StormBreaker
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Although, i would be very much interested to see PAF deciding up on 5th Gen trainer should it be off the shelf or self developed.As far as Turkey is concerned, the Hurjet is an alternative to the JF-17. Sure, it's on the lighter side, but its engine class is about as good as any other lightweight fighter.
Forget JF-17 Block-IV, if you really want to day dream, imagine a scenario where the PAF calls it a day on the JF-17 after the Block-III, and then switches to the Hurjet as its future low-cost platform (to work with the FGFA). In truth, the Hurjet is the Westernized lightweight fighter the PAF dreamed of in the late 1980s.
Either Hondu L-15 or a JF-17B2 (new variant of B) with 5th gen cockpit, sensor fusion, technologies. We will have 5th gen systems (except for stealth), by 2026-27, practice on it, gain experience, learn by it to further modify AZM’s systems and aspects and when AZM is inducted, we will be in a much experienced position to use it in combats sooner instead of waiting for AZM the waiting another 5-7 years for being ready to use it in battlefield through rigorous practice.
We have China which is already fielding multiple 5th gen platforms so we can use this card to get as much 5th gen on thunder trainers as possible except for stealth so that AZM can become a true 5+/6th gen while our pilots are already 5th gen experienced without actually possessing any 5th gen platforms in our air force.
Secondly, no sane person/Air force would use Stealth fighters for heavy training similar to how we directly jump our pilots to thunders post CCS. Operating stealth aircrafts comes with almost double maintenance cost compared to our current costs so it would be wise to get some good trainers which are also best to use for combat and low cost, so an upgraded Block B thunder with 5th Gen elements should definitely come post Block 3 or if Block 4 arrives.
I am glad, they are doing such. Do they have any plans to modify the design heavily so as to make it look more like a fighter, and sink in the cockpit lower ?The baseline Hurjet will use an engine as powerful as (and more efficient than) the RD-93. It will have a payload of 3,000 kg and max altitude of 45,000 ft. There's nothing (besides time and money) stopping the Turks from working the design up even further to come up with a Gripen/Tejas-class fighter (it's mostly there already).
As for 'advanced systems,' the Turks will load the Hurjet with their own AESA radar, integrated EW/ECM suite, and HMD/S (from TF-X), plus their own bevy of indigenous AAMs, SOWs, AShM, PGBs, LGB, EW pod, etc. And never mind the other attributes, e.g., relaxed stability, heavier use of composite materials, etc.