JF-17 Thunder Multirole Fighter [Thread 6]

Taygibay said:

Chances are they do think of Pakistanis as Arabs but it's not about neutrality as much as ignorance.

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It's not ignorance either. It's a mix of propagating a stereotype and shaping the minds of viewers.

Any latest news about thunder block three

anyone watched 10th episode of The Brink? JF-17 VS F-18 Dogfight
Here are some screenshots

interestingly they have show in the episode that a solo mission is flying and going to ISREAL with the help of a tanker but seeing the pictures closely there is just only one fuel tank under the belly wow that's a lot of refueling.......but anyway that's Hollywood.

Windjammer said:

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Boss best Teaser

v9s said:

It's not ignorance either. It's a mix of propagating a stereotype and shaping the minds of viewers.

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You'd be surprised how much ignorance is involved, mate! It's a matter of not caring to learn the details
of far away lands which is rather prevalent. On the infamous Fox/Fox News channel, they make regular
mistakes of that sort about even the closest allies of America.
You are right that it stems in part from having a slanted view to begin with but the results do hinge on the
target public being gullible ( uninformed and uninterested ) enough to accept their drivel at face value!

Let's settle for a combination of both?

Good day, Tay.

Windjammer said:

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The caption should have read
"This Summer"

Any idea when how long it will take WS 13 to get operational with our JF 17s?

Taygibay said:

You'd be surprised how much ignorance is involved, mate! It's a matter of not caring to learn the details
of far away lands which is rather prevalent. On the infamous Fox/Fox News channel, they make regular
mistakes of that sort about even the closest allies of America.
You are right that it stems in part from having a slanted view to begin with but the results do hinge on the
target public being gullible ( uninformed and uninterested ) enough to accept their drivel at face value!

Let's settle for a combination of both?

Good day, Tay.

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I'm inclined more towards ignorance. Americans tend to be unbelievably oblivious to rest of the world. People who haven't met them won't know this. Once an American family was amazed to know there are normal roads in Pakistan!

And Lol...what the hell... They have shown a French sipping tea?! What's a French without Red wine, varieties of cheese and that basket of assorted French bread!

airbus101 said:

Boss best Teaser

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persona_non_grata said:

The caption should have read
"This Summer"

Click to expand...

Pak-Arain said:

anyone watched 10th episode of The Brink? JF-17 VS F-18 Dogfight
Here are some screenshots
View attachment 251045 View attachment 251046 View attachment 251047 View attachment 251048

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Are you fcuking kidding me?

JF-17 is flying in it's primer paint.

RAMPAGE said:

Any idea when how long it will take WS 13 to get operational with our JF 17s?

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Not for a while

August 30, 2015

System ProfileJF-17
Aug 21, 2015 Admin -
The JF-17 II: Introducing BVR & Precision Strike
By Bilal Khan

In my previous piece I took a high level look at the JF-17 program, and in broad strokes I identified the improvements it brought (and will continue) to bring to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). With this article, I am going to begin taking a deeper look at numerous aspects of the JF-17 program, e.g. the operational enhancements it offers to the PAF, its known and possible upgrade paths, and its place in the wider combat aircraft market. In this article, I am going to study the operational enhancements, specifically in terms of logistical and maintenance streamlining and boosting the PAF’s overall combat capabilities.

For some context, it would be a good idea to recall exactly what the PAF was flying prior to the induction of the JF-17 Block-I. Through the 1990s and most of the 2000s, the backbone of the PAF’s fleet was composed of the Chengdu F-7P/PG Skybolt and Dassault Mirage III & 5. In addition, the PAF also operated the A-5 (a ground-attack focused variant of the Shenyang F-6) and F-16A/B Block-15, the latter split between two squadrons (down from the original three when the fighter was originally inducted).

To help ease the shortfalls experienced as a result of the Pressler Amendment, the PAF also inducted surplus Mirage III & 5 aircraft from Australia, Spain, Lebanon and Libya, and subsequently upgraded many of the airframes under the Retrofit Strike Element (ROSE) program. It is worth noting that the ROSE program was, at least on its own terms, a good upgrade as it allowed the PAF to equip its Mirage IIIs with a suite of modern radars, avionics and ECM/EW equipment. In addition, it imbued the Mirage with the capability to use beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) and precision-guided munitions (PGM), though it is unclear if the PAF ever actually inducted BVRAAMs for the Mirage (ambiguous media reports notwithstanding). However, it did integrate its Mirages with the H-2 and H-4 series of precision-guided glide bombs (likely based on the Denel Raptor-I and II).

But the lack of new F-16s (or a modern fighter in lieu of it) was being felt, especially in the context of the Indian Air Force’s modernization programs (centering on the Su-30MKI). Simply replacing the F-7s and Mirages was not going to be enough for the PAF, it needed something that not only offered a substantive improvement, but gave it something that was in line with the expectations of the day. The sense one gets from the 1990s and 2000s is that most of the PAF’s fighters did not and – for the most part – could not utilize the latest in combat technology. Even the Mirages, which could be equipped with some level of BVR and precision-guided strike capability, had a limit in terms of longevity. I would consider the Grifo-M on the Mirage ROSE in the upper limits of what that fighter could house, but the JF-17 Block-I – with its KLJ-7 – is ahead, yet it is still in its infancy compared to the Mirage.

Put simply, whenever sanctions hit, PAF had to depend on fighters that were a generation behind the ‘current.’ In the aftermath of the 1965 War the PAF had to source F-6s from China, but like the rest of its contemporaries, I am sure it would have preferred grabbing the Northrop F-5 Tiger II. And then when it was supposed to have been receiving F-16s, it was stuck increasing its dependence on F-7s and Mirage IIIs and 5s. The JF-17 Block-I is a different story. It is a contemporary of the fighters currently in service all over the world as well as most of the fighters being inducted in the near future. Yes, it is not a high-performance platform like the Dassault Rafale, but it is a platform capable of using most (if not potentially all) of the very same munitions and subsystems found on those high-performance systems. The only real bottleneck would be Pakistan’s financial capacities (which we can credit and blame the political leadership of the country, civilian and military alike).

The JF-17 Block-I uses the KLJ-7 mechanically-steered pulse-Doppler radar (developed by the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology or NRIET), and it can track targets from 75km (at 3m2 RCS – i.e. radar cross-section, an object’s detectability on radar) to 130km (at 5m2 RCS). The KLJ-7 can track up to 10 targets at beyond visual range, and simultaneously engage two with active-radar air-to-air missiles, such as the SD-10. Specific details about the JF-17 Block-I’s electronic warfare (EW) and electronic countermeasures (ECM) suite are difficult to come by, but it is similar in concept to the systems used on modern Western aircraft, such as the F-16C/D Block-52+ currently in PAF service. For example, it has an EW suite housed in the tailfin to interfere with enemy radars. There is also a Missile Approach Warning (MAW) system and Radar Warning Receiver (RWR). In addition, the JF-17 can also use modern EW jamming pods such as the KG-300G and newer KG-600 (apparently used on PLAAF Su-30s).

Granted, the JF-17 is not equal or superior to the Block-52+, but it was not meant to be (for now at least). What it was intended for was to serve as a fully effective backbone fighter. In other words, it was designed to assume the same duties as the Block-52+, and as a result, enable the PAF to take on every one of its operational tasks and responsibilities without being bottlenecked by a deficiency in able aircraft. This fact is plainly apparent in the munitions the JF-17 currently uses; they are similar (and comparable) to their respective American equivalents used on the PAF’s Block-52+.



The current weapons inventory of the JF-17 is composed of the SD-10 BVRAAM, PL-5EII WVRAAM, C-802A anti-ship missile (AShM), the LT-2, and the LS line of PGBs. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the PAF ordered each of the aforementioned systems from China, and in large numbers (see chart below). It has also begun taking delivery of each munition.

The SD-10 is an active radar-guided BVRAAM with an approximate range of at least 70km. It functions in a similar manner to the AIM-120C5 (in use with the PAF’s F-16 Block-52+ and MLUs). The SD-10 is equipped with an active radar-guidance seeker as well as data-link supported inertial guidance system. The latter enables the SD-10 to be deployed mid-way to its prospective target, and in a later stage (i.e. the terminal or final stage) the active radar-guidance seeker can kick in to engage the target. Specific performance parameters are difficult to come by, but some have been willing to compare it to the AIM-120, such as Australian defence analyst Dr. Carlo Kopp. All that said, I would not rule out seeing improved iterations of it down the line (akin to the AIM-120), especially if the margin of improvement is significant.


The JF-17 with the SD-10. Photo credit to Air Power Australia and Zhuhai Imagery



The PL-5EII is the JF-17’s core within visual range air-to-air missile. Although derived from an older platform, the PL-5EII is rated by its chief vendor the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) as “an improved 3rd generation short-range IR air-to-air missile, which features good anti-jamming capability and all-aspect attack capability.” Dr. Carlo Kopp put the PL-5EII in the same general category as the AIM-9M (which is also used by the PAF’s Block-52+ and MLU F-16s), and that is a fairly good category to be in, though one might prefer a 4th generation WVRAAM. And while there is a report out there suggesting that the PAF was at one interested in the Brazilian MAA-1B Piranha 2, that missile is still under development. Like the SD-10 in BVR, it seems that the PL-5EII is giving the PAF credible short-range air-to-air combat capabilities.


JF-17 with PL-5EII. Photo credit to Air Power Australia

The JF-17’s air-to-surface would probably be a bit more surprising. While it was broadly understood JF-17-program was intended to strengthen the PAF’s general air defence threshold, it was not clear to what extent the fighter’s air-to-surface capabilities would be realized. At present, the JF-17’s air-to-surface weapons inventory consists of the LT-2, LS-3, LS-6, C-802A and CM-400AKG.

The LT-2 is a laser-guided bomb kit designed for standard general purpose bombs (GPB). It is basically used to equip a GPB (such as potentially the Mk.82) with a laser-based guidance kit. Unlike satellite-aided PGBs, laser guided bombs (LGBs) can be used on a standalone basis, i.e. without the support of a satellite-network. The effectiveness of LGBs can suffer however from poor weather conditions.


The LT-2 LGB. Photo Credit to Air Power Australia and Zhuhai Imagery

The LS-3 and LS-6 are satellite-based PGB kits for 250kg and 500kg GPBs, respectively, and are similar to the Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kit for Mk-82 and Mk-83 GPBs. Like the JDAM, the LS-3/6 is meant to augment an existing GPB with a guidance-system and glide-system, enabling the bomb to not only be more precise, but exhibit more range. In fact, the more apt comparison for the LS-3/6 would be the JDAM-ER (short for ‘Extended Range’), a stand-off munition.


LS-6 PGB. Photo credit to Air Power Australia

It is worth noting Pakistan also has its own PGB programs, e.g. the H2 and H4 line of precision-guided glide-bombs (likely based on the Denel Raptor-I and II) used on the Mirage ROSE. In addition, Pakistani vendors such as Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) have also developed satellite-guided PGB kits. The GIDS Takbir is one such system, and like the U.S Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) it seeks to emulate, it can be paired with the 250kg Mk-82 (and potentially 500kg Mk-83 and 1000kg Mk-84) series of GPBs, which the Pakistani company Air Weapons Complex produces.

The C-802A and CM-400AKG are anti-ship missiles (AShM). Both are, at heart, stand-off weapons in that they possess engagement ranges of 250-300km (assuming the variants Pakistan has are under the Missile Technology Control Regime limit of 300km). The C-802A is in line with emulating the Harpoon and Exocet-series of AShM, but the CM-400AKG is marketed as a hypersonic (Mach 4) missile designed to engage large ships such as aircraft carriers.


JF-17 with C-802 AShM

At this stage the JF-17 is serving the PAF as a proper multi-role fighter. It is equipped to adeptly support the PAF’s air defence responsibilities and, as it steadily assumes its post as backbone fighter, it will greatly improve the PAF’s attack and strike capabilities. It is evident from the above that the JF-17 is capable of taking on the very same roles as the Block-52+, and while it is not a superior platform, it is a modern and effective system the PAF can bank on in even the worst of times (i.e. sanctions).

But with all that said, I feel there are aspects to the JF-17’s induction that are not given their due. Yes, it is going diffusing strong air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities across the whole fleet, but its transformative effects are going to run deeper.

Consider the fact that the JF-17 is replacing three separate platforms: The F-7P, Mirage III/5, and A-5. In supplanting those legacy fighter aircraft, the JF-17 is enabling the PAF to collapse three different logistical and maintenance channels into one single stream. In addition to streamlining costs in training, parts sourcing, etc, this change will allow the PAF to swiftly allocate JF-17s between each and every one of its air bases without having to worry about the receiving crew’s capacity to maintain and operate the aircraft (since the JF-17 is the sole backbone, most maintenance and flight personnel will be intimately familiar with it). In times of war the PAF can readily respond to dynamically shifting conditions, e.g. should Southern Command require more anti-ship capable fighters, available units from the North could be sent, and the South can adapt to using them immediately. These ‘little’ things can add up in times of war.


A visual representation of the aircraft the JF-17 is in the process of replacing. Note: The A-5 has already been phased out.
The third aspect (in addition to being able to carry advanced weapons and ease the PAF’s logistical priorities) is the network-centric nature of the JF-17. To be fair this shift is not tied to exclusively to the JF-17, but is part of a wider shift in the PAF to tightly connect its key assets. By connecting land and air-based surveillance and communication network (involving radars, airborne early warning & control aircraft or AEW&C, fighter aircraft, and possibly even unmanned aerial vehicles) with a dependable high-bandwidth tactical data-link system, multiple PAF assets can share near real-time information with one another. For example, a surveillance UAV may pick up some unexpected movement in an area and it may relay that information to an AEW&C, ground personnel, or even fighter aircraft such as the JF-17.

The JF-17 is not a static program, it will continue to evolve and incorporate new technology and improved weapon systems. It will also get better at fulfilling each of its operational roles. I look forward to exploring each of these specific aspects in future articles, but I hope the above serves as a good primer as to how much of a significant improvement the JF-17 is for the PAF.

Found this on face book ... I do not know if it is valid or not for block 3 .... may be senior members comment on it



>> JF-17 III: MAJOR CHANGES AHEAD ON JF-17 BLOCK-3


JF-17 is a significant advancement for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Not only is the JF-17 an effective multi-role platform that is poised to form the backbone of the PAF fighter fleet, but it is immune to sanctions, and it is a program that Pakistan ‘owns’ in terms of being able to freely decide on how to equip and develop it. With this article, it would be a good idea to have a clearer understanding of exactly what the PAF has in store for the JF-17 in the coming years in terms of its upgrade and development path. By the end of this piece, there should be little doubt in the seriousness of the PAF in as far as its commitment to the JF-17 is concerned.


The first upgrade to the JF-17 is at this time coming through the Block-2. The first JF-17 Block-2 made its maiden flight in February 2015, and it is the current production type rolling out of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra. The Block-2 is at heart an iterative update, so it would not be right to assume that it includes significant improvements or changes over the Block-1 currently in service.


Arguably, the most significant change in the Block-2 is the incorporation of an air-to-air refuelling (AAR) probe, and this will enable the JF-17 to refuel in-flight with the support of the PAF’s IL-78 tankers. The Block-2 also incorporates improvements in the JF-17’s avionics and electronic suites, but there are no specific details. There are rumours about a KLJ-7V2 pulse-Doppler radar with increased range, but this has not been confirmed by the PAF or PAC. If one were to simply refer to this piece by Jane’s, it would seem that the Block-2’s goal is to increase the JF-17’s flight-time (via in-flight refuelling and improved oxygen systems) and mission usefulness (in-flight refuelling can free up hard-points that would otherwise be used for external fuel-tanks). The 51st to 100th JF-17s will be Block-2.


The first major jump is in reality the JF-17 Block-3, which is currently in development. There are no known airframe updates or changes in the Block-3, but in terms of electronics, it is essentially confirmed that the JF-17 Block-3 will house an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Helmet Mounted Display and Sight (HMD/S) system, and possibly an additional hard-point suitable for specialized targeting and tracking pods. This article will breakdown each of these aspects, but if taken together (alongside a suitably upgraded avionics and ECM/EW suite), the Block-3 is positioned to be a significant upgrade.


>> Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar


The integration of an AESA radar is perhaps the most important development in the JF-17’s upgrade path. AESA radars are complex and expensive systems, but they are a standard feature of 4.5 generation fighters such as the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. In a battlefield environment that is increasingly ridden with electronic warfare, AESA radars can help fighter aircraft resist enemy jamming, thus helping said fighters successfully engage their targets.


An AESA radar is equipped with many small solid-state transmit/receive modules (TRM), and each TRM is capable of emitting its own radio wave. There are many advantages borne out of this arrangement.


The first is “low probability of intercept.” For example, an older radar would typically send out a single signal per pulse, and that signal will be received by the target’s receiver. Over time, that receiver will recognize that the specific signal that “stands out” of the environment (or background noise) is an enemy’s radar, and thus, the aircraft using its radar will have its presence exposed. An AESA radar on the other hand is much more difficult for radar warning receivers (RWR) to interpret as that radar is not just one unit sending one signal, but many small TRMs sending different signals. In general, RWRs would have difficulty pinpointing a peculiar signal (or limited set of signals) from the background noise, thus giving the AESA-equipped aircraft a “low probability of intercept.” In general terms, the AESA- equipped fighter is more difficult to detect.


The second advantage is higher resistance to jamming (from an adversary’s electronic warfare suites). Older radars cannot as easily change their frequencies, and as a result, a jamming system would have a higher chance of registering that specific frequency and sending out that very same one to confuse the pulsing aircraft. Modern radars could change their frequencies with every successive pulse, but an AESA radar could go a step further by emitting different frequencies within a single pulse. Here, jamming would become much more difficult as there is no single frequency to expose from the background noise. Given that an AESA radar is composed of different TRMs transmitting discrete signals, groups of TRM can be allocated to take on specific tasks, e.g. one can engage in targeting, the other in counter-jamming.


If the JF-17 were equipped an AESA radar, its ability to withstand enemy jamming as well as close in on enemy targets with a low probability of intercept would make it a much more effective system. That said, it is important to note that while an AESA radar can offer these advantages, it is imperative that one not sacrifice tracking range and engagement capabilities. If the PAF wishes to see the JF-17 Block-3 substantially improve upon the Block-1 and Block-2, then it should ensure that its AESA radar substantially improves upon the KLJ-7’s range and ability to engage targets. In other words, the JF-17 Block-3’s AESA radar could very well be an expensive system, and that will likely serve as an impediment.


Speaking of impediments, there is also the question of sourcing. In an article meant for the 2015 Paris Air Show, Alan Warnes (a very credible PAF watcher) noted that a radar from the British-Italian firm Selex ES was in the running. On a DefenseNews piece, retired PAF Air Commodore Kaiser Tufail was quoted saying, “Given the Western concerns about transfer of sensitive technology, which could find its way further east, I think we may have had no other option but to buy Chinese.” This is an extremely important point. AESA technology is new and it is very sensitive, so the PAF can (and likely will) run into serious issues when it comes to Western suppliers (e.g. the latter might demand overbearing checks and guarantees, and possibly refuse to let Pakistan produce the radars locally). It is very likely that the PAF will ultimately eschew its Western options and go Chinese, especially if the latter enables the PAF to learn and understand AESA technology more deeply and bring this prized technology to local production.


>> Helmet Mounted Display & Sight (HMD/S)


The incorporation of HMD/S is also a very important step for the JF-17. An HMD/S is basically a visor equipped with optical and processing systems (in other words, a ‘smart display’). Current day HMD/S systems like the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing and Sight (JHMCS) system enable a fighter pilot to cue their air-to-air and air-to-surface weapon systems to the direction of where his or her head is pointing. Targets can be designated and engaged with minimal aircraft maneuvering, thereby increasing the efficiency (and thus lethality) of the fighter in combat.


Although slotted for the Block-3, it seems the PAF was at least toying with the idea of some kind of HMD on JF-17 for a few years. The proof for that is this screen-capture (below) taken from a PAF documentary from 2008 called “In Pursuit of Self Reliance.” Although the PAF could have tacked on a random image, there is a clear hint that this particular system (which has a startling resemblance to the Denel Archer from South Africa) may have been at least tested by the PAF. For one thing, the Gentex MBU-5/P oxygen mask that was – at least in 2008 – the standard issue mask for PAF fighter pilots (though that is gradually being supplanted with current MBU-20/23 masks). Moreover, this specific photo was only ever shown on the PAF documentary and nowhere else prior.


This image would suggest that the PAF was (and possibly still is) cooperating with numerous foreign vendors on the JF-17’s HMD/S system, especially if the Brazilian-South African A-Darter high-off-bore-sight (HOBS) within visual range air-to-air missile (WVRAAM) is in the running for use on JF-17. A HOBS WVRAAM can be paired with an HMD/S system to allow the pilot to utilize the system’s cueing advantages in dogfights with enemy fighter aircraft.


At this stage it is difficult to see exactly where the HMD/S system will come from, but there is a chance that this might be a solution that is heavily centric to the PAF’s specific needs. In other words, the HMD/S might in fact end up being an indigenously-sourced solution developed with external assistance, primarily Chinese with peripheral South African, European and possibly even Turkish support. The rationale for this argument is the reality that the JF-17’s HMD/S will need to be accessible to the full range of potentially compatible air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions in use by the PAF. An imported solution with limited access to the technology will limit the PAF from freely using the system, thus mitigating the actual need and advantage of the JF-17.


It is important to note that the PAF already uses an HMD/S system with its F-16s, the Boeing JHMCS. There is a good chance that the JHMCS is in fact influencing the PAF’s idea of a suitable HMD/S, and as a result, one might see the PAF’s solution adopt a few similar characteristics. For example, the JHMCS was designed to be adapted to a modified HGU-55/P helmet, the standard issue helmet in use by the U.S Air Force and many other air forces, including that of Pakistan’s. Modularity and flexibility are key advantages to have, and a possible solution might even mirror the Thales Visionix “Scorpion” Helmet Mounted Cueing System (HMCS). The Scorpion was developed to essentially fit onto the HGU-55/P helmet with an add-on mount, the mount could also be used to fit night-vision-goggles (NVG) in lieu of the HMD/S visor.


>> Additional Station for Specialized Targeting Pods


It is possible, though not clearly verified, that the JF-17 Block-3 would have an additional station or hard-point (likely under the fuselage, by the ‘chin’) to house special-purpose targeting pods.


One incredibly useful-kind of pod would be a system similar in form and function to the Lockheed Martin Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod. The Sniper (which is also used on the PAF’s F-16s) is a multi-purpose pod that allows for tracking, targeting and engagement irrespective of the time of day or the weather. The Sniper can be paired with a wide range of air-to-surface weapon systems, including laser-guided bombs (LGB) and TV-guided stand-off missiles such as the AGM-65 Maverick.


Although the JF-17 could house such a pod in one of its existing hard-points, if the pod were in fact light and deployable in a separate area, the JF-17 would be able to utilize all of its existing stations for actual munitions (and fuel-tanks, if aerial refuelling were not available or sufficient). An advanced targeting pod could greatly improve the JF-17’s capacity to undertake stand-alone (i.e. without satellite-aided guidance) precision-strikes using LGBs such as the LT-2 as well as TV-based stand-off glide-bombs such as the locally produced H2 and H4.


>> Possible Additions and Upgrades


One system that would be of use to the JF-17 is Infrared Search and Track (IRST). Ideally, the IRST system ought to be integrated into the nosecone of the fighter, but it is unclear if the PAF is actually going to take this route. IRST can be used to track enemy aircraft based on thermal signature using infrared, which allows for passive tracking (as opposed to the active tracking of a radar, which sends out pulses). In a scenario where enemy electronic warfare capabilities are of exceptional depth or where there is need to reduce the probability of intercept to the absolute minimum (below that of an even an AESA radar), an IRST-system can be used instead of radar. An IRST system can be paired with a 5th-generation HOBS WVRAAM, enabling the JF-17 to dogfight with minimal effects from enemy EW jamming.


Another area of discussion is the JF-17’s turbofan engine, the Russian RD-93 (a variant of the RD-33 used on the MiG-29). A higher thrust engine such as the in-development RD-93MA can help the JF-17 in achieving a better thrust-to-weight-ratio (TWR), enabling improved maneuverability, speed and payload. Again, it is unclear if an engine change is on the horizon for the JF-17 program, and if so, whether it would be incorporated as early as the Block-3. A new engine may be more likely on a later variant, especially if said variant exhibits a lighter airframe (as a result of a higher proportion of composite use).


>> Concluding Remarks


When taken collectively, the major changes coming with the JF-17 Block-3 will offer a significant leap for the PAF. It is important to remember that this upgrade will not be confined to a few planes, but in time it will be diffused across the rest of the PAF’s JF-17 fleet. The Block-3 will probably be the upgrade that defines the JF-17 more as a high-tech asset and a potent force-multiplier.

here is the pic with above writeup



guys this is my first post after a lot of reading so please give me positive ratings .... although I do not exactle know what will I do with those

mzeeshanfahd said:

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They have developed the Raven ES-05 from the Vixen 1000ES.
It has undergone few improvements since the last time this was advertised.In fact the Vixen 1000E is now termed as the Raven ES-05 radar and has been developed with Saab, as part of the Gripen NG programme.


Request Rejected
Raven ES-05 AESA Brings Wider Eyes For The Gripen NG - Gripen
Request Rejected



Few links if you are interested to read about it.