JF-17 is better than anything we have currently in our air force. It was considered and evalutated but the engines for them are either russian(who does not want to be exported in chinese jets) or newly designed Chinese ones (which im sure the chinese arent keen to export). But there is nothing wrong with it's capabilities. It is just that we are looking at Air superiority figther and the JF-17 is mostly suited towards reconnaissance,interception and air to ground bombing,that is one of the main reasons it was ruled out alongside the Engine diplomacy.
Any Pakistani here will tell you that the JF-17 was made to help Complement their F-16s and J-10s-it was not designed to fight aircraft such as SU-30MKI,thats the f-16s and J-10Bs .However your statement about the JF-17 capability is unjust. It is a remarkable aircraft and a milestone for the PAF.It has recently just been reported that they are running tests to check inflight Fueling capability. -
Enhancing airpower: JF-17 to attain in-flight refueling capability The Express Tribune
As for Future Transport,i know the budget for this current fisical year has been allocated mostly to air transport(C-130 or they may have meant additional Helis) and MRLS. However apart from C-130s , i do not know if any other troop transport being evaluted.
If you go with the capabilities of air to ground then JH-7A could have been a great fighter for Bangladesh. It can carry 3 times more weapons than Mig-29 and JF-17, it can carry all sorts of air to ground weapons. But we are not talking about an Attack aircraft or a fighter bomber.
In air-to-air mission the JF-17 does not stand a chance against Su-30, Mig-29, F-16 and even J-10.
In Interception role the JF-17 is no where to be found with its mediocre top speed of Mach 1.6.
In the radar section, JF-17 is armed with KLJ-7 radar with a max range of 75-130km. Mig-29B has N019 radar with a max range of 90-150km with 130º coverage. With SMT upgrade you will get N019MP radar or N019M1 radar.
N019MP is a further modified radar proposed by Phazotron for the MiG-29SMT program. It used a Baguet series processor. The maximum range remained the about the same, but the radar could detect 20 targets simultaneously, track four, and engage two. The radar had also basic air-to-ground functions, like ground mapping mode, acquisition and engagement of sea targets with radar homing missiles, and ground targets with unguided weaponry under any weather conditions, day and night. The NO19MP could generate maps of 15×15, 24×24, 50×50 or 77x77km with a resolution of 15m. Radar imagery could be transmitted via datalink to GCI centres or A-50 AWACS aircraft. Targets visible on the radar map could be designated by the pilot(using a joystick) or ground controller, and used to cue TV-guided missile seekers, whose higher resolution imagery can then be displayed or transmitted to the GCI or A-50 controller as well. Performance against slow flying helicopters was improved as well as resistance to jamming. Uses Doppler beam sharpening techniques.
or
N019M1 This latest radar upgrade proposal from Phazotron retains the antenna and transmitter block assemblies but replaces pretty much all the rest of the radar. It introduces new fully programmable digital processing, giving 30-50% greater range in air-to-air search and track. Greatly improved true Track-while-scan mode, with the ability to continue volume search for new targets while tracking 10. 4 targets can engaged at once with R-77 missiles. 4 different close combat modes are available. Has raid assessment mode, and target class recognition. Air to surface modes include Real beam, DBS, SAR (5x5m), and moving target detection. Can handoff target data to the Kh-31A/Kh-35A anti-shipping missiles. Allows target handoff to TV guided weapons. Collision alarm system. It is being touted as a low cost upgrade for existing MiG-29 operators.
And with SMT upgrade, JF-17 will even dare to go against Mig-29.
