Strategypage notes that the Indian air force is gearing up for the Chinese threat:
India is replacing its MiG-27s with Su-30s at TACDE (Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment). TACDE develops new air combat tactics and trains pilots to deal with potential enemies. TACDE was established in 1971, to train the top one percent of fighter pilots, who would then spread what they learned from each other, to all the other pilots. Two years earlier, the U.S. Navy had established the original "Top Gun" training program. ...
TACDE was initially created to cope with Pakistani air power, which was why MiG-21s and 27s have long been used to represent foreign aircraft. But now the most troublesome foe in the air is seen as China, where the top aircraft are, as in India, Su-30s.
In some sense, this must be very discouraging for India. For decades since independence, Pakistan was the main threat. After decades of progress, India clearly outclasses Pakistan. But now, India finds that while they were looking west, the Chinese to the north became a threat. India now is looking up, again, with the task of matching and surpassing a new primary foe. It will be decades before India can say they've matched the new threat--if they can at all, given that China has a stronger economy and is moving forward with their military.
But that's why national security has a diplomatic component. China has many potential enemies all around it that can be wined and dined to help India contain and disperse Chinese power.
