J10 as mrca ? Not gonna happen. Mark my words. It's not about brochure. Even COAS said we need something cutting edge tech. They are taking so much time to procure 16 jets. And it's not gonna be Chinese. Something double engine will come for sure. Forget Russians due to catsaa and those companies are blacklisted by USA
CAS mama also said we need something cost effective. BAF also terms MiG-29B (analog cockpit, non-BVR radar) as "ottadhunik" so there's that for "cutting edge".
Ultimately what they say in public means "kaker thang".
CAATSA apart DGDP is singing "kaata laga" from their experience of dealing with the Russians.
Even Russian made MiG-29s are getting upgraded in Belarus. Contract for MRO plant for Russian made BTR-80 has gone to the Ukrainians. How is that for a middle finger? Russians are out.
If it is not Chinese it will be 16 EFTs and then BAF will be going to sleep for another 10 years until F-7BG/BGIs start falling off the sky every other day like the MBs as there is no way the govt is approving more than 1 squadron of EFTs in the next 5 years due to costs.
Also please stop treating the specs listed in the failed 2017 tender for Russian jets as Gospel. Erase it from your memories as it has no bearing on procurement today. I see
@The Ronin make the same mistake.
The 16 jets approved DO NOT have to be twin engine.
My prefered options for 4.5 gen (until 5th gen becomes available and affordable) are as follows (most to least preferred) considering affordability and strategic benefits:
4 sqd Gripen E/F
2 sqd Gripen E/F + 2 sqd J-10C
3 sqd Gripen E/F + 1 sqd EFT
3 sqd J-10C + 1 sqd EFT
4 sqd J-10C
BAF morons fail to see the benefits of Gripen as detailed by
@Avicenna ,
@UKBengali ,
@Bilal Khan (Quwa) and myself many times so the most likely contenders for the 16 jets are J-10C and EFT.