What even the GoI’s press release states clearly is that the PAK-FA as it stands doesn’t meet the IAF’s requirements of a 5th gen fighter and hence it is being modified (what modifications, not clear) to meet those more stringent requirements.
Given that the RuAF’s definitive PAK-FA standards have not been yet met, what basis is there to say the IAF’s requirements are more stringent? None. Who seriously believes PAK-FA as it is today is the final product the RuAF wants?
India may (I think very likely) be contributing funding towards system developments that are currently happening in Russia for both the RuAF and IAF definitive planes, but the fact is, the PAK-FA as of today, is a 100% Russian product. When I see actual numbers as to what system Indian money went into, then I will be happy to change that assertion.
The fact is that “5th gen” without Indian money claim is stupid and inaccurate. What futures does the IAF want, exactly, that make the plane 5th gen, and that the RuAF itself did not desire when Sukhoi won the tender back in the early 2000s?
These feel-good Indian media reports are hard to credit with much, to be frank.
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