Windjammer
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Some more info on the Block-3 and the designated weapons and electronic package.
Personally all this is alien stuff to me but perhaps @Oscar can shed some light on it.
''Its almost unfair to compare Block-3 with the first two Blocks. Its pretty much like comparing a old non-MLU Block-15 with Block-52...simply no comparison! Also, Block-3 is featuring military-grade strength construction with newer composite materials further reducing the weight, increasing the airframe life of the JF and reducing its RCS from some angles too. The AESA radar will be the real game-changer cus its pretty much a stealthy radar, very difficult to detect and jam and can effectively operate in ECM environments. But after AESA the jewel in the crown will be the mating of PL-10 with the helmet and EO/IR sensor.
The PL-10 is just like the German IRST (Infra-Red Search and Tracking)...is a short-range high off-boresight imaging, infra-red-guided missile. It features thrust-vectoring giving the weapon a 90°off-bore sight capability. Now compare that with our current F-16 fleet. The AIM-9Ms we got have a high off-boresight shooting capability of 30 degrees on either side meaning the pilots can give that 'dirty look' uptill 30 degrees. This one has 90 degrees on both sides, same as the USAF AIM-9X, meaning there's no escape as the pilot turn his head all the way to the back. Rumour is the PL-10 features a laser proximity fuse meaning it can auto self-destruct if the laser senses that the PL-10 is about to miss the target but is close enough to cause enough damage by going kaboom so it'll go off. And once mated with the HMS (Helmet Mounted Sight) it can obtain lock-on both before and after launch as well.
Tidbit of the EO/IR sensor...Pilots will be able to clearly see what aircraft is coming with what weapon load some 40-60km away and what manoeuvres are being performed...they can even turn their radars off making Block-3s detection even more difficult...passive scanning and detection at its best. So once both these add-ons are incorporated you can see why the edge of the IAF, especially the Rafales and the rest of the IAF fleet will be significantly blunted. This is the reason why this latest Shaheen-7 caused so much distress to our neighbours''.
Personally all this is alien stuff to me but perhaps @Oscar can shed some light on it.
''Its almost unfair to compare Block-3 with the first two Blocks. Its pretty much like comparing a old non-MLU Block-15 with Block-52...simply no comparison! Also, Block-3 is featuring military-grade strength construction with newer composite materials further reducing the weight, increasing the airframe life of the JF and reducing its RCS from some angles too. The AESA radar will be the real game-changer cus its pretty much a stealthy radar, very difficult to detect and jam and can effectively operate in ECM environments. But after AESA the jewel in the crown will be the mating of PL-10 with the helmet and EO/IR sensor.
The PL-10 is just like the German IRST (Infra-Red Search and Tracking)...is a short-range high off-boresight imaging, infra-red-guided missile. It features thrust-vectoring giving the weapon a 90°off-bore sight capability. Now compare that with our current F-16 fleet. The AIM-9Ms we got have a high off-boresight shooting capability of 30 degrees on either side meaning the pilots can give that 'dirty look' uptill 30 degrees. This one has 90 degrees on both sides, same as the USAF AIM-9X, meaning there's no escape as the pilot turn his head all the way to the back. Rumour is the PL-10 features a laser proximity fuse meaning it can auto self-destruct if the laser senses that the PL-10 is about to miss the target but is close enough to cause enough damage by going kaboom so it'll go off. And once mated with the HMS (Helmet Mounted Sight) it can obtain lock-on both before and after launch as well.
Tidbit of the EO/IR sensor...Pilots will be able to clearly see what aircraft is coming with what weapon load some 40-60km away and what manoeuvres are being performed...they can even turn their radars off making Block-3s detection even more difficult...passive scanning and detection at its best. So once both these add-ons are incorporated you can see why the edge of the IAF, especially the Rafales and the rest of the IAF fleet will be significantly blunted. This is the reason why this latest Shaheen-7 caused so much distress to our neighbours''.
