Blk 3 and 10 are equally capable of course with visible differences.
why people be hatin on our ol boi F-shola ? they are good capable fighters not just against IAF, but also to bomb the Afghando's.
JF-17 is one of my favourite fighters not for capability even though it carries a bigger punch than its size suggests but precisely because of its value proposition and how it punches above its weight. It's a great engineering project to get extract the most out of an affordable program.
I think the pilot here is referring to equal capability with the focus on its main weapon. Both J-10CE and JF-17 block III can use the PL-15E. They can both carry four PL-15E and two PL-10 to combat with three tanks. Let's ignore the short range missiles for now. That's quite a range and loiter presence with four very capable missiles. The place I disagree with the pilot is the insinuation these are overall equal platforms. He even mentions that engine and kinematic/aerodynamic performance differ. The J-10CE simply can fly better and faster with the same payload. The J-10's radar is simply better than the JF-17's and can do more with it, can probably mask signature better and can exploit the full range of PL-15. This is what PAF wanted J-10CE for. If it were identically capable as block III Jeff then there would be zero point to buy J-10CE.
Blk III is comparable to Gripen C/D and F-16 block 50/52 with SABR upgrade. PL-15 compatibility makes the Blk III better than FA-50 in my view. It's more modern than Mirages.
The Jeff doesn't even fly badly. It's a great balance of every parameter in a small constrained airframe. The aim of the program has been just a perfect example of good PAF direction and engineering management from the start. It even became a decent export success. The idea of Blk III is brilliant. Multiply its capability with PL-15 compatibility and networking. Networking with early warning and superior sensor platforms. J-10C may be PLAAF's most junior and least capable bird but it isn't a slouch by any measure, certainly most airforces around the world fly mostly 3rd gen and some handful of 4th gens, nothing near J-10CE in capability but Pakistan and India are both well within top 20 airforces whether measuring overall performance or capability of top performing fighters.
The Jeff is a great rate fighter. Holds its own in most regimes except for climb and altitude due to small airframe and limited single mid thrust engine. So becoming a firing node for a relatively long ranged missile was a perfect step. Radar just enough to make use of PL-15 on its own (would be around PL-15's NEZ range for most 4th gen RCS targets) and fully capable of being networked into some CEC with superior sensor nodes like J-10C.
Operating cost, maintenance cost, everything is relatively affordable and Pakistan can perform so much of the entire chain from production to replacement parts. This was the goal and it gave Pakistan an F-16 alternative. One that doesn't fly quite as well as the F-16 which is world leading but holds its own and through avionics upgrades can defeat early to mid block F-16s.
The CAC designers who worked on the JF-17 had a great idea to combine some really proven 4th gen elements into the package. A great example of engineering compromise to bring out a high performance unit from a low cost base. Gave it those leading edge root extensions, cropped delta arrangement.