The key mistake India made with its jet program is the lack of a future vision. They didn't realize the significant gap between 4th generation (even though they like to call it 4.5) and 5th generation fighters. Typically, the kill ratio from 5th to 4th generation is 1:100. Therefore, a wise decision would have been to invest in one 5th generation fighter rather than pursuing 100 of the older generation, as it not only surpasses the kill ratio but also represents the future.

India's lack of vision led to a waste of $300 million on the Su-57. Ten years later, they want to return to it, but they've lost not only the money but, more importantly, time. They also missed the chance to gain firsthand experience in stealth technology, both in theory and practice. Now, China has already flown the test model of their 6th generation fighter, while India is still floundering, not knowing where to go.