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A friend at Loheygaon airforce base, currently undergoing combat jet training has said to me and I quote, "we aren't ready yet, cause there aren't many birds fit enough to take up a war", and in his own words and I quote again, "Tejas was inducted in the IAF to make some of the top brasses, and people higher on the food chain happy, we at IAF think it's just an hour of the need, it's no special plane at all, but a indigenous manufacturing have high hope for us in future".
I wonder why your quote was skipped, NOT arousing enough attention. As far as I can see, this quote is critical to several assumptions here people deemed
1) It says how even young IAF pilots think of LCA. While many members here can't wait to shoot IAF top brass under treason charge, and based on which think all India need is more production lines of LCA, instead acquiring F16 (or other single engine crafts) . But young pilots' perception is telling another story.
The famous quote "if you don't want rotten apple, go to the apple tree. Forget the barrel!!".
But here we saw even young pilots regard LCA "...think it's just an hour of the need". Means it's totally contrary to what most members think only IAF top brass try to discourage LCA.
2) The hope is "in future". In this case, means India may not have too many choices "right now".
As a foreigner (and also someone who deem Canada defense industry prone to USA MIC abuse), I wholeheartedly agree that India should build up its self-reliance. However, as a son of veteran, I also want to stress on fulfilling the needs of first-line combatant - easy: it's they are risking their lives. They have every right to ask for best equipment.
I don't think I need to go further. The conclusion is clear there!!