Converting the JF-17 into JF-18 (Twin Engine Bird) should not be that hard for continuation or evolution of our existing platform
Most Engineering Houses do continue to Evolve a platform to Next Evolution and valuable knowledge does gets attained in moving from one Successful Iteration to next. Just look at Russian planes always built on top of older model and designs
The Stealth plane is a different situation as we plan to purchase some birds in due time, Its is very simple to see what structural component will have to get modified
Just using a model to explain the idea, yes means we need to change the core central structure from 1 hollow column to 2 but rest of plane is all same
The cylindrical smooth surface hardly adds any drag on the Thunder JF-18
Certainly folks can argue , how difficult it would be but it does not seems that much of a drastic change,
a flying prototype should not take more then 1.5 Years to 2.0 years
We are just introducing only 3 identified parts as seen in image above in yellow , pure structural elements not mechanical moving parts and most of the time these 3 parts all come "attached" already preconnected in one big part
- From electrical prespective we are just introducing starting capabilities and shutting capabilities of second engine
- I do see some need to enable support for collecting 2nd engine data for internal computers to display data to pilot(i.e it is running with out issues)
150 JF-17 would be restricted to Block 1, Block 2, Block 3
50-75 JF-18 would have Block 1 (
Initially) [Newer Radar , More Air to Air Missiles]
Certainly doable with knowledge Pakistani Engineers have presently