Though remember your own finances are likely to be dire as well.
Fighter acquisition from foreign sources is a Zero sum game. Suppose you acquire second hand and new Typhoons. Will IAF/ uncle Sam sit down and let you get away with superiority in theair theatre. All that will happen is IAF will have to acquire the F35 from US. So you have spent 5-10 billion of money you did not have and suddenly it has gone down the drain. On the flip side if the war comes with IAF having the Rafale and PAF lises big time(Allah Na Karay) the nuclear threshold gets lowered.
In JFT we have an immense opportunity to develop this platform further improve our net centricity and situational awareness and let the games begin. If we are really losing out the only solution if a western platform is not available is the J20/31. As to SU35, I opined many a months ago that it is only worth while if the Red bear allows integration of a Chinese AESA and weapons suite. That did not happen and so we are back to where we were.
People need to understand that pressure on PAF to counter IAF alleged superiority will lead to a more concerted effort towards our own 5th generation fighter.
A
IMO ... the point of a modern fighter is to deploy modern capabilities. If the JF-17 is doing just that (e.g., with the KLJ-7A AESA radar ... or even Grifo-E if the PAF opts for it), then why pursue another type in limited numbers? We should focus on acquiring as many JF-17s, i.e., crank up the annual roll-out. Moreover, work with whoever's willing (likely just China, maybe Turkey/RSA down the line) to provide the JF-17 with good AAMs.
With enough JF-17s -- and the right kind of munitions, especially SOWs like Raptor III and Ra'ad II -- the PAF can still inflict considerable conventional damage. Sure, it may struggle against other fighters, but with SOWs, it could at least hit ground targets. Moreover, with serviceable AESA radars, EW/ECM and a PL-15E-like AAM, it could still be a threat in the air, and by the dozens (if not 100+).
The situation at that point is so unprecedented, two professional and networked air forces will collide, basically. IMO, at that point, neither side will seriously want to be the aggressor.
Finally, with Project Azm, we can make a case that the PAF could gradually build a large fleet over the long-term. No matter how expensive it is, our industry would benefit for even an incremental order.
It's time we stick to what we have, expand upon it (to support our local economic base as much as we can). And for the future, focus on developing the necessary industrial inputs to both source next-gen weapons locally, and in all seriousness, improve our economy and its ability to generate revenue for the state.
