JF-17 related news.

[Pakhtoon yum]

Seems fake. The missile on the starboard wing has a solid white seeker head?

You don't need 2 for testing imo

 

[Scorpio]

Can be test module

 

[BATMAN]

Can be test module

PL10 is ready.. it appears more like integration tests in progress.
As we know blk-III will have HMCS, which will be first of a kind in PAF inventory, thus require testing /training with compatible missiles.
Expecting to see more flights with PL10, in future.

 

[BATMAN]

Seems fake. The missile on the starboard wing has a solid white seeker head?

May be a dummy /without seeker.

 

[Khafee]

A prototype 3001 JF-17A Block 3 spotted during testing in 2021 with PL-10 AAMs.

The PL-10E missile will replace the PL-5EII on the wingtip Within-Visual-Range Combat pylons of Pakistan’s JF-17A Thunder Block 3.

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Seems fake. The missile on the starboard wing has a solid white seeker head?

JF-17 fighter jet gets J-20’s combat missile: reports
By Liu Xuanzun
Published: Apr 29, 2021

The latest, upgraded version of the JF-17 fighter jet has recently been spotted equipped with China's most advanced air-to-air combat missile that is also used by China's J-20 stealth aircraft, with military observers saying on Thursday that the weapon will give the China-Pakistan jointly developed light fighter the upper hand against its counterparts in dogfights and make it one of the world's best in its class.

A photo recently circulating on social media shows a JF-17 Block 3 fighter jet with the serial number "3001" on a test flight, eastday.com, a Shanghai-based news website, reported on Wednesday.

This is the first time the aircraft with this particular serial number has been seen by the general public, and a PL-10 air-to-air combat missile can be seen on the tip of each of its wings, the report said, without revealing the date and location.

As the short-range combat missile also used by China's most advanced J-20 stealth fighter jet and others, the PL-10 represents the highest level of its kind, and previous JF-17s are equipped with the old PL-5, eastday.com reported.

Observers said that the PL-10 equipped by the JF-17 Block 3 is likely an export variation, the PL-10E, which made its debut at the Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province.

The PL-10E is a domestically developed, fourth generation air-to-air missile, and is one of the most advanced in the world that is on par with the US'AIM-9X, Liang Xiaogeng, chief designer of the missile, told the Global Times on the sidelines of the exhibition in 2018.

Thanks to its infrared-homing, extreme aerodynamic design and other advanced technologies, no aircraft, even stealth ones, can escape from the PL-10, eastday.com reported, also citing Liang.

With the PL-10, the JF-17 Block 3 will gain tremendous dogfight capability and have an edge even against its heavier opposing counterparts in homeland air defense, a Beijing-based military expert told the Global Times on Thursday, requesting anonymity.

In addition to the PL-10, the JF-17 Block 3 also received a more advanced radar, as China Central Television reported on Saturday that the fighter jet is equipped with the KLJ-7A airborne active electronically scanned array fire control radar.

The radar is of the most advanced level in the world, Hu Mingchun, director of the No.14 Research Institute at the state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Co, told the Global Times at the 9th World Radar Expo in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, last week.

The first JF-17 Block 3 prototype, with serial number "3000", was taken into the skies for the first time in December 2019 in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine reported at that time.

Other technologies, including a new and larger holographic wide-angle head-up display and integrated cockpit display similar to the one used by the J-20, in addition to an advanced infrared missile approach warning system used by the J-10C, J-16 and J-20 fighter jets, are also used on the JF-17 Block 3, Aerospace Knowledge said.

The JF-17 Block 3 will be one of the world's most powerful light fighter jets, experts said.

The Block 1 and 2 versions of the JF-17 can also use new radars and missiles for upgrades, analysts said.

 

[Scorpio]

Argentinian media says that the PAC JF-17 Thunder & Mikoyan MiG-35 remain the only two options being “evaluated

with increasing interest” for the Argentinian Air Force program to replace its Mirage IIIs.

On the other hand, Malaysia has also finalised the PAC JF-17 & KAI FA-50 for its program.

Sources indicate that Iraq and Qatar are also highly interested, as well as Azerbaijan.

It’s no surprise that air forces will be attracted to a fighter with features like an AESA radar, PL-15 LRAAM, PL-10 HOBS IRAAM, HMD, CM-400AKG maritime strikes missile, GIDS REK standoff precision munitions and many other modern air weaponry

 

[Khafee]

Argentinian media says that the PAC JF-17 Thunder & Mikoyan MiG-35 remain the only two options being “evaluated

with increasing interest” for the Argentinian Air Force program to replace its Mirage IIIs.

On the other hand, Malaysia has also finalised the PAC JF-17 & KAI FA-50 for its program.

Sources indicate that Iraq and Qatar are also highly interested, as well as Azerbaijan.

It’s no surprise that air forces will be attracted to a fighter with features like an AESA radar, PL-15 LRAAM, PL-10 HOBS IRAAM, HMD, CM-400AKG maritime strikes missile, GIDS REK standoff precision munitions and many other modern air weaponry

Sir, you forgot to add a link to your post, would appreciate it if you would do that. Thanks!

 

[BATMAN]

Argentinian media says that the PAC JF-17 Thunder & Mikoyan MiG-35 remain the only two options being “evaluated

jF-17 is a strong contender.
jF-17 training & operating cost is lower than mig-35. while KLJ 7A is touted to be most advanced radar available in market today, similarly new avionics package is most modern.

Here's something from Argentinian media in Spanish:

JF-17 para la FAA - Delegación china visitará la Argentina.

En el día de ayer informamos sobre los pasos que la Fuerza Aérea Argentina ha dado en los últimos meses pensando en cubrir de una buena vez el nicho de un

www.zona-militar.com

 

[BATMAN]

JF-17 fighter jet gets J-20’s combat missile: reports - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

 

[BATMAN]

KLJ 7A

 

[Khafee]

KLJ 7A
View attachment 17654

Any idea how many T/R modules?

 

[Lieutenant]

KLJ 7A
View attachment 17654

How many of the III will PAF go for? Is the entire fleet going to be replaced or modified?

 

[Khafee]

How many of the III will PAF go for? Is the entire fleet going to be replaced or modified?

50 for now, the 130+ that are flying now, only some based on air-frame hrs/fatigue will also be upgraded.

In the mean time Blk4 is also being explored, which may or may not, see the light of day, in light of Project Azm and the new inductions. In that case, upgrade of Blk1&2 to Blk 3, will be a priority, and new Blk3 production, with minor upgrades will continue, and exceed the initial figure of 50.

 

[BATMAN]

Any idea how many T/R modules?

Even if i give any number, it will not be any thing confirm.
Hints are it leads the competition by leaps and PAF is very excited.

 

[BATMAN]

50 for now, the 130+ that are flying now, only some based on air-frame hrs/fatigue will also be upgraded.

In the mean time Blk4 is also being explored, which may or may not, see the light of day, in light of Project Azm and the new inductions. In that case, upgrade of Blk1&2 to Blk 3, will be a priority, and new Blk3 production, with minor upgrades will continue, and exceed the initial figure of 50.

On the contrary, i believe blk 4 will be announced one day. It may become test bed for AZM avionics, ECM etc. but it's just an experienced hunch.