PLAAF's J20 "Mighty Dragon" on final (Image source: Via/X)
Recent reports show that China is building its J-20 stealth fighters at an incredible pace. The Chengdu Aircraft Corporation is making about 120 jets every year. Right now, the Chinese air force (PLAAF) operates around 500 of these 5th gen aircraft.
Across the border, Indian Air Force faces a very different reality. The IAF is currently down to 31 combat squadrons instead of its required 42. Furthermore, India’s own stealth fighter project is still on paper. It will likely not fly until the mid-2030s.
This growing gap is a major security concern for India. However, it is not just a budget issue. The situation highlights a long-term problem with how the IAF plans for the future. The air force has historically ignored domestic research and preferred buying foreign equipment.
The Problem with Buying Off the Shelf
For decades, the IAF has acted more like a shopper than a developer. The leadership always wants the absolute best technology available on the global market. Because of this, India has bought aircraft like the Mirage 2000, the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and the Rafale.
These jets are highly capable in the air. However, buying foreign planes makes India dependent on other countries for spare parts and upgrades. If a crisis hits, India relies entirely on global supply chains to keep its fleet flying.
This mindset has also hurt local defense projects. The IAF has often treated domestic agencies like the DRDO and HAL as slow vendors rather than long-term partners. During development, the air force frequently changed its technical requirements to match newer foreign tech.
This habit trapped projects like the Tejas light fighter in decades of delays. China took a completely different route. They accepted early, imperfect versions of their own jets, put them into service, and improved them over time. The IAF did the opposite. It waited for perfect foreign solutions that arrived late and in small numbers.
The Industrial & Doctrinal Divide
China can build jets quickly because it connects its commercial industry with the military. Their massive aerospace factories handle supply chains efficiently and produce parts at scale. On the other hand, the Indian defense industry remains divided and slow. Even when India builds a good jet, supply issues cause major delays.
For example, finished Tejas fighters are currently sitting in factories because they lack engines. These engines come from the United States, and delivery has been delayed. Because the IAF did not invest in local engine development decades ago, foreign delays can easily stall Indian manufacturing.
Changing the Warfighting Strategy
To fix this imbalance, India needs to completely change its military planning. The air force cannot just write shopping lists and complain about delivery dates. The IAF must actively merge with the domestic defense industry.
First, tactics must match industrial reality. If local factories can only mass-produce older generation jets today, the air force must adapt. Planners can combine these jets with advanced electronics and cheap drones to create a powerful force.
Second, pilots and planners need to work inside local labs from day one. The air force must spend its own budget on basic research like software, radar, and jet engines.
Finally, the military should support private startups to break the monopoly of slow state-owned companies. This will drive faster timelines and better technology.
The message from China’s fast assembly lines is clear. You cannot win a modern war with a few expensive, imported jets. True air power comes from a strong domestic industry that can build aircraft at scale. The IAF must stop shopping and start building.
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