How might India respond if China increasingly exports stealth aircraft and Pakistan acquires them?
Short answerIndia would probably procure a foreign stealth aircraft if a domestic design could not arrive in time, with Saudi-Pakistani defence links adding another planning concern.
NotesThe scenario treats Pakistani acquisition of Chinese stealth aircraft as pressure on India's procurement timetable. A domestic design would have to arrive soon enough to address the resulting capability gap. If that timetable failed, an available foreign aircraft would become the alternative considered here. Saudi acquisition of F-35s is also discussed conditionally because Saudi-Pakistani defence ties could affect Indian planning. The argument concerns the timing and availability of equipment within the recorded scenario, rather than a settled export or purchase decision.