V_Raman wrote:All these points might make technical sense. But MKI was sold as the next best thing to sliced bread! I still remember IAF chief gushing about it on induction and how it takes IAF to one of the most formidable AF in the world. Yet, it cannot even be used for a strike like Balakot?! From practical evidence - it looks like a 1:1 matchup with F16 today might take down a MKI. The reason the AMRAAMs missed was due to them being fired from too far out!! If that is correct- why do we need MKI when a LCA might be better with western radars and weapons. It looks like MKI is built for desert storm like CAP patrols done by f15s. Do we need so many aircrafts for such patrols?
Do you remember when the first MKI joined IAF? Let me refresh your memory. It was 2002. If your child was born then, they would be entering college now.
Since then the internet revolution happened, the wireless revolution happened, GPS happened, machine learning happened, deep neural networks happened. Today a $100 device has more smart intelligence than a $20K device when the first MKI arrived.
The IAF also choses what is appropriate for missions. For the precision strike missions, M2K offer the best combo. Some of the upgraded M2K have the latest EW suites allowing them to outrange the MKIs. When the MKIs get their upgrades or they too will regain their pole position in A2A combat.
And PAF has reduced the global kill-rate of AMRAAMs used in combat. With 1 hit on a receding Mig21 out of the 5-6 they fired. Only a video-game air-marshall will equate firing a missile as winning an air-battle.