SOURCE: AFI
India’s defense analysts and former military officials are increasingly taking note of the manufacturing quality and production scale of China’s J-20, with former Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots offering rare praise for the aircraft. Sameer Joshi, a retired Mirage-2000 pilot, recently commented on the “top-grade manufacturing” of the J-20 fighter jet, describing it as impressive in its appearance and build quality. This sentiment was echoed by other IAF veterans and defense experts, who expressed respect for China’s evolving indigenous defense production capabilities, which were on display during a recent airshow.
The comments come at a time when India is emphasizing indigenous defense development, but analysts acknowledge that China has taken considerable strides in scaling up its defense manufacturing capabilities, particularly in the aerospace sector. A former IAF official noted, “The build quality of the J-20 exhibited at the airshow is top-notch manufacturing, and now at scale.” This level of production represents decades of concentrated efforts to develop high-grade aircraft systems domestically, a focus that is now paying off as China seeks to narrow the gap with Western aerospace standards.
China’s J-20, a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet developed by Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, was initially met with skepticism from international analysts regarding its operational capabilities and production quality. However, the jet’s progression over the years has led to greater acceptance of its capabilities, particularly its indigenous WS-10C engines and stealth features, which were once considered areas where China lagged behind global competitors.
Former IAF pilots credit China’s long-term commitment to self-reliance as a reason for the J-20’s improved quality and production consistency. They believe that China’s defense industry, despite initially grappling with substandard equipment, is now benefitting from strategic investments and continuous improvements over the past two generations. Joshi and others have pointed out that such progress reflects a clear vision and unwavering dedication by Chinese decision-makers to prioritize local defense capabilities.
India has also been pushing for a similar transformation in its defense industry, with ambitious indigenous projects like the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and various other programs under the “Make in India” initiative. However, experts note that India’s approach has been hindered by funding limitations, challenges with private-sector engagement, and delays in scaling up production capacity.
While the Indian defense establishment is fully committed to indigenization, the observations from former IAF officials highlight the importance of consistent investment, institutional patience, and support for domestic innovation. China’s success with the J-20 underscores the benefits of maintaining long-term focus on defense manufacturing, even when initial products might not match the quality of foreign counterparts. This approach, as demonstrated by the Chinese example, allows local industries to gradually close the capability gap with global competitors.
The J-20’s apparent manufacturing quality and production scale serve as a case study for India’s own ambitions in defense self-reliance. While India has made commendable strides with the Tejas, Akash missile system, and other indigenous programs, the experience of China’s J-20 suggests that an unwavering, long-term commitment to overcoming early setbacks is crucial to establishing a robust, world-class defense industry.