which radar are we using on our thunders?
Some insight to what may be the reality can be gauged from the interchange b/w two posters "Gaf" and "pshamim" on the
PakDef forum in their JF-17 thread ... here are the latest posts ...
Gaf:
Just reading Vol. 11. No.6 Edition of "Combat Aircraft". There is an interesting small article about the JF17. In particular, the following caught my eye..
"the definitive prototype 04 was delayed until April 2006, although it did feature the full avionics suite. The heart of this suite is a digital quadruplex Type 634 FBW system and the KLJ-7 X Band multifunctional pulse doppler fire control radar in the initial batches,
the KLJ-7 reportedly being replaced by the improved KLJ-10 on later aircraft"..
Thoughtd? Who else knew about the KLJ-10 upgrade? Confirmation of the FBW is quite good.
pshamim:
Indeed you are correct. KLJ-10 was once reported on the forum but some did not believe it. Quad FBW has also been reported in old JF-17 thread but do not remember when.
pshamim:
One of the reasons we have not seen the SD-10 on Thunders is that KLJ-7 still does not have a smooth interface with them. When tested KLJ-10, SD-10 worked perfectly. Three years ago, it was reported on this forum that PAF would install the first batch with KLJ-10 did not happen for reasons unknown to me.
Therefore, Thunders are not truly BVR capable at the moment.
Conclusion
Hence this would mean our Thunders are being upgraded with KLJ-10 and until that task is completed ... we may not be seeing SD-10 on it.