Exactly, that's why going for LCA was the right way, the problem is only that we didn't have achieved anything apart from basics in the aero field through this development after so many years. The development is still not finished, the serial production didn't started, the engine developments failed, the radar is uncertain and so on.
So we still have a long way to go to reach the goal and should waste time with dreaming about new developments.
Wrong, because the mismanagement lead into failures in the tech developments, ADA designed to fighter too draggy and too heavy, DRDO failed to develop the engine and now struggle with the radar, ADA (according to IN officials) totally underestimated the chances needed to navalise a fighter...
So it's a mix of both that caused a good project to suffer that much!
Not only that, but also partners with knowledge and experience in the field of design, NG radar, engine and avionic technologies, because we lack behind in these fields, even for 4th gen standards.
Oh please, we constantly denied any Russian involvement in LCA, because we thought their techs don't offer the quality we wanted and suddenly we CHOSE to simply taka a Russian design, a Russian engine and a Russian radar? These are the core fields of a fighter development and we don't participate in them, because we are at least a generation behind what would be needed for such a fighter and the same developments for LCA are obvious proves for that!