sancho
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However when you look at the cost the cost advantage of JF-17 is indeed over whelming being alot cheaper than that of the fighters that offer the same capabilities..
Is it? The $15 to 20 millions are for the Block 1, while Block 2 is more expensive and more comparable to Gripen C/D in terms of techs. Also, that was the price for PAF, a development partner which funded parts of it, while the price for an export customer will be higher.
J10A was reportedly offered to Myanmar at $41 millions each, Gripen C/Ds comes at a similar price tag.
I think it is safe to say that such a JF 17 Block 2 version should cost between $20 and 30 millions for export customers, which of course is still cheap for a 4th gen multi role fighter, but the price difference to comparable fighters isn't as big as many people might think.
Capabilitywise a Gripen C/D offers the more modern design and materials, latest European or US techs and weapons, 5t of payload with more hardpoints and with coming upgrades like AESA radar, upgraded RM12 engine, or Meteor missile, also the higher future potential.
So you get more, if you pay more for a Gripen and that's a kind of cost-effectiveness as well!