Questioning the wisdom is something else, but what some members do is different. We come here to discuss and learn and see the wisdom in things, but some members even after told repeatedly the reasons for going after JF-17 keep coming back and ask the same old questions, thus such members are not just questioning the wisdom & learn, rather they are here for something else.
I was one of the people who used to question its wisdom, but after i sat with people who had knowledge about this project and talked to one of my pilot friends flying JF-17, i learned a lot and my thoughts about JF-17 changed.
On paper it looks great
Best factors for an aircraft which can become the backbone / workhorse of our air force, remember its role is not front line fighter, it is for a workhorse requirement and especially replacing the 200+ workhorse fighters in our inventory, thus when compared to what it is replacing, this is a superb platform, looking at our finances as well as suppliers situation.
This fighter program is just in its infancy, its growing as each day passes, give it some break and let it mature and a final configuration and product be seen, then we should decide was it a mistake or not. Each fighter program when is thought about and made, people ask questions about it, is it worth it ?? But time shows that was it worth it or not.
For now there is no French debacle, as the PAF ACM has himself said the deal is for now on, nor has it been finalized that French were the final winner, Chinese are providing their next batch of avionics, so are the Italians interested. The French game was more for some other purpose. French should have talked and said no, when PAF had finalized the order and French were the clear winners, then they should have said PAF has no money as they can't pay as per the contract, but since there was no order placed, thus French coming out for such statements does not makes sense except for pleasing someone else. When we give them the order and say NO, then plzzz say it to be a debacle and laugh about it, till then do not bring it.
How many of us have tested their tech ?? Who can say how good they are and how much not ?? With this same tech & future tech they develop they are gonna prepare themselves to fight the Indians, Americans or anyone whom they go to war. So if they are relying on their tech to take on their enemy, why can't we ?? And we joining them at this stage gives us the benefit that tomorrow we will get the best out of them available and bring it against the best available by our enemy.
Every sane person knows, we can't compare 1 to 1 with the Indians. JF-17s current configuration would be sufficient enough to take on the rest of the IAF fleet, which will be there for the next decade or more, as plans tend to change. Plus, JF-17s configuration will change as time passes, so for future don't compare the current configuration of JF-17.
PAF knows well what it is gonna face and what it should do to take on the challenge. If people think some stupids are running the PAF, let them, can't change their thinking.
Well that is much debatable, JF-17s design has its own benefits, while LCA design has its own. Composites are not game changers, while i have no idea how you make LCA FBW more superior, does it do something out of the ordinary or what ?? JF-17s has a full quadruple FBW system, though in the initial models some mechanical controls were kept, but as per current models, its complete FBW.
Even with composites, LCA is still heavy i believe if the problem had not yet been sorted out. Here see what this guys had to say in 2008 about the weight problems:
Broadsword: The Tejas LCA: improving performance with the current F-404 engine
Many other sources which talk about the weight problem of LCA even with around 45% composites. But if the status has changed, plzz do let me know the source and link so that i can update my knowledge.
I have no idea why LCA is said to be superior to JF-17. What factors you told above don't make it superior, JF-17s still has very less composites, but it can still take its full load and with composites it will improve much more.
Do you know the source of the jammers tech which the Chinese have ?? Any idea on which tech is the Chinese radar tech is based ?? Do people know the capabilities of the Chinese jammers & radars ??
Yes, engine is the major weakness of JF-17 for now, but do remember, Chinese one may not be good right now, but look at future options, what will their engines be in 5-10 years, as they are doing their best to get reliable engines as their own aviation sector is in trouble due to that and as per what i know, they are gonna improve quiet good things in coming future, even WS-13 is not gonna be a bad engine, reliability issues will be there in start, but we are looking at future, which is more brighter compared to right now.
I don't wish to comment right now here on LCA, as it will derail the thread as well as a swarm of Indian members will come at me for saying things with regard to LCA.
Well if we had the money, then leave aside FC-20s, we would have gone for Typhoons, Rafale etc etc, but since we don't have such money, then we can only think about such systems.
As for FC-20s, it has still 4-5 years since first induction and then to reach hundreds numbers another 3-5 years, so do we sit idle for whole one decade and not get anything to replace our 2-3+ decade old fighters ?? Common guys, be realistic.
Its easy to talk, get this and get that, but practically its very difficult.
So PAF is going ahead one step at a time, and not sitting and waiting for another decade to pass by.
As time passes, as our enemy increases its strength, we will also increase our strength. Today we may have 400 combat fighters, by end of the decade it may reach 500 or even more if financailly we are capable enough and Pakistan is there, thus the numbers of the fighters mix will change, JF-17 what is now, may not be the same in 2015.
Who knows PAF may be thinking about just 250 of them and has plans for JF-17 to be an export product to earn revenues and invest in other modern platforms.
Problem is I or some other members can't disclose what is the real capability of JF-17 or what it can be changed into, that is classified for now. Those who want to think i am exaggerating, well I can't help it, but I know what I know.
JF-17 has definitely some shortcomings, but when you are growing up, such things happen and with time they are solved and modified.
So for now JF-17 is the best platform available for PAF to replace its 200+ 2-3+ decade old fighters.
JF-17 facing MKI is better then A-5s/Mirage IIIs/Mirage Vs/F-7P & PGs facing the MKIs, who might have no chance infront of the MKI, but JF-17 does has atleast some chance to survive or even kill.
