Atleast, we say JF17 is co-produced. Why don't you say so?
Because LCA is not a co-produced, or a co-developed fighter project! The development is planed and funded by India and the fighter will be produced in India as well, but like any other country we make use of foreign parts, or foreign industry partners. Same goes for Saab Gripen, which is an indigenous development of Sweden, allthough many major parts, or industrial partners are from UK, or US.
When you compare these 2 developments with JF 17, you actually have to say, FC 1 is an indigenous development of China, because they developed, funded and produced it. Pakistan did just procured a part of the rights by taking some parts of the funding, the development on the other side is still mainly Chinese and even to say it is co-produced is a bit far-fetched, because most of the first 100 JF 17 will be assembled in Pakistan only, but produced in China isn't it? That is more comparable to our MKI deal, because you can licence produce the fighter as well and customise it with some indigenous avionics parts, or (if available) western techs.
Now to your videos, it doesn't really make sense to compare both fighters with different criteria, because when you check LCA based on the following points, you have to do it for JF 17 as well don't you think?
- Design (Indian, with French consultancy)
- Engine (Indian development failed, replaced with US engine)
- Flight controls (Indian with foreign parts)
- Avionics (Mainly Indian, with some co-developments like the EWS)
- Radar (Indian under development with some Israeli parts, will replace Elta 2032 later, maybe even when serial production starts)
- Weapons (mix of Indian and foreign)
- Design (Chinese, with Mikoyan consultancy)
- Engine (Russian, will later replaced by Chinese)
- Flight controls (Corret me if I'm not wrong here, but I think it's Chinese as well)
- Avionics (mainly Chinese, with some minor Pakistani parts, if possible PAF would replace the Chinese with western counterparts)
- Radar (Chinese, possibly with some Russian links as well)
- Weapons (Chinese)
Indigenous doesn't mean all techs and parts has to be developed or produced in the developing country, that's only a fake reason to flaime bait and it's kind of amazing how obsessed some Pakistanis are to say LCA is not, while their own fighter project is even far away from beeing indigenous.
You asked of what we are proud of with LCA? Most likely on the same things why you might be proud of JF 17, because it is the first step for both of our countries to be independent. We don't have to take what others are ready to offer, but can develop the fighter to our requirements, we can customise it as we like, we don't have to fear restrictions, or to get downgraded parts even sanctions will don't hit the operational capability of both forces (at least when LCA gets Kaveri-Snecma and JF17 gets Chinese engine) and most of all, it is the first step of both aero industries in such developments, that really ends in an operational fighter for our forces.
The difference is we might have more reason to be proud of, because even if some things are delayed, or parts of the development failed, we will learn form them and make it better next time. LCA as a fighter for IAF might not be a game changer, but for our aero industry and our country it is, because we are on the right way to self reliance!