PAF/PAC/China is not showing every improvement to everyone. But the latest article in Combat Aircraft shows what was known in the "insiders" group. The engine has been a big issue in the beginning but has been tackled very smartly. While the first few had the good old RD93 with direct relation to the infamous smokey RD33 (changed gearbox and more thrust) the production examples were already improved. I have shown you guys pipes coming out of the exhaust. This was one of the improvement to reduce smoke by bypassing the chambers and dump fuel. Similar as the AL31... The block 2 had the need for more stores to become near F16 block52 so the wing is improved and throughly tested. You have read the news a year ago that after the accident of the JF17 the wing was "tested". In fact that was the strengthening so it can handle a lot more now. But more stores need more thrust so China did improve RD93 parts. The RD93/RD33 is a very forgiving, rugged and extremely fast reacting engine. Yet it is not sophisticated enough to move towards better thrust like PW220 we have. So China engineered parts to make it a lot better quality. It offered indeed Russia to do it together... You all know the articles.
So now you have better wing, better engine and India has no idea what to say.
btw. there are a lot more improvements inside and the block 3 is very very potent as far as I can judge. I think we can easily say that it is moving beyond the best we have now. Just wait three years and you will remind me what I said.
About a close article that USA is blocking the usage of our F16's. Not really. It fears that China gets its hands on it. That is fully understandable. But Indians are seeing a different reality. The fact is that both Pakistan and China are absorbing know how a lot better then Indians. While the Indians are busy with buying and failing LCA, IJT, prop trainer and many more projects the Chinese move towards stealth and beyond... Pakistan moved from J5, J6, J7 (60 era designs) towards block40-52 knowhow...
Let me put it simple. According Indians we could not get RD93... Klimov even offered rd93 MA... We could not get F16... No DRFM.. Well, we already have it plugged in. We have US pods with DRFM and even JF17 with DRFM.
While the Indians get wet seeing LCA doing night test flying we are a few decades ahead. Without western nations helping us. Without billions spending on bad projects. So, thank you.