mb444
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From my understanding there is two production lines of j10s .... one with Russian engines and one with Chinese engines.
With Russian engine J10, china will require Russian agreement to sell. From a BD perspective we are already direct Russian customers... this will complicate matters and for the price it may be better to go with migs or SUs. The point for BD is we want procure defence equipment with minimal baggage. We have bought F7 derivatives from china with Russian engines before offcourse, but these weren't competing with Russian offerings directly which the J10s are.
What BD want is Chinese fighters, unfortunately the Chinese engines is still buggy and is going through the final development phase. I would say fully perfected mass produced j10s is still 10 years away. I think BD will wait for it and as I said will probably buy half a sqd of migs and that's it.
The only other scenario I see is if BAF thinks the Chinese option is too far way before it is realised then BAF will go all in with several sqd of migs and couple of sqd of SUs.
I personally do not believe BAF will buy any F16 (even second hand) or any western fighters. BAF in time will primarily be composed of Chinese jets as we have common strategic outlook that won't change. Every other player in the field will have fluctuating and changing interest, which is not the basis of long term alliance .
fingers crossed
