Gp Capt (Dr.) Rajiv Kumar Narang (Retd.) replies: Aviation historians and experts differ on the criteria for fifth generation fighter aircraft. However, there is a unanimity that the fifth generation fighter provides a technological and capability edge over the fourth or four plus generation of fighters.

The broad characteristics of fifth generation of fighters are as follows:

Kishore Kumar Khera replies: Air Defence Zone, more commonly known as Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), is a segment of air space in which entry and subsequent air operations are permitted only after specific authorisation by the controlling Air Defence Authority. Air space over territory, including territorial waters, of a state, is the ADIZ controlled by its armed forces.

Kishore Kumar Khera replies: Military aviation, like any other technology-intensive field, continuously evolves. Although a classic definition of various generations of combat aircraft does not exist but based on the core capabilities, it is broadly classified.

Kishore Kumar Khera replies: The rate at which the character of war is transforming and technology evolving, manned combat aircraft, as we know them, may lose their relevance. Much of the kinetic force application in future may be based on unmanned systems and high speed long range weapons launched from arsenal aircraft. The world combat aircraft inventory has already decreased by over 57 per cent in the last three decades and the same trend is expected to continue.

Kishore Kumar Khera replies: The nature and type of combat force depends on the national security imperatives. In our context, Indian aerospace power needs to ensure the requisite capability to protect our national interests. As the operational environment in our region changes with the induction of new technology, Indian aerospace power needs to keep pace to retain relevance. Therefore, induction of the next generation combat capability is essential in the coming decade.