Abingdonboy
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By 2018 the PLAAF will still largely be made up of outdated single role 3rd gen fighters and a few 4th gen SQDs. The so-called 5th gen fighter won't be in service for at least a decade from now and their true 5th gen credentials are yet to be proven.
To be honest these two nuclear armed Asian giants are very unlikely to engage in open hostility with one another.
Both nations' AFs are going through a pretty similar process of modernisation right now wherein they are replacing large numbers of 3rd gen interceptors with advanced multirole combat aircraft.
Having said that one should know that any conflict would likely centre around Tibet and India's NE and to this end the IAF has been actively shoring up this area for themselves- activating ALGs, deploying SAM batteries and stationed their top of the line SU-30MKIs in the region. And these MKIs with their OBGOS can take off with next to full weapons loads and can loiter for hours whereas the PLAAF fighters are not in such a fortunate position.
To be honest these two nuclear armed Asian giants are very unlikely to engage in open hostility with one another.
Both nations' AFs are going through a pretty similar process of modernisation right now wherein they are replacing large numbers of 3rd gen interceptors with advanced multirole combat aircraft.
Having said that one should know that any conflict would likely centre around Tibet and India's NE and to this end the IAF has been actively shoring up this area for themselves- activating ALGs, deploying SAM batteries and stationed their top of the line SU-30MKIs in the region. And these MKIs with their OBGOS can take off with next to full weapons loads and can loiter for hours whereas the PLAAF fighters are not in such a fortunate position.