A JF-17 was recently spotted with the ASELPOD, so it seems like this will be the LDP of choice for the Block III JF-17. The Block III will have a dedicated LDP hardpoint underneath the starboard intake. Not sure about the Aselsan AESA, as I believe a Chinese AESA is in advanced stages of development/integration for Block III, but the Aselsan option could be something for the future. There’s been no details about a HMD/S option for the Block III, but a solution from Turkey seems like a strong option, as do the integration of weapons.

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PAF/USAF interaction is likely to wane once the Vipers start declining in the PAF inventory. Beyond the Vipers, the PAF is unlikely to acquire any US, or Western for that matter, fighter aircraft, and when it comes to options for a future generation fighter to replace the Viper, the PAF’s choices will be limited to Chinese options. I don’t want to go off topic, but this will be augmented by wider geopolitical shifts occurring in the region and a change in US priorities and posture in the region, all perfectly understandable. The chances of the PAF participating in the likes of Red Flag exercises without a US or Western fighter are very slim. In the long-term, PAF/USAF interaction is likely to be limited to officer/student exchange and other low key activities, such as humanitarian/disaster relief.

Gulf Shield media

Pitiful

The only thing that seems pitiful is the reaction of indian fanboys whenever the PAF so much as twitches…quite pathetic. Not even the PAF claimed they will develop a fifth gen fighter from scratch, so I don’t quite understand what all the ball ache is about. There’s scant details what so called project ‘Azm’ is all about, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what the likely course of action will be, i.e. most likely a joint venture with the Chinese, in the same way as the FGFA is a ‘joint venture’ with the Russians. It could be based on the export orientated J-31, or different clean sheet design, who knows.

^^ I think you’re getting the designations mixed up. When the PAF were considering the J-10, it was designated FC-20 by the PAF. The 5th gen J-20 is unlikely to be ever exported by China, let alone the PAF being able to afford it. I don’t know what the J-21 is?

There’s a number of reasons why the J-10 was never eventually acquired by the PAF. First, China only very recently approved the export of J-10, and even then only the early A model. The B and C models aren’t likely to be approved for export. Second, there’s little additional capability the J-10s would have provided the PAF over and above the JF-17, especially considering the roadmap to improve the JF-17s capability and performance in the way of AESA, additional payload, IRST, LDP etc. Third, Vipers became available again to the PAF, and with the newbuild Block 50/52s, additional used examples from Jordan and maybe other sources, and upgraded to the latest configuration would be a more cost effective and easy way to boost 4th gen types.

PAF’s 5th gen ambitions lie in its recently announced ‘Project Azm’, along with developing a centre of aerospace excellence and research, ‘Aviation City’. What that exactly entails is anyone’s guess at the moment. It could be a new clean sheet design with assistance from Chinese aerospace entities, a similar development model to the JF-17, or it could be a heavily modified version of the J-31 to suite the PAF’s requirements.

An unwritten defence pact with some of the Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, has always been speculated, especially if the rumoured nuclear weapon pact is to be believed. But this belongs in the realm of pure speculation.

Don’t know why long range SAMs have never been acquired, probably a combination of lack of resources and other priorities.

PAF JF-17s participating in exercise Gulf Shield