Hi,
Why do you pak kids have this FETISH with the sale of this aircraft----. The abilities and capabilities of this aircraft won't decrease or increase with the sale.
I think this goes with another FETISH that paks have----they have to ask every visitor how they liked their country.
As for why this aircraft is not being used for ground strike missions against the TTP----that raises multiple red flags---the first three sqdrn's were touted to be ground strike specific.
This was the perfect time to prove that the JF 17 was a functional aircraft---what better advertisement than actual combat ground strike missions to prove your point and display on the sales brochure.
The other deduction would be that this aircraft is not ready for any role at this time as it is still supposedly going thru integration.
And the last but least acceptable reason for the pak members of this board----this aircraft is still not capable to perform even in a one sided battle---this aircraft is still living on a hype---at what other time in actual war that this aircraft would be facing such little odds of being shot down by the enemy.
An interesting thought,that is compelling me to share my view about it.
Finding a customer interests us, as a customer is actually not just a customer but an indirect investor for the speedy development of the project and it'll be helpful for us to set our aim high for the upcoming block-3 (if there is one).To achieve it we have to put more effort as our product is actually not a hot cake for the more advanced air forces around the world, but is a very attractive package for the developing world.
So, their efforts are in the right direction if they want to establish their share in the market.
I've been following it myself.But i couldn't find anywhere that the block-1 or the first three squadrons are just meant to be ground attack specific.Though i've read it in few of the online discussions but PAF/Kamra/CAC none of the authorities related to this project have clearly mentioned it for me to accept it as a fact that this is the ground attack version of JFT and soon some air/littoral defense versions will be available.
All they mention is about the phase of development their project is in (the blocks) and the weapon testing that they do
as soon as an acceptable (acceptable to the first customer) version of a weapon is available for tests out of the J-10 weapon lineage and is tested upon the platform to prove it's efficacy.That is a step-wise phenomenon and the factor that i've mentioned "seems" to affect it.As majority of the initially deployed weapons were of Chinese origin and the Chinese weapon industry is/was not yet there( while our own weapon industry is/was still a neonate) through out the development phase of this platform so it was bound to affect the progress and hence may have nurtured the thinking that the first few squadrons are solely related for ground attack which can an erroneous interpretation as far as i get it.Now you see as the weapons have become available their integration and testing is in progress with some speed.
For example after the induction of the SD-10A on the block-1 JFT, it's the turn of SD-10B to be tested upon it as soon as it's available.
While saying that i fully endorse your statement regarding advertisement of the ground attack missions (by any of the means suitable).
And who knows they already may be on it.
