News: Chinese-PAK JF-17 is selected by SriLanka to form a Squadron. Lessons for IAF!!

Chinese-Pak JF-17 fighter ordered by SriLanka
Image credits: Shimin Gu;

Today there is a news that the JF-17 fighter jointly developed by China and Pakistan was selected by Srilanka to form an fighter squadron. The JF-17 which is basically an vintage soviet MiG design sold to Chinese. And they developed it as an full blown fighter with Russian engines and Pakistan was their first export customer. Although Pakistan says its an joint venture it essentially got a license to manufacture the jet in their country nothing more than that. Chinese have done most of the development work on the fighter and sold it to Pakistan. As China is fully occupied with their own fighter programs like 5th generation J-20, J-31 , J-15 etc... they wanted to have the manufacturing base for JF-17 in Pakistan. So according to Pakistan air force the delivery will start from 2017 to srilanka.

Here is a lesson that IAF should learn from the PAF. when JF-17 was first introduced in to Pakistan air force in good numbers. At that time it lacked many capabilities for even to become a basic fighter. But still they accepted JF-17 in to their service and regular PAF flights flown them. This numbers of the flying aircraft and the feedback from the PAF helped the developers to a great extent to refine the aircraft and add additional features. Also PAF at anytime didn't reject the JF-17 on any grounds and they readily accepted the present version of the aircraft with what ever capability it offered and this helped the program in many ways and also motivated the development team. Now JF-17 is in good shape although it is lagging technologically in many ways.

When it comes to LCA program of India, From the starting of the program on multiple occasions IAF keep on changing its requirements!! Initially it agreed with the GE-F404 engines later when it came to know that Navy version is going to get a powerful engine because of carrier take and landing requirement, IAF also changed it requirement to have powerful engine. The same applies for range of weapons it carries and its range. LCA Tejas is going to replace MiG-21 in Indian service. Although a versatile aircraft MiG-21 can carry a limited types of weapons and also in limited quantity. But IAF wanted LCA Tejas should carry most of the weapons that Indian Air force is possessing and also everything should be tested before the Aircraft is officially inducted in to the Airforce. As the Aircraft is not accepted by the airforce and produced as prototypes and limited series production aircraft that may not see regular Airforce service, it increased the development cost. 

Instead of this kind of approach, if the Airforce accepted the LCA Tejas- MK-I in its present state and ordered more number of aircraft and have each trench of the aircraft delivered with additional capabilities means, that would have provided an much needed boost to the program and motivated the LCA Tejas development team to a greater extent. But most of the time IAF came with negative view about the aircraft!! If the LCA is accepted in to IAF and regular IAF pilots started to flying in the aircraft type in large numbers, Team Tejas would have got invaluable feedback to improve on the aircraft aerodynamic control, avionic upgrades, weapon carriage and firing etc... But IAF always needed an fully finished aircraft with all the capabilities fully tested without thinking that this is India's first attempt in developing a modern Jet fighter. If IAF is not motivating this program who else will???

IAF should remember the following facts:  when accepted in to service Mirage fighter came with some basic fighting capabilities missing, MiG-29 was not fully developed when soviet union sold them to India, Su-30 was not a Multi role fighter when it was inducted in 1997!!

IAF should have a look at Indian Navy which gives an greater importance to indigenous efforts and with full heart supports LCA-Tejas navy-program where IAF at one point threatened the development team that it will pull out of the program!! Now almost all of the Ships ordered by Indian navy are built at Indian Shipyards!! Finally the IAF should accept LCA-TEJAS-MK1 in greater numbers compare to present 20 aircraft on order and should closely help various development agencies to develop TEJAS-MK-II in short duration. If this is not happening induction of Tejas MK-II will be decades away instead of proposed 2022!!!