Abingdonboy
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By carrying compressed liquid oxygen bottles. And AFAIK no PLAAF fighters in the region have OBOGS right now whilst the IAF fighters DO (MKI, MIG-29UPG, Mirage 2000-5 mK2, JAGUAR IS/DARIN III and future assets like the LCA and Rafale). As a result PLAAF's fighters are forced to fly at medium altitudes not exceeding 14,000 feet, or fly for very limited durations at higher altitudes.Strange ... without On Board Oxygen Generating System, how can fighter flight >5000m ? I think all 3-gen fighters can fly over that altitude.
Couple this with the fact that the much touted higher topography of Tibet vis-a-vis Indian bases means that fighters launching from Tibet at these higher altitudes may have to make a compromise between weapon load and fuel because of the weight limitations at those altitudes imposed by the thinner air (less lift), IAF fighters will face NO such issues taking off and can thus fly "fat" ie heavy fuel and full weapon's load.
On this front India is strikingly ahead.
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