Define interoperability? Link-17 has worked to an extent but so far JF-17s cannot take complete information directly from the block 52.@Windjammer @Oscar @Bilal Khan (Quwa) @Bilal Khan 777 @Knuckles @Hodor @khanasifm
The PAF has made a huge and bold point by sending only the Thunders and C-130 to an exercise that otherwise has only NATO aircraft. Notable by their absence are the Vipers and the Karakoram Eagle. Are we to understand that Thunder is fully interoperable with NATO aircraft?
Also, a professional airforce like PAF would never send an aircraft to the exercise that couldn't hold its own. This is a loud and clear message from PAF that Thunder is ready for the F-15s and the F-18s of the world. Alhamdulillah.
As far as taking on the f-18s and 15s.. it depends on the scenarios and a multitude of variables. It isn’t the best or an extreme high end aircraft; but it can fly and fight in thr coming air warfare environment with a reasonable degree of survival probability.
What if it was shot down more than it shot others down?@Windjammer how was this exercise for Thunders?
Would that make it an automatic “bad” airplane?
Could it be due to scenarios? Or poor tactics of PAF pilots?
All of these measures are subjective.
In home based exercises.. JF-17s flown by experienced pilots have left block 52 drivers confounded.. and it is likely that under a normal unit that made bad decisions they were creamed 0:6.