China has recently deployed J-10 fighter jets near the Line of Actual Control with India and these fighter planes have been deployed just 300 kilometers away from the Indian base where India has deployed Rafale jets purchased from France.
This report has come at a time when a report has claimed, citing satellite images, that China has deployed its fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft J-20 near the Sikkim border. But, the dangerous thing is that not only China, but Pakistan has also deployed all-weather J-10 fighter jets purchased from China very close to the Indian border.
Pakistan has inducted and deployed these single-engine multi-role fighter jets specifically to counter the French Rafale of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The question is, are India’s two frontline fighter jets – Rafale and LCA Tejas MK1A – capable of countering the Chinese J-10 fighter jet?
Dangerous conspiracy of enemies near the Indian border
A report in the Eurasian Times said that China has deployed these fighter jets along with 6 J-20 stealth fighter jets at Shigatse Airbase in Tibet, which is located less than 300 kilometers from Hasimara Air Base in West Bengal. India has deployed its Rafale fighter jets at Hasimara Air Base. Whereas, India does not currently have a fifth generation aircraft in its arsenal.
Satellite images of the deployment of Chinese fighter jets come at a time when India has given the green signal to the long-standing demand of creating a new army division for deployment in eastern Ladakh. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated continuously since the Galwan conflict in 2020 and Beijing has described the redeployment of 10,000 Indian Army personnel as not conducive to peace and stability in the region.
Is there a possibility of conflict breaking out on LAC?
Although the leaders of both India and China are talking about regional peace and stability, but then the question arises that what is the purpose of deploying stealth fighter jets?
The Indian Army has geared up to give a befitting reply to any Chinese aggression on the LAC. During his visit to the US, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pandey has been given detailed and technical-indications intelligence and satellite information on Chinese military activities in Tibet and neighboring provinces.
Experts say that India is certainly carrying out construction work at a rapid pace in the border areas, but the Indian Air Force needs an immediate boost to match the collective capabilities of both its neighbors. Experts believe that India needs to add stealth fighter jets to its fleet to counter the Chinese stealth fighter jets.
India has purchased 4.5 generation Rafale fighter jets from France, but the decreasing number of fighter squadrons is a matter of concern for India.
But, since the Rafale deal, the delivery of the LCA Tejas Mk1A has been pushed back, and there has been no movement on the acquisition of 114 Medium Multi Role Fighter Aircraft or additional Rafale fighter jets.
When India added French Rafale fighter jets to its fleet, Pakistan added J-10 fighter jets to its fighter fleet to respond. It is equipped with an indigenous AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) fire-control radar. This aircraft is capable of flying in all weather conditions. Its main role is air-to-air combat, but it can also perform attack missions.
J-10 vs Rafale
Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), an Indian Air Force fighter test pilot and former director general of the Centre for Air Power Studies, believes that comparison between the J-10CE and Rafale fighter jets is “somewhat unfair” as the Rafale is a twin-engine fighter and its electronic warfare capabilities are unmatched.
The senior IAF official said, “Both J-10 and Rafale can be called 4.5 generation multirole fighter aircraft having similar performance and capabilities in some respects. However, Rafale has a strong edge over J-10 in terms of technology, weapons, aero-engines and combat experience.”
Both fighter jets are placed in the 4.5 generation category, but the electronic warfare suites of Rafale are the best in the world. Comparing the two fighter jets, Air Marshal Chopra concluded, “Rafale has been used in combat operations in Mali, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Syria. But, the J-10 fighter jet has so far only carried out joint exercises with Pakistan.”
Therefore, the war fighting capability of this aircraft is yet to be tested. But the problem is that India has only 36 fighter aircraft, while its enemies are present on both sides.
LCA Mk1A Vs J-10C
When the Chinese J-10 fighter jet is compared with the latest variant of India’s indigenous fighter jet LCA Mk1A, the situation is reversed. The Indian Air Force has placed a huge bet on this fighter jet and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been given orders to manufacture 83 aircraft in the first instance and 97 in the second instance.
There are indications that HAL has delayed the delivery of the LCA Mk1A fighter jets to mid-2024 due to difficulties in the global supply chain. The LCA Tejas Mk1A is to replace the MiG-21 Bison aircraft. In other words, the Soviet-vintage fighter aircraft MiG-21 will be phased out from the Indian Army. And now all that is awaited is the delivery.
The Indian Air Force needs to maintain 42 squadrons to maintain parity in war with both its enemies. But, at present, its number has come down to 31 fighter squadrons. Therefore, until India gets the delivery of Mk1A fighter aircraft, the MIG-21 will not be retired from the Indian Air Force.
If we talk about technology, the Chinese J-10 is bigger, heavier and faster than the Indian Tejas LCA, but Tejas has better range and better agility. At the same time, J-10C has already been deployed in China and Pakistan, while LCA Tejas MK1A is still on the assembly line.
Multirole fighter aircraft for IAF?
The Indian Air Force made a strong effort to procure 114 Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), but the Indian government did not relent and focused on Make in India. It is estimated that if the government had moved forward to procure 114 MRFA, it would have required a budget of at least $20 billion.
But experts say that while there is no doubt that the capabilities of the Indian Air Force have grown significantly, there is an urgent need to focus on its combat capability and the strength of its fighter aircraft and combat support platforms. The Indian Air Force’s deterrent capability to deter enemies is currently not keeping pace with the existing fleet.
Air Marshal Anil Khosla, former deputy chief of the Indian Air Force, told the EurAsian Times that it is good to build the indigenous Tejas fighter jet, but “a new generation of multi-role aircraft is needed to maintain a balanced force (until the indigenous Tejas Mk II and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft are ready).”
Khosla said, “MRFA aircraft need to be bought (probably in the next tranche of defence spending). These should be bought in phases (probably two to three squadrons at a time). This will defer the overall expenditure some time and we will get better technology and facilities later.” Despite the Indian government’s push to ‘Make in India’ for modernisation of the armed forces, the LCA Mk2 project has not yet received government funding. This means it is still a dream.”
By when will LCA Tejas Mk-2 be ready?
Tejas Mk 2 aims to provide the Indian Air Force with a 4.5 generation medium weight fighter aircraft. It is considered to be an advanced variant of Tejas Mk 1A. India’s Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs (CCS) officially approved the project for the development, flight testing and certification of the fighter aircraft on 1 September 2022. It has approved US$809.17 million.
However, this funding was linked to US government approval for 100 per cent transfer of engine technology to India.
The LCA Mk-2 will have tremendous range and endurance. The Mk-2 fighter aircraft will be 1,350 mm longer and have canards, and can carry a payload of 6,500 kg, while the LCA can carry a payload of 3, 500 kg. The LCA Mk-2 will have a General Electric F414-INS6 engine (F404 was used in earlier LCA variants).
The maximum speed of the LCA Mk2 is expected to be 1.8 Mach and the service ceiling is 50,000 feet. Heavy weapons of the SCALP class, Crystal Maze and Spice-2000 can also be installed in the Mk-2. It is believed that the Indian Air Force can order at least 200 LCA Mk2 fighter aircraft.
