Project Azm IMHO is nothing but another PAF wet dream. How's that if you may ask? Well, let me give you an example. At the time when the Muricans and the Russians were in a race to get to the moon first, a "scientist" from TANZANIA (yes you heard it right) challenged to get to the moon first. We all know who got their first and that "scientist" faded into forever darkness.
Point here is that you have to have the knowledge, profound research capability, skills, expertise, technology, the capacity, a mature history of ac building, and most importantly truck loads of cash to develop a 5th gen AC. Pakistan, as of now has neither of them, at least not for the coming solid 20-yrs or so. You can't just go right away into building an "indigenous" 5th gen by simply being able to overhaul a 3rd gen mirage or partnering in 4th gen AC program.
The chinese have been building ac for at least 40-50yrs for now yet it took them almost 2 decades for an "operational" J20. The Americans have been building ac since "forever" yet they're struggling with their F35. The Russians have their own never ending problems with PAK-FA. Heck even the Japanese have been trying to make their own 5th gen from the last decade and getting nowhere. But here we have a country with very negligible ac building experience aiming to build an "indigenous' 5th gen AC all by itself.
They could have JV with the Chinese on J31 project, learn from it, and develop it further like they did in JF-17. But no, just by JVing in one project they thought they could build a stealth fighter in 15-18yrs. I'm afraid that this project would turn into a massive disappointment. The goons at the PAF has set a ticking embarrassment time bomb on their heads and on nation's head. There's a thin line btwn confidence and over confidence.
On a relatable reference, where's that nuclear submarine that we were building that was supposed to be ready by 2020?
