Chinese ambitions in terms of export market share and mastery of military aeronautical technologies continue to sharpen. After having offered its J-10C fighter in Bangladesh and Laos, it's the turn of the new version of the Sino-Pakistani fighter JF-17 to unveil its finery. And these ambitions are nothing more or less than to compete with the F16V from a technological and operational point of view, while remaining half the price of the latter.
For this, the JF-17 Block III Thunder will be equipped with a new KLJ-7A AESA radar, a new IRST infrared visualization system, a digital cockpit with sighting helmet, and a new engine, of which it is however unknown whether it will be the indeed an improved version of the Chinese WS-13, itself derived from the Russian RD-93 which equips the current JF17. Thus adorned, the new device will be able to use a wide range of munitions and equipment of Chinese, Russian or Pakistani origin, and even Turkish.
It will obviously take more than a list of equipment displaying beautiful acronyms to truly be able to align with the performance of the ultimate version of the F16, one of the most successful aircraft of the second half of the XNUMXth century. However, the Sino-Pakistani apparatus actually seems to be performing well, both during international military competitions, such as Aviadart, and during international exercises in which it has participated.
It experienced its baptism of fire during the massive confrontation between 24 Pakistani aircraft and 8 Indian fighters, resulting in the destruction of an Indian MIG21 and a Pakistani F16. According to some versions of the skirmish, it seems that it was a JF-17 which shot down the Indian MIG21, and not an F16, as supported by other versions.
We cannot, moreover, ignore that this announcement comes as the United States and Lockheed presented in New Delhi an F16V optimized for Indian needs as part of the call for tenders for the acquisition of 114 aircraft. light combat aircraft to replace the MIG21 and MIG27, and conveniently renamed F-21 so as not to contravene the commitments made with Greece, the Netherlands, Israel and South Korea, concerning the production of F16 parts dedicated to export.
