Earlier this year, the Red Army had started making noises that Beijing had acquired the most advanced sixth-generation fighter jets. If war broke out, no one would be able to compete with China in the sky. The Chinese media also repeated this claim of the Chinese army. But the Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, practically dismissed the propaganda as nonsense.

He clarified that just having fighter jets in the arsenal is not enough. Appropriate tactics are also needed. He also believes that there is too much fuss about this in the international media.

India currently has fourth-generation fighter jets. Will India be able to compete with China? In response to this question, the Chief of the Air Staff of the Air Force said, “China claims that they have sixth-generation fighter jets. Although there is considerable doubt about how true that claim is. There is a fighter aircraft called the sixth generation and it can fly, that is not all. It must have skills. It must have various functions. It must be skilled enough to land on the battlefield.”

According to Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, in a war-like situation, not only technology will save, but also the intelligence and skills present. The strategy has to change every moment. Although India does not have a sixth generation fighter aircraft right now, the Indian Air Force’s skills are like those of the sixth generation. The Air Force Chief practically threatened that this is enough to confront China. His advice is that modern warfare should be used as a tool to bridge the technological gap. He said, “We have a sixth generation crew. This is enough to confront China. We will be able to understand it in the sky.”

Simply put, the more the generation of fighter aircraft increases, the more modern they become. For example, India has the fourth generation Rafale, Tejas. HAL is developing the fifth generation AMACA or Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. China has two types of fifth generation fighter aircraft. One is the Chengdu J-20 and the other is the Shenyang J-35. China claims that these are more effective than the fifth generation US fighter aircraft F-35. Although that claim has been refuted by US defense officials.

They claim that the Chinese media has always promoted the propaganda of the Communist Party. Last December, pictures of two J-36 fighter aircraft in the sky of China were published in the country’s media. Seeing that picture, there was an uproar all over the world. Beijing claims that these are sixth generation fighter aircraft. Although defense experts do not refute China’s claims, they also agree that China, most of the time, wants to put pressure on its opponents through empty propaganda. This is also a part of modern warfare called mind games. At the moment, both India and America are keeping a close eye on the capabilities of the Chinese Air Force. However, making it clear that there is no room for complacency, the Air Force Chief also scolded Halke for delaying the production of the fighter jet.