Ali_Baba
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China/Italy/UK won't capitulate to sharing source codes.
If the Grifo-E wins the Block 3 tender, then it means that the PAF has secured a non-Chinese BVRAAM and AShM suite through Leonardo and MBDA. It can also point to the PAF working with a trusted 3rd party like South Africa or Turkey on their respective BVRAAM (Merlin and Marlin, respectively), but that'd be a stretch seeing how the PAF will often go for something that's available today than play around with prototyping et. al.
Basically, the PAF might be dangling the Block-3 to Leonardo as a means to get Leonardo (and the Italian and UK governments) to sell the MBDA Meteor. If you're going to have a world of confidence in the Block-3, then perhaps arming it with a known quantity like the Meteor will force the enemy to respect it.
BTW an embargo wouldn't be a major factor in war. The PAF will stock enough AAMs and AShMs for a wartime response regardless of whether they're from the West or China.
I agree, having a block of JF17s with the Grifo-E (or other Lenardo radar) with Meteror, ASRAAM will bring the JF17 platform on par with the Rafale as far as the Air-to-Air role is concerned and will serve as a deterrent.
This is nothing to stop PAF ordering 50x Block III with Chinese avionics/AESA, and another 50x Block III with Western systems, making a final tally of 200 odd JF17s and then moving the focus to Azm project.
Sometimes the threat you understand is more serious than something that might or might not be as threatening.
I agree !!! Indians will understand the capability of the Meteor and will respect its deterrence capabilities. The whole purpose is to deter.. not to start the war, etc.