I’m not so sure a modernization program for MiG-23MLD wouldn’t put it ahead of most MiG-29’s out there. I always felt MiG-23MLD built on 2015 technology would give F-16C a run for it’s money, especially flying at significant higher altitude and speed. While stealth is nice, being untouchable is just as nice. And at that point it becomes a match of supporting casts.

IMHO light would be F-5, MiG-21, AMX, etc. F-16 is a medium fighter, no different than Rafale or J-10. Heavy is like F-15, Foxhound, F-22, etc.

F-4 in my opinion was a heavy, but is medium size engine power in heavy frame. F/A-18 Hornet a medium with medium engine power. F/A-18 Super Hornet, like the F-4, medium engine power in a heavy frame. The opposite is F-35A, medimediumum frame with engine power of a heavy.

MAWS is not just about oncoming missile detection, but go ahead and think that. Missile detectors aren’t normally anywhere the sophistication of a MAWS, and they’ve been around for decades. Rafale and F-35 I do believe incorporate laser scanning methods, too. They are neither MAWS or EODAS related.

Nobody has seen China’s rockets, bombs, and missiles in action to swear by them.

Engine life is nice and all, but when you are paying half as much for each engine, it becomes less of a problem.

Not true. If the engine is $4 mil for the double life it means substantial less man hours to do the work. Overhauling an engine can run more than half its price, plus you have the time involved. The twice as expensive engine suddenly looks better.

It wasn’t the canard layout China benefited most with Lavi technologies. It was the FBW.

Mexico, obviously. Didn’t they actually study Su-30 acquisition at some point? Also one of the few countries in the region which might actually both afford the a/c, and has a requirement for it.

That was the Mexican navy, and did not include the air force.

That would be very dumb. The Rafale is the better platform. The MKI was nice in 1995. Not so much 2025.