Air launched vectors any time of the day.
They're complimentary. But if I can only pick one, I'll go the Atmanirbhar route whatever the cost.
IMHO, a question that might ruffle more feathers is whether for surface targets, do you really need AF launching A2G ordnance or is SSM better? Case in point - in spite of all the aerial stuff that was happening on May 7th, only 2 out of 9 t3rr0r training madrasas were taken out by FA. The rest 7 targets were taken out by SSMs in Op Sindoor.
Static ground targets can be destroyed by SSMs, but jets/UCAVs are needed in certain scenarios like CAS (Close Air Support), Recon, CAP (Combat Air Patrol), etc.
That day is nearing when manned jet patrolling will be replaced by UCAV patrol, where
- time to get pilot ready is eliminated,
- take-off time reduced,
- OPEX reduced.
Many people globally still think about SCRamjet fighter, like SR-72/Dark-Star derivative, etc, with high CAPEX+OPEX.
So thinking even beyond that, when integrated ground & satellite recon/warning/detection system is efficient & sufficient, then even UCAV patrol won't be needed. Only reaction to hostile action.
Hence, this case is very specific where it is observed & understood that -
- the targets are fighter jets, not surface asset.
- confirmed via real-time feed from satellite, AWACS, long range ground radars, etc that they wish to launch weapons crossing or w/o crossing border.
- the moment any jet/drone/missile crosses border, it is war.
- 6gen architecture deploys Manned jet + CCA-UCAVs.
- 7gen could be 100% UCAVs.
- engine spool-up time is still up to 1min.
- Evolution path : Manned jet with Turbo-fan -> UCAV with hybrid VCE -> Re-usable Rocket with ABRE (Air Breathing Rocket Engine)
- If S-400 like SAM is static, so are the parked jets & UCAVs.
So why not replace a jet/drone with smart long range SAM, like a big Starstreak missile,
- which will launch & reach say Mach 2 at 30K-40K feet,
- fire Meteor or Astr-3 SFDR like AAM?
- either return like SpaceX Falcon-9booster,
So the fighter jet or UCAV becomes a reduced size Sapce-X Falcon-9 like re-usable booster.
So compared to UCAVs -
- rocket engine fires instantly. Jet engine spool-up time even for UCAV is reduced/eliminated.
- rocket travels faster to launch point than UCAVs.
- chance of enemy jets/drones making U-turn & escaping reduces drastically.