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In addition to that IAF has spent three times more money than PAF.
Mani, i am not sure whether i fulfill your criteria or not but PAF did evaluate Ukrainian SU-27s and 30s in late 90s.
Our pilots regularly fly Chinese Flankers for specific purposes even today
Regarding IAF having 26.5 sqds by 2015
I think is being too pessimestic if your indian and TOO OPTIMISTIC if your a Pakistani.
The indians are throwing some serious money $$$$$ at their military power esp the Navy and Air force
The IAF will outspend PAF by about $7 to $1 in this period and despite USA grant aid & Chinease soft loans I doubt very much that PAF & IAF will no the same.
Today out of 400 FIGHTERS IN PAF over 350 are VINTAGE Mirage 5 & F7 frm china.
I think by 2015 PAF will probably field around 80 F16 MLU/52 + 100 Thunders AND be ready to induct 36 J10B from China.
This equals about 216 planes
** i am basing this on todays order book IT COULD change..
For IAF by 2015
230- SU30MKI (could be 272 IF THE 42 additional mki are being ordered as reported during putin vist last week)
60+ MIG29 SMT + 45 MIG29K for Navy
50 mirage2000-5 upg
70 jaguar up darin 2
40 Tejas block 1 (assuming ioc in 2011)
40+ MMRCA (first of 126 oroder to be placed by year end trials finishing in india as we speak) F18/SH or Typhoon fron runners.
*** Again this is wat we are hearing is happening at present although it could change depending on growth of indian GDP and very large military budget by 2015.
Thats about 500 planes
Cannot see 42 Sqds in IAF for at least 10 years even longer.
Simple reason the Fighters that india is inducting or planning to induct ARE HIGH END very expensive.
.......
For 42SQDS @ 18 planes per sdq = 776 front planes.
.......
My Guess is 35 sqds by 2020 max.
13 Su30mki (240+) (plans are for 230+40... can increase depending on LCA/MMRCA status)
7 MMRCA (126)
5 LCA (100)
3 MIRAGE 2000(50)
3 MIG29SMT (60)
4 Jaguar darin 2 (70)
640 planes approx... at best by 2020 excluding Navy which may have 70+ Mig29K and sea harriers upgraded
To keep things in perspective, we should have 300+ mki's by 2020. IAF chief in a recent interview on television told that additional mki orders are certain to keep up the numbers. IAF has decided to fill up any shortfall with mki's. Also, we have close to 100 jaguars (not 70). Also consider the fact that we should have 20-40 PAKFA by 2020 (if things go as planned)
This should take us to 40 squadrons by 2020. Ofcourse what actually happens is a big "?". ACM seems to believe the number would be 40+!!