There are so many flaws in your argument so let me go after one by one...but before i go in let me remind you that I consider PAF a very formidable side....However this is time for reality check at your end as well...Any side can maintain its glory if it keep improving with the passage of time...This is the era in which forces across the world are going for lean forces backed with modern technology to give even bloodier punch then what they would have othewise....That is the mantra!!!
While some people are bouncing that "yes!! we got rafale... we got rafale..."
Just a reality check till 2015 you wont get it..thats about 3 years for PAF to prepare...
You cannot be more wrong in this...
a) It will take approximately 6-8 months for further negotiations...Once the contract is signed first 18 planes are going to be delivered directly by france...Add another 18 months for the delivery of these aircrafts then we are looking at Jan-Feb of 2014....Anyhow there can be always delays still IMHO we will see Rafale in tricolors before 2015...
b) PAF knew about this deal for almost a decade now...They knew all the contenders and as per certain members all those fighters have been evaluated in some respect...So they had plenty of time to come up with their own counter...Having said that nothing new has emerged so far...So it is highly likely PAF is putting its bet on JF-17, J10's and future J20's of China...Obviously better SAMS, net-cnetric warfare, AWACS etc are force multipliers as well..So IMHO this is what PAF believe is a good enough counter with limited resources...
c) Even if we get Rafale today it won't help us if there is some action...bcoz it is no rocket science that it take a miminum of 4-5 years to master a plane...
Third point is very important...So far we don't know when are you going to get J-10's(tentaive 2015)...add 4-5 years for developing the doctrine....
In short economy is taking a good toll on your forces...IAF has taken a substantial lead and it is going to be very difficult for PAF to catch up...Right now the only option PAF has is to expect no hostilities for some time...This will give them enough buffer to catch up...Obvioulsy economy needs to back them as well...
The only thing PAF can purchase to handle the rafale is the FC-20...and its no big secret. And the people going "hurrahhhh!! rafale will be modified for India with Israeli technology and stuff"...well wont that raise the per unit cost again..and lemme remind you..wasn't the rafale chosen cuz it was the lowest bidder???
Please keep in mind at the moment cost is not an issue for us...an no it will not raise the per unit cost...bcoz irrespective of the platform chosen we would have gone for Israeli technology if it is going to make the machine more lethal...so effective the cost remains the same....
Well even if Israel etc provide you guys assistance no matter....Cuz just like the Rafale will be modified for IAF...similarly FC-20 will be modified for PAF...
Of-course it will...I have no doubt in my mind on that...
All we can do now is buy 100 odd FC-20's and better our ground support eg SAMS and perfect our stand off capabilities for offense, after all PAF's basic doctrine is defensive...
100??? I am not sure if you can afford in...Anyhow that is your headache...As far as doctrine is concerned then i have repeated it many times defensive doesn't mean no offense....Yuu will have to cross the border and risk those planes being shot...Well i do agree that number of offensive sorties by IAF would be much higher than PAF but that does not mean PAF will not have offensive sorties at all...