no offense that's the problem with the Indian government it under funds your BIG projects, and so it drags out for too long or fails
just look at Kaveri engine. to develop and build a advance jet engine from scratch costs billions, but the Indian government has only spend less than a billion on the project over 2 decades.
and the F-35 is in a whole different class than Tejas Mk.2 or Mk3 and UCAVS are the future but you are still going to have 5th gen fighters til 2040-50
1 trillion is for thousands of F-35 over 40 years of operation.
the freaking F-35B is what killing the whole thing.
I have not heard of HAL complaints of lack of funds for Tejas. Govt. and IAF liberally give money to HAL.
Kaveri engine is being delayed as it is slightly overweight and is being modified accordingly.
Nobody in their sane minds is going to compare an F-35 with a Tejas. But F-35 without air superiority fighters may be shot down in a dogfight with a Tejas. ( Not accounting for BVR )
the 180 odd F-22 cannot provide cover for 1700 odd F-35 that would be procured for USAF, USMC and US Navy.
If 5th gen fighters will continue till 2040-50 then the next decade certainly does not belong to UCAV.
Can a predator or reaper shoot down even a F-16 Blk 15 which is now an ancient and outdated model ?