Form follows function — unless we’re talking about a Chinese or Russian aircraft, then it’s just copying.

I like the “B-21” designation. I’d probably call it the Phantom and to hell with the history, but who knows what today’s HyperPatriot club will come up with.

So the Chinese don’t copy? I SEE…
Its becoming very apparent that in any future pacific or south China sea war, the single largest threat will be the U.S. bomber force. The U.S. navy or small tac fighters ARE further down the list.
If this thing is even remotely as capable as
The Americans promise 100 of them will give China hell.
How do you stop 100 of whats is essentially the B-2 2.0?

Not quite.. There is a certain pressure from the US side, especially US defense secretary Ashton Carter. who has initially rejected the Israeli request for F-15SEs and bunker buster bombs and instead insisted on using the military aid to purchase more F-35s (among other stuff)..

so they cant spend their own money to buy their own stuff?

That’s just to put pressure on Dassault for further concessions. India is in a commitment trap to buy some Rafales.

Technologically I don’t understand what is the game changing capability F-18 or Rafale will bring against an MKI, which is the backbone of IAF. Are you saying that if 5 Rafales went against 5 SU-30s the outcome would be decidedly one sided in Rafale’s favour? If it is only marginal than why go through the pain of inducting a nee type? Is there something about SU-30s we don’t know about?

If it is purely a timing thing to beef up the numbers even than the time it will take to start building F-18 or F-16 in India would be longer than it will take to increase production of SU-30 or get a modified LCA in the air. Even new Mig-29/35 could be ordered to increase/replace the current type in service.

You could actually make the argument for the F-18 growler escort jammer here. China is getting the S-400, and already has the S-300 and a decent spin-off. The Rafael…. not so much.

There aren’t that many predictable customers left in the region. Singapore is certainly among the low hanging fruits, given their STOVL requirement. But who else? Aussies won’t go further than 70, they already have the Super Bugs.. Indonesia is firmly in Russian hands, so it seems and the F-35 is way too costly for their economy.. Thailand won’t be opting for F-16 replacement in the next ten-fifteen years.. Japan is still possible with a follow-on order, 40 airframes certainly isn’t the definite number… but much depends on their ability to build the ATD-X.

I guess we shall expect a massive lobbying pressure against the X-2 in the coming years.. as well as the Korean KF-X thingie.

India, Vietnam. ( I jest)