JF17 production rate is 10-12 planes per year
How many planes we need to retire
192 F-7
140 Mirage
So how does the math work
2016 : 14 new planes
2017 : 14 new planes
2018 : 14 new planes
2019 : 14 new planes
** Past 5 years product range has been any where from 2 planes per year to 7 planes per year
------------------------------------------------------------
New planes added : 26 planes over 4 years
------------------------------------------------------------
Which really points to a rethink or increase in production capabilities to 50 plane per year
Or May be we need to have a modernization stream if we are not buying a 4.5 Generation plane
- When we did the F16 MLU, in 2-3 years we did a Technology Boost up of the F16 planes, with Turkish partners etc the gain felt by the airforce was gratifying
So options are
a) Buy 100-150 plane contract (Gripen , Hornet , F15 SE , F16 , Sukhoi, Typhoon)
b) Increase production of JF17 Block 2, Block 3 (50 Planes per year)
c) Modernize 100 F-7 , with
DIGITAL upgrade, while keeping existing production rates of
Thunder so , engine , better radars mature for Thunder
A bird in hand will be worth 20 F35 that will never come
A Digital Upgrade of Avionics / Radar will open door to Lethal Chinese Missiles for F-7
And we can easily add the EW suit as pod or Recon Pod