JF-17 - Updates, News & Discussion

[Pakistan Space Agency]

Blk I - 50 build 48 survivied
Blk 2 - 60 build 58 survived
blk 3 - 42 build so far
blk 2 B - 26 build 25 survived

so total JFT in PAF service is appx 173 .. excellent fleet. all 4 gen or 4++ gen.

Block-2 Alphas - 59, not 60.

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

I heard Chinese gave us a dual-seater free of cost because the crash was due to software issue of Flight controls.
So it is still 26.

What would happen to the serial number in this case?

Would they use the same one or a newer updated one for the replacement?

 

[AeronautIR]

What would happen to the serial number in this case?

Would they use the same one or a newer updated one for the replacement?

I think a new one.

 

[ArmTwister]

FAAZ Air to air missile

Can’t be it’s more wider than REK, adjacent to it.. doesn’t fit for AAM.. Can it be CM400-AKG(Anti-Radiation version)??

 

[Tariq Habib Afridi]

130+ with around 80 Mirage aircraft.

what do you mean 130+ including 80 mirage? or 80 mirage + 130+?

 

[Aziqbal]

Pakistan aero nautical complex (PAC) released a photo showing serial number 25-342

That means in 2025 it was the 42nd JF17 block 3 the highest so far

The last known serial was 23- 323 so it me means there is 19 x JF17 block 3 built between then and last year

Some suggested it was a export model but export serials start with 80-xx

So that means Pakistan now has over 42 x JF17 block 3 with one in yellow primer in the back which means production must still be underway

So PAC is simultaneously building export orders and for Pakistan Air Force at home

So the real question did they add another production line

 

[AeronautIR]

what do you mean 130+ including 80 mirage? or 80 mirage + 130+?

80+ Mirage, 50+ PG.

 

[PakShaheen_79]

80+ Mirage, 50+ PG.

That's a big number to be replaced. Almost 7+ squadrons.

 

[Yasser76]

Pakistan aero nautical complex (PAC) released a photo showing serial number 25-342

That means in 2025 it was the 42nd JF17 block 3 the highest so far

The last known serial was 23- 323 so it me means there is 19 x JF17 block 3 built between then and last year

Some suggested it was a export model but export serials start with 80-xx

So that means Pakistan now has over 42 x JF17 block 3 with one in yellow primer in the back which means production must still be underway

So PAC is simultaneously building export orders and for Pakistan Air Force at home

So the real question did they add another production line

Should mean we should now have another Block III Sqd but a new one has not been declared

 

[PakShaheen_79]

Should mean we should now have another Block III Sqd but a new one has not been declared

Perhaps Squadrons previously operating Block-1s are being rearmed with newly built Block-IIIs to keep them competitive in 2030's. Because in 2 years, first Block-1 squadron will be 20 years old. With your own fighter jet, that's the time when you either go for deep MLU or replacement with next block or variant. But this is my personal opinion not any news.

 

[Yasser76]

Perhaps Squadrons previously operating Block-1s are being rearmed with newly built Block-IIIs to keep them competitive in 2030's. Because in 2 years, first Block-1 squadron will be 20 years old. With your own fighter jet, that's the time when you either go for deep MLU or replacement with next block or variant. But this is my personal opinion not any news.

Yeah, just now new on requipment of another unit on Block IIIs. Agree, Block I and IIs becoming obsolete soon

 

[White Privilege]

Perhaps Squadrons previously operating Block-1s are being rearmed with newly built Block-IIIs to keep them competitive in 2030's. Because in 2 years, first Block-1 squadron will be 20 years old. With your own fighter jet, that's the time when you either go for deep MLU or replacement with next block or variant. But this is my personal opinion not any news.

I believe the aged block-1s would be re-purposed as LIFT aircraft the PAF has been missing all these years....

 

[AeronautIR]

That's a big number to be replaced. Almost 7+ squadrons.

3 each, so 6 sqn and we don't need to replace them all.

 

[PakShaheen_79]

3 each, so 6 sqn and we don't need to replace them all.

From pure technological PoV I agree that even replaceing 60% of these might give us superior performance with say Block-IIIs but considering the regional balance of power requirements, PAF will be bound to maintain a healthy balance of power viz-a-viz IAF where number of sophisticated 4.5 gen fighters are to rise. No matter how advanced a fighter jet is, it can't be at two different places in a combat. Next IAF strike packages will be even bigger than 72. After May 2025 humiliation by PAF in skies, IAF will be desperate to have some kind of aerial victory over PAF and only way they know is to throw money at problem (which for IAF is far complex than receeding squardron strength) to get more fighters compelling PAF to restore balance of power.

 

[AeronautIR]

From pure technological PoV I agree that even replaceing 60% of these might give us superior performance with say Block-IIIs but considering the regional balance of power requirements, PAF will be bound to maintain a healthy balance of power viz-a-viz IAF where number of sophisticated 4.5 gen fighters are to rise. No matter how advanced a fighter jet is, it can't be at two different places in a combat. Next IAF strike packages will be even bigger than 72. After May 2025 humiliation by PAF in skies, IAF will be desperate to have some kind of aerial victory over PAF and only way they know is to throw money at problem (which for IAF is far complex than receeding squardron strength) to get more fighters compelling PAF to restore balance of power.

I think we debated about Indians using hundreds of Brahmos next time. Now we are talking about package bigger than 72. I just don't understand 1 thing. Why do we trust any Indian news about acquisition but question PAF plans? PAF is planning 40 J-10C and 36 J-35 to my knowledge, with more JF-17 blk 3. IAF will not get any new aircraft except Tejas till 2028. Time and again we have run different scenarios for wargaming. It is IAF and not PAF that is really worried about sqn strength.