Chinese Air Power: Edge in Numbers and Technology
China’s air force is now one of the world’s largest and most modern. Key points of comparison:
Fleet Size: The PLAAF fields on the order of 50 fighter squadrons (2000 combat jets). This includes the entire spectrum from older J-7 (MiG-21 copies) to 4th-gen J-11/16, to cutting edge J-10, J-20 stealth fighters (over 200 J-20s in service), and soon J-31 stealth prototypes. China is continuing to add jets rapidly; Jane’s analysis notes PLAAF inducted 70+ J-20s between mid 2023 and mid-2024. By 2030, some predict China could have 800+ J-20s alone, potentially exceeding the entire IAF inventory.
Technological Edge: China is aggressively fielding 5th-generation fighters (J-20/Mighty Dragon, J-31/Gyrfalcon). It has also developed advanced missiles (PL-15 long-range AAMs, PL-21 hypersonic AAM). Its jets often incorporate large AESA radars, digital avionics, and networked capabilities comparable to Western 4.5-gen fighters. Importantly, China now exports and co-produces with Pakistan (e.g. the JF-17 program), spreading Chinese tech regionally. By contrast, India’s fleet still largely relies on 1980s–90s designs (MiGs, Mirage) with only a sprinkling of Rafales/AESA radars (on Su-30MKI, Mirage-2000UPG, Tejas Mk1A).
Force Posture: The PLAAF’s deployment along the Sino-Indian border and in the Indian Ocean is growing. China has deployed Su-30s and J-11s to Tibet (PLA Southwest) and is positioning more J-20 squadrons near the LAC. Additionally, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN Air Arm) now has Shenyang J-15 carrier fighters. All this means that in any Sino-Indian air engagement, India would face larger numbers and more modern aircraft. The strategic picture is stark: India’s fifth-generation ambitions lag a generation behind China’s reality.
In sum, China outnumbers and out-techs India in the air. As one analyst puts it, reducing the IAF to 25 squadrons (even of modern types) “risks undermining its deterrence posture” against a PLA with over 50 squadrons and stealth fighters. The disparity drives urgent calls for India to hasten Tejas/AMCA and secure MRFA jets, lest the quantitative gap widen further.
