Why too increase J10 numbers if we want J35 , we should invest in them and to fill numbers JFT 17 B3 are Good enough
Different types of fighters serve different purposes. They have not been able to replace each other so far.
In the current air combat system, 4th/4.5th-Gen fighters cannot be completely replaced by 5th-Gen fighters. And, of course, vice versa.
Typically, a modern Air Force tactical formation consists of a mix of 4th/4.5th-Gen and 5th-Gen fighters, plus one AEW&C, and the number of 4th/4.5th-Gen fighters is usually double to triple the number of 5th-Gen fighters. You can use the fighter configuration of the US Navy's Ford-class carriers as a reference.
The 5th-Gen fighters also have a Beast mode, but they usually come without any external weapons/fuel tanks. Especially when in combat mode.
The JF-17B3 and J-10CE are also not interchangeable. Light fighters and medium fighters have their own different niche. In the PAF's daily air patrol/vigilance mission, the JF-17B3 offers a better price/performance ratio than the J-10CE, which offers a higher payload and air combat performance than the JF-17B3.
PAF's J-35, J-10CE, and JF-17B3 can be configured in roughly 1:2:3 quantities. Of course, this has to do with PAF's budget.
But what the current PAF lacks the most, is a dedicated electronic warfare aircraft (similar to the J-16D/J-15D function). Chinese social media once revealed that the J-10C has a dedicated electronic warfare improved model(Allegedly internally coded as EJ-10), however, the PLAAF did not end up equipping this type of fighter(The PLAAF employs an external electronic warfare pod for the J-10C.).PAF could consider stepping into the program. After further improvements and upgrades to it, introduce it to PAF.
