Air Chief Marshal PV Naik questions ethics of 5th generation project

Air Chief Marshal PV Naik is not a big fan of China’s fifth generation aircraft programme. Without naming the neighbouring country, the air chief dropped enough hint to condemn the programme, asking if it was ‘ethical’.

Worldwide it has been speculated that China has developed its fifth generation aircraft through reverse engineering. “Is reverse engineering an ethical process? Because we know of a country which recently developed a fifth generation stealth aircraft… There is no R&D involved in its development. So is it (the project) ethical or an illegitimate backdoor entry?” he asked, speaking at the inauguration of the eight edition of the Aero India International Seminar on Monday.

It was evident that Naik referred to the J-20 aircraft which China recently flight tested at its Chengdu air base. The J-20 is the most keenly-watched defence aviation programme in the world since its first flight in January as many countries and defence analysts in the west have doubted China’s ability to develop such a plane.

The IAF chief also called for the development of technology at a faster rate due to the rise in terrorism. “Terrorists no longer work in their traditional manner to affect the immediate surroundings, but are now targeting the ‘political, sociological and economical’ aspects. There is a need for global cooperation as it would benefit everyone,” he said.