SOURCE: AFI
As speculation mounts over Pakistan’s potential acquisition of China’s fifth-generation fighters—namely the Chengdu J-20 or the newer FC-31/J-35—former Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal (Retd) RKS Bhadauria has categorically dismissed the idea of India importing fifth-generation fighter jets as an interim solution. Instead, he has called for a unified national effort to accelerate the development and induction of India’s own indigenous fifth-generation fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
“My answer is no,” Bhadauria stated unambiguously when asked whether India should consider importing fifth-generation jets in response to Pakistan’s expected induction of stealth-capable platforms. “The government has clearly put their faith in AMCA, and now we need to do everything as a nation to expedite the AMCA.”
The retired air chief, who played a key role in shaping the IAF’s future force structure during his tenure, emphasized that while Pakistan acquiring stealth aircraft ahead of India is a point of concern, it does not justify abandoning the indigenous path. Instead, he advocated for strengthening countermeasures and interim capabilities to address the evolving threat.
“That cause of concern in terms of what Pakistan is going to get from China in the interim—be it J-20 or J-35—let them get these. That will be studied,” Bhadauria said. “What is important is in the interim how do you handle these threats, and there are ways and means of tackling this threat that they will have.”
He acknowledged the potential advantage Pakistan might briefly hold in terms of stealth technology but underscored that India has multiple options to neutralize such threats without compromising on its long-term strategy of self-reliance.
“In terms of stealth capability, Pakistan is likely to get it before us. We’ll have to take some other measures in order to be able to detect by some means, to be able to still hold them off our borders much inside so that they are unable to launch,” Bhadauria explained. “And should they be able to launch their cruise missiles or their standoff weapons, we are able to tackle the weapons.”
His remarks underline a broader strategic outlook: rather than reacting to Pakistan’s acquisitions with rushed imports, India must bolster its defensive network, invest in counter-stealth technologies such as over-the-horizon radars and multi-static systems, and rely on superior tactics and integrated command and control systems.
Bhadauria’s firm stance reinforces the Indian government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) policy and signals a strong institutional commitment to the indigenous AMCA program, which is expected to enter its prototype phase later this decade. With significant investments and collaborations already underway, the AMCA remains the cornerstone of India’s long-term fifth-generation fighter capability.
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