you mean this story ?
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2014/11/13/aegis-fail-in-black-sea-ruskies-burn-down-uss-donald-duck/
it was actually a hoax

Not that one. This one.
http://globalmilitaryreview.blogspot.my/2012/10/su-30mkm-fly-over-american-uss-george.html?m=0

It was one of the first sightings of the advanced sap-518 system on an operational aircraft.

Drfm might not fool the latest generation fighters, but right now it is very effective in fooling current western fire and forget bvr missiles like the amraam. They might detect the hostile aircraft, but to shoot it down rather than having 1 missile to destroy it, 3-4 missiles would be needed. That is the current issue in countering Drfm jammers.

You gotta ask yourself when the J-31 will be available for export. So far they have one prototype flying and another one in the making, allegedly visibly different in design. You can expect another 3 years up to design freeze, then another 3 years to finalize the avionics layout and another 4-5 years of testing up to series introduction.. 2 years to IOC, 2 years to FOC and 5-6 years to satisfying of domestic demand. Then count in 2 years for assembly of export aircraft, that makes first deliveries to Iran in 2037. What will they fly in between these times?

The J-31 is designed from the beginning for export, similar to the jf-17/fc-1. So you could expect similar project timelines to the jf-17. Probably would be ready for export around 2025.

Exactly. License production of any fighter or aircraft program means you send a bunch of people over to the developer to familiarize themselves with the tech, learn the basics, get hands on courses etc. It doesn’t mean you develop the items yourself unless you have a program to do so locally. Pretty much everything in the JF-17 is sourced from China or from a few European suppliers here and there. If Pakistan had a significant contribution we’d have known it by now with similar products even available for PAF’s upgrades. Even ROSE for the Mirages was completely French sourced. I did a quick scan of the latest Janes and no mention of any significant Pakistani programs in avionics, EW or radar tech either. What they do have is mostly stuff for commercial level UAVs (leveraged for military use) and some basic stuff being worked on for the PAF etc. There is no integrated program evident at present to either develop these systems in specific or make derivatives for the future. Its transfer of technology and assembly locally. A start for sure, but has limited gains over the long term as the basic IP remains with the vendor.

For the jf-17, that aircraft is not just an off the shelf aircraft being licence produced in Pakistan. It was actually designed from scratch to fulfil requirements of the Pakistan air force, with the technical feedback and input from pakistani engineers, technicians and pilots. A lot of the design (cockpit arrangements, access panels, interior arrangements of avionics and machinery) and layout of the jf-17 was based on the f-16 which Pakistan air force was familiar with (and at that time, was embargoed). Basically the pakistani delegation worked side by side with the Chinese to design and develop the aircraft to pakistani needs and requirements.

The nearest program that is similar to the jf-17 would be the kai t-50 golden eagle. Designed largely by Lockheed martin to korean needs and requirements and built in korea.

It might not be as ingenious as the tejas program, but it is realistic (considering the limitations of pakistani design capability), and with achievable outcome that currently fulfils the original requirements of the end user, and with on track future upgrades in place. And to me that is a sign of a properly managed program.

AFAIK no jas39b ever converted into a jas39d

All jas39d are converted from 2x jas39a

Also all c/d conversions uses brand new airframes with hardware (engine/radar/avionics/ejection seats etc) cannibalised from jas39a

Also 1 jas39a airframe was donated to thai airforce museum.

If it’s about making a political statement, why not buy the Tejas?

If im not mistaken, vietnam did look into the tejas during talks with india, but I don’t think india could produce some for export right now, and frankly the aircraft in its current state is still far from fully mature capability wise.

I doubt that you can replace Mig21 and 29 with F/A50 only. You’ll end-up with some serious lack in capabilities.

Vietnam never had mig29s

Any mig21 replacements would complement their very new 50+ su-30mk2’s.

For gripens, although it looks like low cost to western eyes, in reality each one costs more than a single su-30mk2. So I think the f/a-50 cost is more palatable if vietnam looks to get some mig-21 replacements in big enough numbers.