My thought exactly. And that's why it pisses me off when entire focus of debate to judge IAF is on squadron strength, importing this and that jets.
This discourse instead let the officers responsible for lacksidal networking get away and also pressurises govt to show something on big FA terms. When actual need should be the ecosystem. Various "in development" projects of DRDO.
The officers?
This is roughly how an order is decided
1. The officers draw specs based on modern day standards - year 1
2. Specs shared with Defense Min - year 2
3. Defense ministry passes on to Fin Ministry - year 3
4. Fin Babus debate over costs internally - year 4,5
5. Fin Min allows tendering process - year 6
7. Tender details built, rebuilt, rebuilt, rebuilt, rebuilt .... - year 7,8
8. MEA weighs in to alter tender details because some "important ally" is feeling left out. - year 9
9. Tender details rebuilt and issued - year 10
10. Lowest Bid vendor - L1 identified. - year 13
11. Real Negotiations start - year 14
12. Specs are outdated, price has escalated due to Forex fluctuation - year 15
13. Fin Min says cant afford new price
14. Air Force says new process will take another decade erode capacity further
15. Fin Min, Def Min, Air Force reach middle ground, trimmed capability to reduce costs.
16. Deliveries start - year 18
17. Full capacity missing, being added - years 19,20
18. 20 years after launch, full spec capability missing. Contracted capability at 80-90%
The procurement process is so thoroughly mucked up with so many son in laws to accommodate that its a miracle anything gets done