How about just make a decision. India is losing credibility fast among the companies. Next time they are going to ask for a security deposit before committing any resources to the bidding process.
Actually, the recent delays are caused by companies like Mig, or Saab, that wasn't able to field their fighters to the trials in time.
Dominance of the battle air space is hardly assured in this theatre compared to the western one. An attritional air battle is likely considering the lack of clear technological superiority among the combatant air forces. However an attritional battle will eventually see the PLAAF gain a clear upperhand due to the breadth and depth of the Chinese aerospace industry compared to the Indian one. This scenario would obviously get reversed on the western front.
Actually that is the key point in MMRCA, IAF will never counter the numerical superiority of PLAAF, therefor the addition of technological superior fighters, weapons, or techs is a logical step for deterrance. It was Chinas military build up that caused even the re-think of the leaders and forces. Without placing missiles and troops in Tibet, or massive build up of infrastructure I bet we would have gone with Mirage 2000-5s long ago.
The writing is on the wall- the arrival of the J20 shows a technological lead that would negate Indian aircraft imports including the FGFA when it comes in. The Chinese have home grown technology and would possibly deploy more than the 147 F22s by the 2020-2025 time frame if not earlier. Indian imports will likely face a death spiral.India must harness every iota of National Will to face this challenge otherwise the future is bleak.
That's a misconception imo, because although there is no doubt that the Chinese Aero industry has a lead over Indian (and I stated this often before), it is more than obvious that they had and still have massive input of foreign developments, while still facing similar problems like India does in the engine developments.
Anybody that looks at J20 without bias, must admit that the nose, cockpit section is more than just close resembling the F22, just like the delta canard design and the back part is more than resembling the Mig 1.44 and that's not even meant in a bad way, but shows where they got influence, or even help from. It is well known that Russian companies like Mig has good relations to China and the Mig 1.44 was their offer for the NG Russian fighter, that lost to Sukhois design. It was expected for years, that Mig sold the design, or developments parts to China and even all the amateur PS and graphics on the net, that guessed the look of the coming Chinese stealth fighter, took that Mig design as the base.
However, what is impressing is the pace that China obviously has in the development of J20, with the first flight only a year after T-50 and even look (at least from what we can see so far) looks like they are at a further development stage than Russia, because T-50 is clearly still an early prototype yet. I think that money is the biggest advantage for China here, but besides of J20 I still say J10B will be the development to see how far China catched up to Russia, or the western countries.
J10B imo will have the most ammount of own developments like design changes for lower RCS, AESA radar, or indigenous engine in high numbers, all in all a 4.5 gen fighter comparable to MMRCAs. Stealth design of J20 is one thing, but a stealth fighter is nothing without NG radar, avionics, or engines and J10B is the key to that.
I also expect more J10, or J11Bs on the Indo - Chinese borders than J20, because the US, South Korean and Japanese fighters are the main threat for China, that's why they will be placed mainly on their eastern borders anyway. Not to mention that an 5. gen figther for India will take quiet some time to arrive to pose a threat to PLAAF.
China is clearly pushing to the top in all fields, but also still has to learn a lot to be comparable to western countries in the aero field.
Btw, in generall I find it very interesting that Asia is not only catching up to Europe so fast, but in some fields even overtaking them so easily. By 2025 China, Russia, Japan, India and South Korea will field own stealth fighters, or even UCAVs and be at least on par with Europe!