The real argument is the purpose of the planes. See, Pakistan faces one threat and for that we are readying ourselves with an aircraft designed to take on the Indian Air force with its different planes. The planners have decided to replace the old fighters with the Thunder to build a strong backbone on which to further build. The plane is in proper production and has been tested in different scenarios including that of the operation against TTP.
The argument of which plane or what can happen is another debate but the planners are moving on a set course trying to make a strong air force which is less dependant with time on western systems in general.
We plan to replace most of the jets by 2020 and the target seems very achievable. They may not all feature the latest in sub systems but flying in formation they will be a formidable force.
While Pakistan is slowly but surely phasing out the obsolete air planes that were a very weak back bone even the current JF 17 is a vast improvement the Indian Air force because of its stubbornness has many squadrons now on paper only which are deemed air worthy but are not being flown or being flown sparingly which is not a good sign.
The Indian Air force is not learning from the Indian Navy and is in love with foreign products. They can not decide what route to go and make the Tejas jump hoops while it should have been inducted at least 2 years ago and reached a far greater number of 100 plus to take on the two sided war threat that the Air force plans and trains for.
But instead even now the future of the Tejas is in doubt with the F 16, F 18 and Rafales.
The question the people need to ask the Indian air force is that the latest threat perception and war against China shown by the United States shows the same F 16s and F 18s will not be enough to take on the Chinese air force in a few years time, because the J10, J11 and other flankers are a formidable force with the latest in sub systems being inducted in them. When the newer stealth fighters in route, a formidable air defence system in place, and even more shall be learnt once the s 400 reaches and is understood by the Chinese, the plan of two sided war can not be won by the induction of these planes.
India had a very good jet, it has ruined it by its paper work, and not let it flourish because of its love for foreign products.
The hardest thing is not to design a jet, but to convince the nation that the jet is the one which will be chosen and there is where India has failed.
4th generation technology which is going to be obsolete in a few years is being moved to India and production will reach peak levels in the 2020 range, which is when the planes will already be nearing their days of air dominance.
India should have stuck with the Su 30 and its orders, and the back bone should have been the Tejas which would have now given India ample time to assimilate the Rafale properly into its fold with funds to spare because of savings on the Tejas, and no time crunch.
@Oscar what time line will the Tejas have in terms of becoming obsolete in reference to China and how effective will they be against Pakistan with their 300km range in any war. I believe we are not going to really enter Indian air space and concentrate more on our missiles to target different positions of interest.