Once in a while you come across very real, and talented posts from our Indian members. And you wonder....why could it not be like this on all posts? But very well summed up post. Good work
I disagree with this statement. The IAF would have a distinct advantage if the other side was mounting an offense inside the Indian territory, meaning attacked her airbases. But here, 80% of the time in any conflict, the IAF's jets will be mounting offense inside Pakistan. So at that time, you are at a disadvantage as the PAF will be using ALL of their sensors to fight the IAF and defend their country.
The term "Mini Awacs" isn't a wonder of the world. Pretty much all American aircraft do that. The term means Long range radar and data link capability. Which, the F-16's and the F-15's and the F-14's have been practicing for decades. In this Indo-Pak theater, an F-16's or a JFT's radar and data link capability would be very similar to the SU-30's. Majority of the war will be fought, from either border, within 100-150 KM area, as the PAF's FOB's are within 100 KM of any border. So for the SU-30's, to monitor air traffic around Islamabad, when they are attacking Lahore, would be useless, so the "mini AWACS", is then downgraded to a similar level of range and data link, compared to a JFT or the -16.
SU-30's range for a F-16 sized fighter aircraft isn't more than 130-150KM. Similar range that the F-16's and the JFT will have to detect the SU-30, due to her much larger side. Plus both sides have AWACS and Civilian air traffic control radar, which also see over 100 KM across the border. So AWACS or Mini Awacs aren't really bringing in something that didn't exist before.
But how does "introducing AESA" change the face of the warfare in South Asia??
. This is where the thread and a good post, got off and went back to Propaganda!!
Any nation using 4th Gen jets today, will have AESA upgrades. That's just the future. When the world is onto the Smart Phones, no one would use that 5 Pound Motorola phone with a 6 inch antenna. Does anyone STILL use the Video tapes, instead of DVD's???
Pakistan will get AESA in their -16's, JFT's and whatever they get in the future. If they decide to get J-11D tomorrow, or J-10C, they'll become the first country to introduce AESA. BTW, Erieye and Karakoram Eagle AWACS and the Phalcon, all use AESA's. And they've already been introduced. Each side knows what AESA is, how it works and what, when, and how's of the tech.
No one's discounting the MKI. However, in my experience, the topic's been, don't discount the -16's, the JFT, and the PAF's ELINT capability. MKI is an excellent platform, but now a days, the physical platform is depending upon the quality of the missile fired at it.