[JasonC]

India is much richer than either, and has a far more modern and effective air force. Including many MiG-29s, already. (In fact India’s air force is about as capable as China’s, and light years ahead of Pakistan’s). I don’t see the MiG as a poor fit at all. But it isn’t as superior to Pakistani planes in electronic warfare terms, as the latest European or US equipment.

[Gengis Khan]

The Mig 29s and Mig 21(Bison) are superior to anything Pakistan currently has (weapon suit, electronics, sensors, avionics and radar etc). However the tech edge is very thin and short lived and good enough only until then next batch of advance fighers replaces it.

[Candor7]

The Mig would be the wrong choice for India, simply because its enemies are client states of Russia and China, , and the evolutionary goodies will not devolve to India, but to Iran, Pakistan and China.

I believe that India is making this a "merit" contest so that it can mollify the Sovietskis.

Anyhoo, thats my guess.

They will take US hardware of a Eurofighter.

I favor the Gripen, but India would need to beef up its airborn refuling capacity.

We also , as many forget, live in a nuclear age, with enemies who will use their nukes sooner or later. For those nations who have a centralized deployment, just a few nukes will destroy their airforce, or even a few hundred conventional cruise missiles, properly placed. The Gripen is the only modern fighter which can thrive under conditions of remote deployment, a lesson that has to be relearned in almost every war fought.