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I think you have a problem with everything Indian..if you think this isn't credible, how is it that you cover Chinese aviation where almost nothing comes officially and most of it is from fanboys?
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Thanks for your reply and this indeed serious question: My point is - and that's valid for Russia too and most of all Turkey (see the TFX) - that in contrast to China there is always a lot of noise, so many chest-bumping announcements especially in social media but also official sources. They are claiming the world, they are all telling you this and that and
SOON (IMO the most often word used in such posts) there
WILL (IMO the second most often word used in such posts) be this and that ... and after watching the scene since years, barely anything happens, if it happens it is most often delayed, at much higher cost and worse performing than originally proclaimed.
That alone is not an issue, since delays and cost-overruns are pretty standard for any such major project, but the magnitude of discrepancy between claims and reality is vastly larger for Russia and India in comparison to China.
A reason or explanation is surely, that China barely announces so much, so that delays failures and issues become less apparent, but it is most of all this point of concern.
Another is the typical bias - like the one exemplified just a few days ago with the new carrier borne fighter:
My post indeed to mock was "look, it seems to be a Rafale clone", while all Indians I know always claim, only Chinese copy regardless how huge the differences.
And right the first replies here and at other social media were as expected:
- no, see the differences, much larger than between J-20 and F-22, FC-31 and F-31 or J-10 and Lavi
- NO, Indians are all honest peoples, they invent their designs on their own, we respect intellectual properties ... only Chinese steal!
- ...
I could continue this ridiculousness until afternoon and that's my point: It is a huge double standard.
Otherwise I have nothing against India nor its achievements. I admire its peoples, the country, culture, history and food as much as I admire China as a foreigner. I'm always surprised how much different both cultures evolved influenced by politics and religion thru history and where both are now.
As such I have in all honest nothing against "all Indian", but I have issues with showing off and boaster, especially since others are made responsible for everything and every failure simply because you started with an unrealistic approach. And so back to the topic: With everything I know and have learned in recent years, it is illusory to assume that HAL / ADA or whoever will successfully complete the Tejas Mk.1A, Tejas Mk.2, TEDBF / ORCA and AMCA by 2026 or 2030. And that's not because I wouldn't grant India anything, but simply the experience with the LCA program, the HJT-36, ... and much more.