I read some where that this plne equal to the block 40/42 of the famous f-16 any one read such thing?.
F16 Block 40/42 will have advantage in most areas. There are few things JF 17 will have advantage.
F16 Blk 40
1. More weapon load
2. More range and airborne time
3. Advance Data link
4. Maturity of systems resulting in reliability of weapons that have been tested in many conflicts
5. Very refined night attack capability
Disadvantages
1. Arguably expensive to buy
2. Weapons while proven to be effective are expensive to procure
3. You only get what West and US clears you. They only release weapons depending on how important you are to them.
4. A complicated system. You not only need a very advance, disciplined and skilled engineers and technicians but also a very good logistics system. Even then some systems can only be maintained our repaired by US. If they don't your fleet can not fly as often.
5. Advance weapons like precision stand off weapons, AMRAAM, Electronic warfare and Intelligence gathering pods are either not released or have conditions to them.
JF17
1. Turn performance, climb performance matches with F16
2. Ability to take same roles like medium range air to air missiles (lesser in number than F16), precision weapons for day and night attack.
3. Complete control over software means any weapon you get can be mounted unlike F16
4. Economical to buy, cheaper to maintain and fly
5. Easier for technicians and engineers to get use to
6. Advance glass cockpit compared to F16
In the end, it boils down to who is buying for what purpose. JF17 won't make sense to Sweden or Belgium. It makes a lot of sense to Pakistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Iran.
For those who will point out that China did not buy it, well F20 TigerShark was an excellent aircraft by Northrop. US did not but it. No other country bought it as well though some close to buying it. But anyone will tell you if he has an iota of knowledge of aircraft that it was an excellent fighter by any standards
@gambit . UK is closest ally of US but never bought F16s, arguably most successful US fighter. Does it mean F16 is a crap?
That's what I thought,
