Oh I forgot, they can't produce their own fighters, but their so smart and advanced - yeah that's the ticket. Can I interest you in some land down in Florida?
India & has been designing(a very difficult thing) & building it's own fighters & other aircraft since the 50s.Like Japan,South Korea,Israel & others,it seeks to export combat aircraft instead of developing on it's own to save time & resources.If you think India is going buy 126 aircraft from a US manufacturer or any other nation,you seriously have no clue about the contract.Only 20 or 30 will be built by the manufacturer,the remaining will be built under license by an Indian company-something many advanced nations do.
India has produced both its own fighter-bombers and fighters. The HF-24 Marut did well against Pakistan. Their development of the Gnat, known as the Ajeet, was also very successful. The Indians are also currently developing their LCA fighter.