China has just become the first country to fly what it calls a sixth-generation fighter aircraft. China’s PLA Air Force (PLAAF) is already good and improving quickly, but it is yet not a match to the air combat capabilities of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), according to the Pentagon’s 2024 annual report on Chinese military power. The report mentions that ChinaContinue reading “USA vs Chinese Air Power – Is China Catching Up?”
Author Archives: Anil Chopra
HAL to Make 12 More Su-30 MKI – What it means For Atmanirbharta
A ₹13,500 crore ($1.5 billion) contract for procurement of 12 Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft along with associated equipment was signed between Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on 12 December 2024. The aircraft would have an indigenous content of 62.6 percent. The percentage has got enhanced due to indigenisation of many components to be manufactured by Indian defence industry. In aContinue reading “HAL to Make 12 More Su-30 MKI – What it means For Atmanirbharta”
USA Chooses Boeing F-47 as Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter – What it means for the World
Unveiling the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) air superiority fighter at the White House on March 21, an aircraft that has been shrouded in secrecy for years, President Trump said, “It’s something the likes of which nobody has ever seen before.” Present in the Oval Office were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Lt. Gen. Dale White, the Air Force’s military deputy for acquisition,Continue reading “USA Chooses Boeing F-47 as Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter – What it means for the World”
Rise of The Samurai – Japan is seriously boosting its Aerospace to counter China
Pacific military balance is tilting in China‘s favour, says the new “Defence of Japan 2025” White Paper, a Defence Ministry annual document. Tokyo released the paper in early July with findings that the international community is facing its greatest risk of conflict since World War II. The paper pointed to Russia, China and North Korea as primary regional security threats. The report also foundContinue reading “Rise of The Samurai – Japan is seriously boosting its Aerospace to counter China”
AEW&C an Important Combat Asset to Rule the Sky – Time to Push Forward India
An airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system is an airborne platform designed to detect aircraft, ships, vehicles, missiles and other incoming projectiles at long ranges, as well as performing command and control of the battle-space in aerial engagements by informing and directing friendly fighter and attack aircraft. AEW&C units are also used to carry out aerial surveillance overContinue reading “AEW&C an Important Combat Asset to Rule the Sky – Time to Push Forward India”
China Dominating Lithium the Strategic Mineral that’s Critical for Modern Technologies – Way Ahead India
Lithium is a strategic mineral that’s critical for modern technologies, and it’s in high demand globally. Lithium is used in batteries for electric cars, laptops, smartphones, and power tools. Lithium batteries are used in military equipment for power in weapons systems, electronics, and propulsion. They are more relevant because they are lightweight, have a long storage life,Continue reading “China Dominating Lithium the Strategic Mineral that’s Critical for Modern Technologies – Way Ahead India”
Are AEW&C Conceding Space to Satellites in View of Long-Range Missiles?
War in Ukraine and the Indo-Pakistan “Op Sindoor” have demonstrated an environment of “Aerial Denial”. This has happened because of ground-based mobile air defence systems with considerably long-range engagement capabilities and very long air-to-air missiles (AAM) with high no-escape zones. This has meant preventing the adversary aircraft from not only crossing into own territory, but keeping a farther distanceContinue reading “Are AEW&C Conceding Space to Satellites in View of Long-Range Missiles?”
India can learn from Israeli Air Force’s Continued Dare-Devil Raids
Israel Air Force has just de-classified the mission, codenamed “Operation Many Ways,” how in 3 hours 120 elite Israeli forces raided and destroyed alleged underground Iran-funded missile manufacturing facility in Syria. The mission was carried out on September 8 in 2024. Iran’s construction of the “Deep Layer” facility reportedly began in late 2017. Earlier Israel has carried out many other, now famousContinue reading “India can learn from Israeli Air Force’s Continued Dare-Devil Raids”
26 Rafale for Navy – Add IAF’s 114 and “Make-in-India-for-the-World”
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, approved a nearly ₹63,000-crore deal for the procurement of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets from France for the Indian Navy, official sources confirmed. The contract is expected to be concluded later this month. It includes 22 single-seater jets that can operate from aircraft carriers and fourContinue reading “26 Rafale for Navy – Add IAF’s 114 and “Make-in-India-for-the-World””
What Delhi can learn from Beijing in fighting air pollution
The peak Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi for November 2025 was 764, reaching this level around November 13, 2025. The peak AQI in Beijing in 2025 so far was 236 on November 5. The average AQI for Beijing in 2025 has been around 77; the same for Delhi has been 129. Both Beijing andContinue reading “What Delhi can learn from Beijing in fighting air pollution”
Air Power Asia 