India's home-built fighter — four decades in the making — the Tejas is a light, agile single-engine delta jet that finally gave India an indigenous combat aircraft. The Mk1A adds AESA radar and beyond-visual-range missiles; the bigger Mk2 is coming. The flagship of India's defence self-reliance.
The affordable fighter conquering the export market — KAI's FA-50 is a light, supersonic combat jet (born from the T-50 trainer) that delivers much of an F-16's mission at a fraction of the cost. Poland, the Philippines and Malaysia are buying it; Block 20 jets add AESA radar and aerial refuelling.
The budget fighter shaking up the market — the China-Pakistan JF-17 Thunder gives developing air forces a cheap multirole jet, and the Block 3 adds an AESA radar and long-range PL-15 missiles. Pakistan's frontline fighter, widely exported and combat-used against India in 2025.