JF-17 Thunder Block III is not a peer of F-16V (not even close). It is comparable to F-16 Block 52+ in limited areas but falls short in others.
AESA radar systems significantly vary in capabilities as well, and F-16V feature 4th generation AESA radar system which is a derivative of F-35 AESA radar solution. F-16V is essentially new aircraft beneath F-16 type frame, and a major leap from actual F-16 variants across the board.
JF-17 Thunder Block III is not receiving the very best of Chinese AESA solution, but decent for our needs.
As
@araz pointed out here, Jets are not like horses. F-16 variants and JF-17 variants have their respective merits and importance for PAF. F-16 will be phased out when their frames will be no longer flying-worthy.
recent Shaheen Exe. have changed that......Now Blk3 will grow like J10c, it will have ITS capabilities and technology.
This is F16VBlk72 plus stuff.......Blk52 are good but not the destiny.....Current JF17 Blk2 is already on the level of F16Blk40/45.
With the Eo/I and other sensors it is receiving with that AIM9X standard Chinese equivalent with 90 degree kill probability just like Aim9x besides much talked abt AESA (able to operate in even extreme EW environment with atleast 170km range) PL15 standard ultra range BVR.......then IRST and other things etc etc, with even more smarter air to ground munition which r already developing for Project Azm along with our own 5th gen class A-to-A missiles (both WVR and BVR; Hint Aviation City)......these will be first inducted and tested on this very platform too mister. these Air to Ground munitions that r still secret are the main reason why the weight is being reduced on Blk3 and more hardpoints r installed. Expect more SOW weapons including cruise missiles on par with American and Chinese current class. This new ''smart bomb'' testing from CURRENT BLK2 JF17 is also a clue for you to whats Blk3 is about to carry infront of S400s and Rafales....U need to keep in mind Pakistan also saying early this year or late last year that Pakistan CAN counter S400 on its own through conventional means(u can read whatever is written abt that in media as well) this is another HINT for u.
U take this all together, and then look at the best u have right now ie Blk52, i let that to yr judgement.
ALWAYS REMEMBER; like Sohail Aman had said in 2015/16 Blk3 is being made keeping in mind the joint Rafale and S400 threat environment. And India is going to receive Rafale in September and S400 in october this year or next year. Blk52 is NOTHING even for poorly trained pilots of IAF in a joint S400-Rafale advantage that they will have starting september 2019.
Pakistan is a Monster, whom against these Superpower even couldnt go anything abt then what makes u think this India and its tiny master Israel's technologies and its even more incompetent soldiers will?
The only thing in past that we lacked was Technology(as u can see we made their Israeli missiles blow up their own helicopter etc) and we are fulfilling that ''lack'', question is has israel or india even did bothered to full fill their ''lack'' ie human proficiency? and technology can never be a substitute for that.
So bottomline is Blk3 is being made to counter successfully the joint thread posed by Rafale and S400 and Blk52 is no where close to her in both technology wise and capability wise. Performance wise a few individual systems like its APG V9 radar may still lock its enemies better not break it or a few other individual aspects, but still in the end of the day APG V9's overall capabilities are still limited against an AESA radar of Blk3. If American did gave their Sabr AESA then i may still have agreed with u on the RADAR front atleast.
But this is not the case and thats why i said that if F16s dont get update they will be replace by Project azm and Blk5/6 in next 10 years starting 2030/32
Its upto the American ego that they want to salvage their dying weapons industry or not by giving a country which has realistic chance to use them in an actual hostile environment and give their weapons much needed publicity in 21st century which their Tiny friend Israel failed to give when its F16I the most advanced outside America's own F16 was shot down by mere air defence of Syrian Army an year ago by using a mere S200 of old soviat 60s era.
@LeGenD we no longer need to degrade us or hide our capabilities as the changing geopolitics are proving to be and 27 feb has left no doubt about it, Its THEY WHO NEED US NOT US WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING FAR BETTER COMING WHO IS ALSO BATTLE PROVEN. And Pakistan is not going to wait forever, hence the early retirement plans of F16s in next 10 years.
''JF17 keeps us very busy, but it is our DESTINY'' Sohail Aman...... as u can see its not Blk52.
U have outdated mindset and information.
No block 4. It u want further, it needs to be a new plane.
blk4,5,6 are all planned.......Blk4 will be semi stealth version which was originally planned for Blk3
