We don't tout the JF as 100% indigenous product.
Everyone knows that the JF it self, was a spinoff from another project in past.
Everyone knows that the engines are russian, avionics are chineese, etc.
Fact of the matter is that unlike india, pakistan was an is a highly sanctioned country.
Getting accepted in any reputable university in US / Europe for fluid dynamics and God forbid Nuclear engineering etc is difficult if not impossible.
India on the other hand, has almost the easiest access and an overwhelming large base of engineers.
Fact, is that china is the world's most effective and efficient production base in the world.
Similarly, it is well known that Tejas uses critical parts from other countries. Our MOD often publishes the amount of non indigenous systems usage. However, having said that, the usage of foreign systems does not absolve facts of indigenous design, some of which are on the plane and some others falling short of requirements. India does have an engine program that was attached to Tejas, an indigenous radar and many sub systems that will eventually find its way back to the platform.
There are other systems that have spun off from the Tejas and even being used by Boeing, Airbus and Race car manufactures to design, analyze composites or help in reduction of weight. We are extremely proud of such achievements and equally disappointed in some others.
http://www.aeromag.in/Magazines/6868929262.pdf
(See Page 10)
Finally, just because you don't claim a 100% indigenous product doesn't mean we cant ask you the percentage or even a list of parts that were completely design, developed and made in Pakistan from scratch. Of course, for some one already using the "we don't claim an indigenous design", and having no fact sheet on Pakistan' contribution, the number of planes flying seem to be the only claim to fame. Hence, I and many others here keep saying, don't compare a platform to a product - JF17 is only a product that Pakistan can manufacture from kits and systems developed outside, Vs Tejas -a platform.
Lastly, you do bring up a valid and important point about availability of top engineers. India goes way beyond how it uses resources for it's defense needs. I can't tell you much but if you are interested, look which poor state in the US Abdul Kalam visited between 2006-2010, and that too twice!!! A university in that state has decent ranking and very few Indian Students. A little bit of research will point you to an Indian Professor and his team (Of all Indian orgin). He is an international expert in nano-tubes technology, a study of his grants, will tell you where the grant money came from. I can give you several examples, but the reason why I did quote this example is how any country can find resources when it's difficult to find one in your own country.
