LCA AF Mk2 (Medium Weight Fighter) - News and discussions

I am talking about 1990s also where Taiwanese air force was more advanced than PLAAF and had the support of the US Navy, as I said in 1996 when China threatened Taiwan US Navy sailed 2 aircraft carriers with FA18 hornets which outclassed any PLAAF jet barely 70 km off of Chinese coastline. Other than 1971 such an incident never happened with India.

As for Taiwanese air defence, they don't have integrated air defencd network???? Wtf that means they are absolutely cooked because PLARF will launch hundreds of BMs at them in a very short span?!? How exactly do these guys think they can beat back China without an integrated air defence system and long range ballistic missiles 😂. Man they're even more cooked than I thought.
Off topic but.
Taiwan's defense budget was 1.9% of its gdp in 2020.
A small island nation threatened by a magnitudes superior enemy had less than 2% of its gdp as a defense budget.
Nato baseline recommend is 2% "during peacetime".


Though taiwan claims to increase defense spending above 3% gdp in 2026.
But that's after Trump pressured them to.

A small island nation threatened by a magnitudes superior enemy only decided to increase defense spending after a foreign nation pressured them to spend on their defense.


How they neglected their military till now, honestly makes me think they deserve to be invaded.
One of the Most retarded behaviour I have ever seen.
 
Off topic but.
Taiwan's defense budget was 1.9% of its gdp in 2020.
A small island nation threatened by a magnitudes superior enemy had less than 2% of its gdp as a defense budget.
Nato baseline recommend is 2% "during peacetime".


Though taiwan claims to increase defense spending above 3% gdp in 2026.
But that's after Trump pressured them to.

A small island nation threatened by a magnitudes superior enemy only decided to increase defense spending after a foreign nation pressured them to spend on their defense.


How they neglected their military till now, honestly makes me think they deserve to be invaded.
One of the Most retarded behaviour I have ever seen.

A bit more complex then it seems.

Any indigenous capability buildup will alert China leading to swift decapitation. USA won't like it either since that will mean lesser leverage in Pacific and a readymade military industrial complex on island for China in case they have a successful invasion. Even now it's speculated that Taiwan has self destruction mechanisms in it's semicon fabs to not let China get it's hands on readymade fab technology during invasion. And China is eyeing that tech. Covert espionage are frequent concern for taiwan.

Then comes the case for buying weapons.. which in pre Trump era was considered easier to rely on US security guarantees and weapon support in crisis time. Now even after Trump has changed somethings, it's for increasing trade income for USA.
Even if taiwan spends every dollar in their coffers.. they won't have any chance against China without substantial US protection.

So, why not spend that on making cutting edge fabs that will basically run the future.
 
Any indigenous capability buildup will alert China leading to swift decapitation.
China in early 2000s, even in 2010s possessed none such capability.

Right now in 2025, they are finally willing to increase defense spending, when china does posses the capability.




USA won't like it either since that will mean lesser leverage in Pacific and a readymade military industrial complex on island for China in case they have a successful invasion
Less leverage how?


As for Ready made mic, china won't even look at those Taiwanese ones.
 
China in early 2000s, even in 2010s possessed none such capability.

Right now in 2025, they are finally willing to increase defense spending, when china does posses the capability.





Less leverage how?


As for Ready made mic, china won't even look at those Taiwanese ones.

Hmmm... I do get your point and I agree that there was lack of foresight.
But then again.. 2000s-2010s were era of US hegemony. I doubt they would've even thought that one day a leader like Trump will emerge that will leave their US security cover in doubt.

It was same with NATO nations, EU nations too. Even India in 2000-2015 lagged when it came to military strengthening and advancements. Only imports, corruption and chillaxing.

Only US, China and Russia to an extent spent anything of worth on their military capabilities.
Even USA was sleeping in early 2000s vis a vis China..
 
If sanctions are put on the F404 and F414 then the best option would be abandon the LCA and go full throttle on the AMCA with Safran collab.

But I don't think there will sanctions however I don't think the ToT deal will happen . We will jsut have to buy the engines outright .
It wouldn't be prudent fiscally and from a sustainment point of view. There's a reason why LWF's like LCA/MWF, Gripen, J-10, F-16 remain relevant in the ever evolving battlespace in that as single engined, relatively maintenance friendly aircraft, they provide the necessary cost advantage relative to larger, heavier jets while being able to generate sorties at an rate that'd be eye-watering for larger jets to even achieve on a good day. LCA/MWF in our context is also essential to replace multiple current aircraft types such as Mig-29, M2K, Jaguar and erstwhile types such as the Mig-21/23/27. It'll be a transformative aircraft for the IAF in this context.