As China’s J-16 “Hidden Dragon” fighter jets drill against Egypt‘s Rafales, the Indian Air Force (IAF) continues to sharpen its teeth through multinational exercises and train against cutting-edge jets like the “stealth” F-35. The Chinese Air Force (PLAAF) is keen to decode Western fighter jets like the Rafale, Eurofighter, and Gripen, while the Indian AirContinue reading “India Trains To Counter J-20 Stealth Fighters as China’s J-16 Holds Rare Drills Against Egyptian Rafales”
Tag Archives: indian air force
Air War in Kargil – A Revisit
The Kargil War was fought between India and Pakistan in the high mountains in the Kargil District of Jammu and Kashmir, and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LoC) between 3 May and 26 July 1999. Code-named ‘Operation Vijay’, it ended with a decisive victory for Indian forces, and India regained possession of territory occupiedContinue reading “Air War in Kargil – A Revisit”
Beyond the Cockpit: Air Marshal Anil Chopra on the IAF, Modern Air Warfare, and Surviving a 22-G Ejection
Air Marshal Anil Chopra—known for his distinguished flying career and his post-military service shaping defence policy through strategic think tanks like CAPS (Centre for Air Power Studies) and advisory bodies in military justice and SIDM (Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers)—recently sat down on Dostcast to unpack India’s operational readiness. From evaluating the multi-domain capabilities ofContinue reading “Beyond the Cockpit: Air Marshal Anil Chopra on the IAF, Modern Air Warfare, and Surviving a 22-G Ejection”
F-35 For India: Delhi Quietly Ignored Trump’s Soft Pitch For U.S. Stealth Fighters That Turkey & Saudi Chase
The United States (US) floated a pitch to supply India with advanced Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter jets. US President Donald Trump publicly stated that Washington was paving the way to provide India with the fifth-generation aircraft. In February 2025, during Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, Trump told a joint news conference,Continue reading “F-35 For India: Delhi Quietly Ignored Trump’s Soft Pitch For U.S. Stealth Fighters That Turkey & Saudi Chase”
Opinion | China’s J-16 Missile Trucks and J-20 Jets, and What They Mean For The World
Pictures of a heavily missile-laden Chinese Shenyang J-16 multirole fighter jet, in what is being called the ‘Beast Mode‘, have been seen and have sent analysts scurrying to interpret the PLA‘s long-range air superiority and combat patrol capabilities. The photograph, which was released by a Chinese aviation oversight body, has circulated widely. It shows theContinue reading “Opinion | China’s J-16 Missile Trucks and J-20 Jets, and What They Mean For The World”
Why China Pulled Ahead of India in Fighter Jet Engine Race Despite Both Nations Starting in the Mid-1980s? OPED
China has quietly achieved what few others have managed — fitting its J-20 stealth fighters with fully indigenous engines, while India remains far behind despite both nations starting their jet engine programmes around the mid-1980s. After years of development, Beijing’s WS-15 is now in serial production and powers the stealth J-20 aircraft. This is aContinue reading “Why China Pulled Ahead of India in Fighter Jet Engine Race Despite Both Nations Starting in the Mid-1980s? OPED”
‘The future isn’t manned vs unmanned’
The broader lesson is modern warfare increasingly depends on integration, says Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd)in interview with Javaria Rana Operation Sindoor put India’s air power doctrine to a live test. Fighters, loitering munitions, precision-strike weapons and integrated air defences all delivered results. But broader questions linger. A shrinking fighter squadron strength, delays in indigenousContinue reading “‘The future isn’t manned vs unmanned’”
IAF Chief in France – Likely Contours of the Rafale Deal
Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh was on an important four-day visit to France to advance the mega ₹3.25 lakh crore ($39 billion) deal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets. This visit came immediately after the Indian Defence Ministry issued a formal Letter of Request (LoR) to the French government.Continue reading “IAF Chief in France – Likely Contours of the Rafale Deal”
Calling Pakistan’s S-400 Targeting Bluff
Pakistan‘s claim of destroying India‘s S-400 missile systems kept surfacing sporadically, apparently to satisfy the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) ego and to cover the massive defeat in Op Sindoor, wherein nearly 20 percent of PAF capability was blunted. A Pakistani narrative had to be built because of successful Indian strikes against nine PAF airbases andContinue reading “Calling Pakistan’s S-400 Targeting Bluff”
Wrong to call them Emergency Landing Facility; Highway Landing Strips Are Strategic Assets for IAF’s Agile Combat Employment – NATO Already Implementing
PM Narendra Modi just inaugurated the Highway Landing Strip (HLS) for Indian Air Force’s (IAF) aircraft operations in the East on Moran Highway in Assam. Close to the China border, India has turned one more highway into a runway for all types of aircraft in its inventory. The 4.2-km stretch, wrongly termed as just anContinue reading “Wrong to call them Emergency Landing Facility; Highway Landing Strips Are Strategic Assets for IAF’s Agile Combat Employment – NATO Already Implementing”