Indos
PDF THINK TANK: ANALYST
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Interesting analysis. My only bother is that JF-17 Block 3 production will most likely end by 2025. Between that and 2035 or 2047 - if PAC does not do any manufacturing, it will be idling a lot of production equipment, and losing a lot of its skilled personnel.
Also, by then the early block Jf-17 will need replacing as well as the Mirages and a good part of the F-16 fleet.
F-16s aren't rebuildable in the same way as Mirages because of the materials used. - Its relatively straightforward for a largely aluminum airframe like the Mirage but becomes highly complex when advanced alloys and carbon-based compounds are involved.
This suggests to me that "something needs to be manufactured after the JF-17". To me, that something is the first iteration of the Azm. PAC has always chosen a gradual evolutionary model rather than revolutionary change - with the Super-7, JF-17 prototype, JF-17, Block 3... we see this pattern.
It may just be more practical to do the same with the Azm, at least the early iterations of it.
PAC KAMRA IMO should become part supplier for big aerospace company like Boeing, Airbus, and Chinese companies to keep the industry going if in case JF 17 production is stopped. It is a profitable business and Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand aerospace focuses on this business and they can make huge sales just by selling parts. Pakistan has better relationship with China so Pakistan should try to find ways to become a part supplier of new Chinese civilian planes.