Why India Shouldn’t Underestimate the Pakistani Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder

[Zarvan]

March-2nd-2019

Pakistani Air Force JF-17 Thunder Single Engine Light Fighter




The Pakistani Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder single engine light fighter played a key role in clashes with the Indian Air Force in late February 2019, and were responsible for both of the service’s claimed air to air kills against Indian aircraft. The Pakistani military currently deploys two major variants of the fighter, the Block I variant which entered service from 2007 and the Block II variant which entered production in 2013. Approximately 25 Block II variants of the JF-17 are currently being manufactured in Pakistan annually, with plans to terminate production in favour of the upcoming JF-17 Block III in the early 2020s. A twin seat variant of the Block II fighter, the JF-17B, entered service in December 2017. Single engine variants, however, compromise the vast majority of the fleet at present.

JF-17B Twin Engine Fighter




Much like the Indian MIG-21 Bison, an upgraded variant of the venerated design which according to Indian reports was highly successful against a Pakistani F-16 - likely due to its high end avionics, electronic warfare, jamming and missile systems which are all of the fourth generation, the JF-17 has long been underestimated for a number of reasons. The airframe is loosely based on that of the MiG-21 - an evolution of the Chinese J-7 design - but is considerably more capable than that of any other variant or derivative. The fighter’s engines produce little over half the thrust of the Indian Air Force’s MiG-29 - one third that of the elite Su-30MKI - giving it an inferior thrust/weight ratio when fully armed. These are compensated for by a number of factors, including its access to state of the art sensors and munitions - including the Chinese PL-12 long range air to air missile - an analogue to the American AIM-120C - and the YJ-12 anti ship cruise missile. The latter makes the aircraft a potentially highly lethal ship hunter, in some ways comparable to India's Brahmos cruise missile, and its deployment is an effective asymmetric asset against the large Indian surface fleet.

JF-17 with YJ-12 Anti Ship Cruise Missiles




The JF-17 is relatively simple both to operate and maintain, far moreso that the F-16 or MiG-29, and the costs of doing so are also extremely low. The while the aircraft is slower and less manoeuvrable than the F-16, it compensates with a higher altitude and arguably far superior options for its weapons loadout. Block II variants deploy data links and high end electronic capabilities which early F-16 and MiG-29 variants both lacked, while their avionics are also considerably more sophisticated. The fighters’ NRIET KLJ-7 X band fire control radars are also highly capable - variants of the Chengdu J-10’s formidable KLJ-10 - and are capable of tracking up to ten targets at ranges of over 105km. Data links allow the aircraft to potentially make use of longer ranged munitions, particularly when operating alongside AWACS platforms capable of guiding missiles beyond the range of the fighters’ onboard radars. As a key strength of the JF-17 is its compatibility with high end Chinese munitions, it is highly possible that Block II variants could in future receive longer range munitions which would benefit from such guidance - with more advanced variants of the PL-12 reportedly also planned for deployment by the upcoming JF-17 Block III.

Pakistani Air Force JF-17 Fighter with PL-12 Air to Air Missiles





Ultimately the JF-17 remains a highly capable fourth generation fighter - more than a match for India’s MiG-21 and Mirage 2000 single engine light fighters and potentially capable of posing a threat to medium weight platforms such as the MiG-29 and Rafale - though likely still struggling against the Su-30MKI. The design is set to be enhanced considerably in the near future with the induction of the Block III variant, which will reportedly deploy a new radar, an infra red search and tracking system (IRST), helmet mounted display, new electronic warfare and jamming systems, and potentially even PL-15 air to air missiles - which considerably outrange anything currently in the Indian arsenal.


https://militarywatchmagazine.com/a..._GX1GyswrokgjSKxpC9Xk25kbSsR3_NxClFJeUvECju84

 

[maximuswarrior]

They laughed at us not so long ago.

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

They laughed at us not so long ago.

They said its a tin can made up of steel too heavy as compared to tejas which is made up of composite materials but is no where to be found in sky. Still under production.

 

[HalfMoon]

They said its a tin can made up of steel too heavy as compared to tejas which is made up of composite materials but is no where to be found in sky. Still under production.

A JF-17 thunder on hand is better than a Rafale on paper.

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

A JF-17 thunder on hand is better than a Rafale on paper.

Yea Also rafale is made by france a foreign country money goes to them. Not to mention you get four jf-17 for the price of one rafale.

 

[ARMalik]

The articles still does not take a neutral stance. There is too much unofficial evidence of SU-30MKI being shot by a JF-17. In other words I would say, even a Block-2 JF-17 in a netcentric environment is more than a MATCH for MKIs!!

 

[Yaseen1]

Indian pilots drink cow urine which make them sluggish and less quick in decision making during combat so even if they are given f35 they will lose combat with jf17

The articles is still does not take a neutral stance. There is too much unofficial evidence of SU-30MKI being shot by a JF-17. In other words I would say, even a Block-2 JF-17 in a netcentric environment is more than a MATCH for MKIs!!

The problem is not with su30 the real defect is with indian pilots world will recognize jf17 capability when it combat with some good airforce highly trained pilots like u.s and other western nations

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

The articles is still does not take a neutral stance. There is too much unofficial evidence of SU-30MKI being shot by a JF-17. In other words I would say, even a Block-2 JF-17 in a netcentric environment is more than a MATCH for MKIs!!

The thing is, given right circumstances and a better pilot an inferior aircraft can take out superior adversariers.

Tier of a weapon doesn't matter when it is in capable hands.

We should all be thankful to Allah for pakistan and super armed forces. They are a Blessing for us All.

Otherwise we would be devastated like syria or Afghanistan by superior powers.

India is 4x more powerful than us. It is Allah who protects us. We should be thankful and not be evil people.

Imran khan is a recent blessing. Pray for him also.

 

[ARMalik]

Indian pilots drink cow urine which make them sluggish and less quick in decision making during combat so even if they are given f35 they will lose combat with jf17


The problem is not with su30 the real defect is with indian pilots world will recognize jf17 capability when it combat with some good airforce highly trained pilots like u.s and other western nations

Yes highly trained pilots are critical. But another extremely critical requirement is that your machine is capable of launching all sorts of weapon systems, from low-end weapons to high-end weapons across a wide spectrum of threats. What JF-17 has done is give FREEDOM to PAF to utilize a large variety of weapons and missiles in a variety of combinations. I call it STRATEGIC AUTONOMY!

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

Yes highly trained pilots are critical. But another extremely critical requirement is that your machine is capable of launching all sorts of weapon systems, from low-end weapons to high-end weapons across a wide spectrum of threats. What JF-17 has done is give FREEDOM to PAF to utilize a large variety of weapons and missiles in a variety of combinations. I call it STRATEGIC AUTONOMY!

You can say that yes .

But what if i put it this way.
If u dont have option to have both:
A) better weapons
B) better soldiers

Which option would you pick if you cant have both. Thank God pakistan has option of both in many branches.

 

[Ultima Thule]

its a tactic against MKI by JF-17, JF-17 knows that in the from WVR fight it can't survive, that's it chose other option BVR fight with low front RCS and relative good radar coverage from its KLJ-V2 radar it able to fire BVR before MKI sees JF-17 and fires either BVR or SRAAM

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

its a tactic against MKI by JF-17, JF-17 knows that in the from WVR fight it can't survive, that's it chose other option BVR fight with low front RCS and relative good radar coverage from its KLJ-V2 radar it able to fire before MKI sees JF-17 and fires either BVR or SRAAM

Jf 17 also has an option to fire the missile towards a general direction of a target and let awacs guide that missile no?

 

[Longhorn]

They laughed at us not so long ago.

They're not laughing now.

 

[Ultima Thule]

Jf 17 also has an option to fire the missile towards a general direction of a target and let awacs guide that missile no?

Yes, as per @gambit sir

 

[siegecrossbow]

its a tactic against MKI by JF-17, JF-17 knows that in the from WVR fight it can't survive, that's it chose other option BVR fight with low front RCS and relative good radar coverage from its KLJ-V2 radar it able to fire before MKI sees JF-17 and fires either BVR or SRAAM

Probably practiced the same tactic hundreds of times against Sino-flankers like J-11A/B and Su-30MKK during the Shaheen exercises.