knight11
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You lose product support!
If the PLAAF don't want the FC-1, the PAF are the only buyers, they aren't going to get a lot for their money. And they aren't! PAF already has issues with the JF-17s payload and combat load. But they were forced into it. Originally the PAF wanted the Gripen! However, someone inside Pakistan decided to take bribe from China. The Chinese are learning and transferring tech of J-7 to Pakistan. Had you bought into the Gripen, you would have more technical experience with newer technology and save on operating costs. Uptime of the JF-17 is probabiliy really bad given the Mig-29 with its 2 engines was designed to keep in mind a short life span of engines. Its a bad project. The Mig-21 had its day. But its outdated in terms of low speed handling and agility.
The RnD for the JF-17 is mostly done by China and still being done by China. At their own leisure and pace. The IAF have a similar deal with MKI Flankers except its far ahead in the technology and generation gap.
If PAF was serious about a indigenous aerospace complex they would have started off with real projects no matter how hard with longer growth potential.
MKI assembly will soon turn into a MKI upgrade line and than a T-50MKI line.
The JF-17 like I said, Was a J-7 line. Now what? Electronics are always being updated but the engine will always limit the growth of the aircraft. Ontop of this, Russia supplies the engines. And the Russians are worse than americans when the cut you off from the supply.
Not mentioned is the fact Russians have NO LOVE for Pakistanis. They play with the Indians and are letting you into the new BRIC club on a leash.
IMO going for an Gripen would have been a better idea since America isn't pressured by India as much as Russia is.
So if Pakistan doesn't play ball, no more RD-93s.
Don't know whether this is your views are some one others views
However JF-17 was actually a smart decission for the Pakistan because it dosen't matters whether it is a abandant Soviet MIG-33 project which was actually the single engine variant of Mig-29, and whose IPRs and blueprint and data was purchased by the AVIC china or not, the matter of fact it was tailor build for the PAF. Now it means that PAF didn't bought it off the shelf rather customized with active participation with the Chinese OEM, so actually its the PAF role not the PAC involvement. Now for the Grippen, if every airforce is given the choice to select the fighter plane with no funds issue, then most will chooce F-22 Raptor straight away, but there is also the economical budget, and requirement and PAF being a professional force, takes decission on the basis of its requirement, budget, and threats, and not by the gignos thinking like you or me or any other poster here in the PDF.
Grippen was thought by the PAF at the time, when US stopped the delivery of the F-16, but again the problem for the SAAB was the R12 turbofan engine, which was actually the licence produced F-404 Engine of the US origin. So why PAF choose JF-17, there is superb article written by @Horus in the PDF which describes in detail, why PAF choosed F-16 and not Mirrage 2000, and why JF-17 plan was materalized, give a read, unfortunately I cannot give you the link as I am banned from the all the sections except Indian defence.
Now the advantage of JF-17 was great to PAF
1. It gives PAF long range BVR, which was unavailable earlier.
2. It gives PAC Kamra experience to produce, which will help PAF for the local support and repair facilities.
3. It gives PAF various weaponary which is why this plane is very attractive like CM-400 AKG, so how many countries provide such weapons with the fighter aircraft.
4. It gives the PAF cheaper alternative, fair capable , superior weaponary , customized subsystem to choose for the replacement of urgently needed aging old 3 airframe like Nanchang Q-5, J-7, and Mirrage 3/5.
5. With the JV with the China, PAF make sure, that the future upgradation, upgraded and superior weaponary and upto date tech availability.
6. China developing its own Turbofan engine, so till it gets matured enough, Russians engine can work which is upgraded one, not the old Mig-29B engine without FADEEC.
Now PAF is not a big airforce, like RuAF, PLAAF or IAF, so its doctrine don't have the requirement of the Role specific fighter plane like Speciallized long range Bomber, DPSAU, Interceptor, Airsuperiority, Recce, SEAD, DEAD, CAS, Strike and Ground attack aircraft so what she need is the multirole fighter plane. Since Pakistan don't have the strategic depth, a short range light wt multi role fighter plane fits well in PAF doctrine. What PAF actually needed is not the fighter plane but strong Air defense system, all network connected, and AEW EC in C4ISR because in the present time 100 cruise missile do job well than the 100 fighter plane will less danger of erritation and all future clash will be short, high intensity, network intrensic clash.
Now MKI is the long legged, airsuperiority fighter plane, and meant more for the PLAAF, so leave aside that.
Second the choise of RD-33 Engine bad -- First who told you its a bad or unreliable engine, actually it is cheaper but with less TBO life, so in short cheaper in imediate costing, but costly in long run.
Chinese turbofan engine for JF-17 is on the pipeline, and it will takes years to mature enough. The rule of the thumb is that even if the untested/unreliable engine is developed, it is first tested in the tested airframe, and the untested airframe is used with the tested/reliable engine. In short, even if the Kaveri was ready, it wouldn't be used in LCA, rather some other tested airframe.