I don’t know why the Chinese could not improve the 2000 kg weapons payload of the F-7 after so many upgrades. With a little bit more load, it could have been more attractive to some potential buyers.

It probably has everything to do with the power of its engine. It probably doesn’t have enough excess thrust for any more safety margin with its max load.

The excess power should make more clean electrical power available for electronics, too.

With the falling dollar you’d think the F-35 would be cheaper for our allies. Who’d thunk.

If it was Moldova they’d throw the former leader in jail for his costly decision making skills.

Perhaps they should begin by using the core of the EJ200 in an engine designed for a commercial airliner.

Whomever wrote that explanation of the Maginot Line assumed that definition when in my childhood it meant one of two things. 1) to over plan for something that may never come, or 2) to put forth a needless effort because it ignores the reality of the situation. Sure its purely semantics, but still it had a deeper meaning back then.

Why?

If they don’t improve the airflow to the engines then it is pointless to upgrade them.