Already explained what the CAS meant.
https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/jf17...-future-iaf-chief.555649/page-9#post-10453889
There was no nonsense in what he said. The only nonsense comes from what was interpreted from his words.
Now if the definitive version of the LCA, the LCA Mk1A, set to arrive from 2021 onwards, comes with AESA, advanced EW, sensor fusion etc, then wouldn't it be the aircraft of the future versus the currently operational JF-17 with older technologies, which is the aircraft of the present?
This is what he meant by "Depends on what we equip Tejas with".
Why are people overthinking this stuff?
When comparing Tejas and JF-17, you guys used to argue that the JF-17 is operational today (meaning it is available in the present) while the Tejas is not (meaning it will be operational in the future). So why are you now arguing against your own arguments when the CAS only said what you lot said?
In other words the CAS is saying that the JF-17 is operational today, the LCA will be operational tomorrow with better technologies. Simple.