Its wrong to blindly assume their level of training and ability would be any less then that of US and Australia. Vietnam very successfully used the Migs against American F-4 Phantoms.
“They only have to defend against China long enough for Australia’s allies to respond. I know that Australia has a ‘go it alone’ operational policy, but as you pointed out, with a total population base of 20 million, it’s getting harder for them to fund such a noble ideal.”
In India’s case I would much prefer we build the capability to ‘go it alone’ whatever the cost. Its good to have allies but I dont want to depend on them to respond. The last thing I would want to do is hold my breath and prey that the allies respond in time. It far better to have the capability to fight alone even if thats a modest capability. And to be able to actually ‘go it alone’ the most important capability is to be able to build ones own weapon systems. In thats respect building the LCA fighter jet is a small but a significant step. Indigenisation is the most important corner stone of our defense modernisation.
You clearly have no understanding of the air war in Vietnam.