Quwa
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The issue of next generation platforms is a reason why I think the PAF may just decide to invest in a new program to succeed the JF-17. With Block-3 and possibly additional electronic upgrades, JF-17 can certainly hold the fort down (especially if J-31 is in the pipeline before 2025) for some time.Hi.
Thank you for your response. You are talking about 5-7 years from now. That will take us into 2020-22. I am assuming that the Bl. 3 would have reached its design brief and about to be jnducted in 2018-19. We have recently seen the influence of LRAAMs on our thinking from some bits of news that have come out just today. Now to me this is the game changer rather than the JFT. Extending my thought process I would thin that rather than having longer range fighters one would need longer ranged armaments and a stronger radar with engine modifications or failing that guidance from a secondary source. For me the cost effective option is a stronger engine higher strength/ranged AESA radar coupled with LRAAMs. It would save up on the cost of redesigning a platform when it works well and our capability for redesigning is rudimentary if at best. So in my humble opinion JFT would not have too many design modifications but will progressively work towards a longer ranged radar a higher thrust engine of similar size to maintain the radarand longer ranged weapons. As capabilities increase you may find that we might not need as many platforms as now so higher numbers maynot be maintained and technology as it becomes more complicated will also become very expensive. In those circumstances we will need to makntain our fleet in an economical manner. Lastly 2020-22 is the time we would want to take a jump on the next generation platforms so redesigning what would eventually be a 4th generation platform when we do not have experience of the next generation will not be such a good idea.
We are only just bouncing ideas so feel free to present your point of view and we can discuss further.
Regards
A
In terms of a next fighter program, a single engine design that is roughly in the same category as KFX would be an interesting and possible route. It could be the future workhorse and supplement J-31.
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