JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread
- Thread starter johnqh
- Start date
The guy is a major J-20 watcher and lives in Chengdu. This is probably legit.
Beggars belief that there would be no footage if all these reputable witnesses are confirming blk 3 over Chengdu. I suspect photos and videos are getting removed online if any were uploaded. The more "official" leakers probably have their instructions anyway. If they are all confirming this test flight, it's not intended to be kept a secret. So either we shall see photos and videos now or there's a reason to confirm the test flight while hiding what it looks like.
Then again if it looks drastically different, some less than official commentators would have mentioned that.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Really ? Wow
Block III will level the playing fields against all of PAF adversaries, as such I can image the secrecy around this flight
many people will be wanting to see it
I hope we see something soon even if it’s a drawing made by hand showing external
Changes
Block III will level the playing fields against all of PAF adversaries, as such I can image the secrecy around this flight
many people will be wanting to see it
I hope we see something soon even if it’s a drawing made by hand showing external
Changes
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Let's tone things down a bit; it'll be a good counter for IAF's Rafales but still bears some significant disadvantages when it comes to kinematics and payload or range. IAF will also be upgrading their Su-30MKIs with AESA radars like the J-11BG program which will be an additional headache for the PAF and PLAAF.
But at least it'll give the Gripen-E a good run for its money on the international market if its price is low.
I wouldnt even go that far. In 1v1 the Rafale+Meteor would wreck the Block III in BVR. In WVR, with HMDS, the Block III might equalize, but it won't get that close unless the Rafale makes a mistake.
The point of the Block III is not to challenge the Rafales head on. It was designed to overwhelm IAF's legacy 4 gen and work in groups to challenge higher threats. The Rafale will need to be countered with tactics, groups of Thunders and Falcons setting up traps. It will take a combined effort with AWACS, intense ECM, and UAVs swarms, especially with S400s on the ground.
This will be the situation all the way until Project Azm comes online. Which is why we need the Block III mainstreamed asap, so we can start shifting resources to Project Azm.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
I would imagine that the Block IIIs would be open to integrating new AAMs in the future, in particular the PL-15 and whatever Chinese Meteor equivalent is in the pipeline (PL-21?). From an electronics standpoint the Block III is actually quite a wedge in the IAF's technological advantage, but the Thunder is very deficient in terms of payload, range, speed, and general maneuverability.
But now we are just fantasizing, and not working off validated data. If/When there is any official confirmation that the Block III is getting the PL-15, then we will shift the calculus and re-evaluate. For now, we have to deal with what we know, and that is a Block III with the SD-10.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
The PL-15 and PL-10 are expected changes. It'll be kind of shortsighted on the PAF's part if they didn't acquire the munitions that could take advantage of an AESA radar's additional range and HMDS off-boresight tracking capabilities.
But what the hey, waiting for photos shouldn't take long.