Some of the comparisons of the 4.5 generation Tejas with Gripen and F-16 are laughable but swallowed whole by the press and electronic media that don’t know any better. The IAF is dead set against the antique F-16. And unless the Modi government succumbs to the Trumpian pressure (already evident in Mattis’ and Tillerson’s visits) and compels IAF to buy this wretched old aircraft — and set back the indigenous defense industry by another 60 years, as last happened when the Indira Gandhi government and the IAF bought the Jaguar and killed off the Marut Mk-II in the 1970s — there’s no way the F-16 will sport the IAF roundels.

So, the fight is really between the home-grown and home-designed Tejas and the foreign Swedish maal.

On the notional basis of the performance so far of the LCA operational ‘Flying Daggers’ 45 Squadron at Sulur AFB, Andhra Pradesh, these are the issues and figures given out which will be dealt with here ad seriatim.