Flag waving nationalistic sentiment cannot be confused with the reality that IAF have to deal with.
Technology is making pilot skill less of a factor than in the past. The fighter with the best technology, stealth, weapons and radar and avionics wins. Its no longer about dog-fighting tactics and making circles in close air combat and trying to shoot your enemy down.
So which pilot in the world wants to fly in a fighter with a 3rd generation Airframe and Aerodynamics mixed in with some 4th Gen avionics, etc. Its fine for training young pilots, and fly-by's at the air show. I seriously dont think any IAF pilot wants to be in an LCA when he is faced with a Pak F-16 with the latest block upgrades.
Likewise no Chinese pilot or Pak Pilot in a JF17 would want to be in a fight with an Indian Rafale or SU30MKI.
Countries that have a lot of money can have many different fighters in the fleet. Countries that have a limited defense budget need to get to have a smaller variety of aircraft to reduce the cost of maintenance and training.
If India had not taken so long to pull trigger for the Rafale deal.....they could have probably bought double the number of planes at a much lower cost per aircraft.
Technology is making pilot skill less of a factor than in the past. The fighter with the best technology, stealth, weapons and radar and avionics wins. Its no longer about dog-fighting tactics and making circles in close air combat and trying to shoot your enemy down.
So which pilot in the world wants to fly in a fighter with a 3rd generation Airframe and Aerodynamics mixed in with some 4th Gen avionics, etc. Its fine for training young pilots, and fly-by's at the air show. I seriously dont think any IAF pilot wants to be in an LCA when he is faced with a Pak F-16 with the latest block upgrades.
Likewise no Chinese pilot or Pak Pilot in a JF17 would want to be in a fight with an Indian Rafale or SU30MKI.
Countries that have a lot of money can have many different fighters in the fleet. Countries that have a limited defense budget need to get to have a smaller variety of aircraft to reduce the cost of maintenance and training.
If India had not taken so long to pull trigger for the Rafale deal.....they could have probably bought double the number of planes at a much lower cost per aircraft.