A commentator attributed the supposed surge in demand for Chinese arms to three factors: Pakistan’s self-declared May 2025 victory, rising geopolitical uncertainty, and China’s price advantage.
Pakistan lacks capacity to deliver aircraft at pace suggested by its claimed contracts as it depends on China for avionics, electronic warfare, weapons, and on Russia for engines.
Addressing press conference ahead of Air Force Day, Air Force chief A.P. Singh also trashed Pakistan's claims about Indian losses during Op Sindoor as 'Manohar Kahaniyan'.
While the IAF remains committed to the Tejas programme and has placed orders for 180 Tejas Mk1A, the force is eagerly waiting for the Tejas Mk 2 version.
India has paid a steep price for HAL’s unchecked dominance, evident in the MiG-era overhauls, the decades-long Tejas saga, and the troubled ALH programme.
The Kaveri experience is a story of a glass more than half full. We have developed a functional engine and accrued data points and experience at a relatively low cost. Now is the time to build better.
HAL has so far been the only entity in India to manufacture fighter planes. It will now have to compete against private companies, like TATA, Adani, L&T and other interested players.
Less than a year before the First Constitutional Amendment, Patel wrote to Nehru about Supreme Court rulings that had 'knocked the bottom out' of press control laws.
IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.
IAF chief in 2026- Pakistan doesn’t exist anymore it was destroyed in OP Sindoor