There was no love lost for LCA, when until 2016 neither IAF, nor HAL was interested with it. The writing on the wall came with GoI scraping MRCA and ordering only 36 Rafale. IAF still tried not giving up, used delaying tactics through MK1A version in return for SE RFI (which got converted in to everything except F22/F35) MMRCA 2.0
HAL realized, it has nothing on it's plate (no Rafale, no Su57), so now there is sudden pyaar on LCA.
IAF even tried to delay induction, by carrying out 4 years price negotiation! And what did they do ultimately? Reduce the PBL scope! It is no co-incidence that the contract got signed AFTER the current chief, with a history with LCA, took office. It doesn't require too much thinking to notice that getting a chief with LCA background is no co-incidence either.
It is the current chief, who has for the first time provided a categorical support to AMCA.
The others in the IAF have now got the message with the appointment of the current chief and nowhere to be seen AON for MMRCA 2.0. The jump in the badwagon, is due to the clear message in the political wind.
You can still notice the disdain in SM from some of the former IAF, towards our plans to go for MK2, AMCA & TEDBF.. and the love towards Rafale..