@MastanKhan old man,
When all is said and done... it is back to drawing board for your good PAF.
When there is only corruption and stolen future all around... let these young ones have moments of escape... people need something to believe in, something to be prooud of...allow them their moments of joyous abandon. Reality is a bitch!
It is not really about the fighter now.. at this stage it is all about the engine.
@wanglaokan with W-series maturing nicely...the only route left for PAC/PAF is China.
IF/When Turks can manufacture their domestic version of Western engine.. will be seen then.
Mr. Musharraf had a good rabbit in hat by going 50/50 between East/West... rabbit got crushed...rest is history.
CAC is working on stealth single engine for some time now...and your PAC/PAF guys are there to learn as well. Hence, we hear all the right sound bites about off-shelf and local 5th Gen fighters...coming like clockwork from PAF topbrass.
Engines, engines... you would be needing at least 1000 engines. Yes, you read it correctly. Only for PAF.. excluding exports... China needs to up the production lines... even they would be needing 1000s of Ws... so yes, on the surface progress appears slow...
JF was sabotaged by your political class more than your 'professional' class. Credit must be given where it is due... fairness.
Anyhow, evolution of this great little bird will continue for at least coming 3 decades... JF is what Mig21 was. This bird is going to fly far and wide..needs only time...
Regarding J10s.... only in case of national threat by indians... two Sqd will be made available... PAF will keep squeezing the '16 lemons for decade plus however.
So it all leaves us with J31 and its morphing into local 5th Gen fighter....
For now PAC must only focus on JF and move to its directed evolution.
PAC/PAF is intimately involved with certain developments in China and this cooperation will bear fruits.
Win-Win Sino-Pak Style.
J10C/D will only come when there is threat of indian agression. Your pilots are familiar with the birds... so no worries there!!!!