclude the procurement of 114 MRFA fighters. Let Kaveri engines, Tejas Mk1A, Mk2, AMCA and whatever projects take their time in the meantime.

 

[Raja Raja Cholan]

What other choice GOI has, but his only dumb statement is buying 200 Rafale’s, does he want India to go bankrupt, may be if he pays $60-70Bln from his bank account, what is the need for expensive 4th gen Medium weight jet, why not buy a cheaper 4th gen jet like F21, Gripen, F/A-18 or even MIG-35, any way we are going to upgrade SU-30’s and make Tejas MK2 in the next 15-20 years.

The current threats looming from both sides of India would be waiting for India to produce Tejas Mk2 till 15 - 20 years when India is ready andwell equipped with a formidable air power. Wars don't give invitations it happens in blink of the eyes.

 

[Anubhav Sharma]

I have been saying from last 1 year just aquire 2-3 squadron of su 57 and then fast forward AMCA but people here have been drooling over last century US maal like f15 or f18.and now Russia knows we are desperate so they will definitely increase price and squeeze us

 

[Tanishq Bafila]

Nope your wrong in explanation of mig35 as rebranded mig29 they look same on the out slide but different inside same goes to to any f15 a/bc/d/ and now the ex version they are different platform just same name designation.... F16 block 10/20/30/40/50 to 70 they are different platform just sharing some useful tech to one another

Same thing , What Western countries does is they name it by block variants whereas Russia says that it a new jet based on Mig-29...

Mig-29 to Mig35 upgradation is similar to F-16 block 52 to Block 70/72.

India is only country which invest in past technology, countries focus on buying future technology or at least current technology which will remain relevant till 10 years at least..

We need jets in medium category, it the specific requirements of IAF & that's why they finalised Rafale & Eurofighter Typhoon last time too..

 

[Ranjeet Singh]

India can't defeat PLAAF with Russian origin fighters and not want to prolong the war for swift win we need F-15 EX-II , F-35A and NGAD and B-21 in future ! We should buy F-15 EX-II to supplement Super SU-30MKI, F-35 to supplement AMCA and F-36 to supplement Tejas-MK-II ! Even Su-30 MKI should be upgraded with French and Israeli tech support to make it a lethal platform !

 

[PKPRS]

You just can't choose a plane just because it is cheap.. You see if there a scope of upgrades in that if so how many block improvements.. How much it will cost for it lifecycle cost because lifecycle cost is 3× of off shelf cost... A rafale of 90 million $ will cost us 270 million for 40-45 years till it remains in service ( No weapons will be integrated for that you have make software & hardware changes ) , Mid-life refit & in every 10 years to have to do upgrades..

Mig-35 is out because it is rebranded Mig-29 even Russian aren't buying it , India not interested in USA fighter jets , Griphen is basically Tejas mk-2 but with a downgrade Version

Main thing is it has genes of our existing SU-30.

 

[Shine N s]

Su 57 should be bought .. India doesn't require rafale in that case .. SU @30 MKI will do the job along with existing Rafales .MK2 is round the corner .. India needs to look at a decade and half of deterrence after that we can become a threat once we have AMCA and MK2 in full strength . Defence spending will increase exponentially in 15 years .

 

[Pad UwU]

Same thing , What Western countries does is they name it by block variants whereas Russia says that it a new jet based on Mig-29...

Mig-29 to Mig35 upgradation is similar to F-16 block 52 to Block 70/72.

India is only country which invest in past technology, countries focus on buying future technology or at least current technology which will remain relevant till 10 years at least..

We need jets in medium category, it the specific requirements of IAF & that's why they finalised Rafale & Eurofighter Typhoon last time too..

Still every iteration of block or letter added designation are a new platform.... Look at f35i or adir version of Israel it's specs are different from regular f35a/b/c they just share some specs but not identical to regular ones

 

[Kaustubh07]

In true sense ... India has max 15 years with grace of +3 years ..We need to observe things in a practical manner . In india's defence budget 6.21 lakh crore rupees are allocated , but the catch is that out of this 1.21 lakh crore is for pension , which is important but should not be included in defence budget there should be a pension allotment ministry to allocate it .

Coming to the real strategic talk .... We should see the korean tactics that they made the KF21 but not the 5th gen they made it 4++ gen aircraft and are designed to fulfil the aircraft inventory they will keep their KF21 5th gen project in progress simultaneously .

India needs a huge amount of accurate but cheap air defence system .

SU-57 if on point , india should procure it immediately . They are not the best but with good strategies and ground support no body knows when a mig21 defeats a f-22 . Jai hind