Tejas Mk2 and Rafale: Even though fifth-generation stealth aircraft get a lot of attention, upgraded 4.5-generation fighters are still expected to do most of the flying work for the Indian Air Force and many other big air forces for years to come. The main reason is simple. Modern air fighting is not only about hiding on radar. It’s also about sensors, data links, electronic warfare, and how well a jet can share what it sees. Dassault says the future Rafale F5 is being built for strong combat use well beyond 2060, which shows how far this fighter family is meant to keep going.
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This is why old and new 4.5-generation jets are not being treated like yesterday’s toys. They are being turned into smarter machines. The big idea is a “combat cloud” where the aircraft does not fight alone. It becomes part of a larger network that includes other jets, drones, satellites, and ground systems. That is also why MUM-T, or manned-unmanned teaming, is becoming such a big word in air power.
India’s Rafale and Tejas
India’s own air fleet shows this shift very clearly. The Mirage 2000 is an older platform now, and like many aging aircraft, it faces rising upkeep costs. On the other hand, the Rafale is being kept fresh through newer standards and better support. Dassault’s own material says the Rafale F5 will be optimised to work with a new collaborative combat aircraft, which makes the jet even more useful in future fights.
India’s homegrown fighters are also moving in the same direction. DRDO said the LCA Mk2 is in a very advanced stage and has about 11 weapon stations, with a rollout planned by the end of 2025 and first flight in the first quarter of 2026. The same source said induction was expected from 2028-29. DRDO also noted that the F-414 engines are meant for the LCA-Mk2, and HAL’s 2024-25 annual report says future programs like LCA Mk 2 and AMCA will help keep the company’s technology edge.
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Drones,and Sensors
The future of air combat is not just one fighter jet. It is a team. HAL’s annual report says the Combat Air Teaming System, or CATS, includes platforms like the CATS Warrior, described as a “loyal wingman”. HAL also said in May 2026 that the CATS Warrior ground run was successful and that the actual UAV was now being built. That is a big sign that manned and unmanned flying are getting tied together more tightly.
That is also why sensors and EW matter so much. DRDO and HAL reporting point to newer AESA radar work, better electronic warfare suites, and stronger networking across aircraft.
