FuturePAF
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2014
- Messages
- 10,546
- Reaction score
- 24
- Country
- Location
F-414 class engine would be fine like WS-13E/RD-93 MA @FuturePAF
If it will have 2 engine there will be totally new design and not related to any JF-17 variant because it will be internally and externally structurally/mechanically different from JF-17 @BHarwana
An Engine change is needed because the design of the JF-17 needs to be Scaled up for the EW Variant (the engines are nearly the same diameter but the ws-10 is 0.7 meters longer) and you get more room for loitering as well as more power to all the jamming equipment (3 sides Aesa, IRST, 2 DFRM wing pods, and 3 Jamming pods, as well as two HARM missiles and two WVR Missiles)
The weight alone requires a larger platform to allow the plane to still have enough agility to protect itself let alone protect other fighters
CFT will not put pressure on pocket but increasing the size of JFT will, because it will make it a new bird which have to go full cycle of proper testing and evaluation.
Yes retesting a "new" design will take time, but you will get a platform that will be a lot more effective. Also a large platform will have the range to protect fighters while they attack into enemy territory, not just defend our own territory. A slightly larger design could allow the PAF to change its doctrine from Defensive only to the option to carry out Offensive actions.