JF-17 Block 3 jet expected to be fitted with active electronically scanned array radar

[WebGuru]

The development and production of the JF-17 Block 3 are underway, said Yang Wei, a Chinese legislator and chief designer of the China-Pakistan co-developed fighter jet, as he aims to enhance the jet's informatized warfare capability and weapons.

"All related work is being carried out," said Yang at a Thursday press conference featuring Chinese legislators and political advisers in aviation, China Aviation News reported Friday.

The third block will see the JF-17's informatized warfare capability and weapons upgraded, Yang said.

Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military analyst, told the Global Times on Monday that the JF-17 Block 3 is expected to be fitted with an active electronically scanned array radar, which can gather more information in combat, enabling the fighter jet to engage from a farther range and attack multiple targets at the same time. A helmet-mounted display and sight system could also allow pilots to aim whatever he sees.

Pakistan, the main user of the JF-17, could further share information between the fighter and other platforms, taking advantage of the whole combat system to effectively defend against strong opponents like India, Wei said.

With the new upgrade, Wei expects the JF-17 Block 3 to match an improved version of the F-16 fighter jet.

Yang said that the development and batch production for the JF-17 Block 3 are going simultaneously, thanks to the broad experience.

Wei said this probably means while the upgrades like the new AESA radar are still in development, the airframe, which remains roughly the same, can be manufactured without waiting.

Once new developments are complete, they can be fitted on the airframe very fast, ensuring a quick delivery time, Wei said.

The JF-17, or the FC-1, is a single-engine multi-role light fighter jet jointly developed by China and Pakistan for export, according to the website of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

When asked about which countries have inquired about the JF-17 Block 3, Yang said "A lot of countries have come to buy. You sign [a contract for the JF-17], you benefit."

The JF-17 is often described by its manufacturer and military observers as an advanced but also cost-effective fighter. It is currently contending with India's Tejas and South Korea's FA-50 in Malaysia's new fighter jet purchase plan, with the JF-17 being the most competitive option, Wei said.


Source: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1141710.shtml

 

[gazza619]

Interesting. JF 17 is value for money

 

[Rajrishi]

Interestingly mwf too will be fitted with uttam aesa radar.

 

[CricVet]

Interesting will be to see a teja-fry in the sky - alas the paper tiger project will never complete to see the day.

 

[finalfantasy7]

whats so good about this elec radar and what did the jf-17 have before?

 

[WebGuru]

whats so good about this elec radar and what did the jf-17 have before?

AESA can track multiple targets and also engage multiple targets simultaneously. JF17 was using PESA before.

PESA: Passive electronically scanned array

AESA: Active electronically scanned array

The AESA is a more advanced, sophisticated, second-generation of the original PESA phased array technology. PESAs can only emit a single beam of radio waves at a single frequency at a time. The AESA can radiate multiple beams of radio waves at multiple frequencies simultaneously. AESA radars can spread their signal emissions across a wider range of frequencies, which makes them more difficult to detect over background noise, allowing ships and aircraft to radiate powerful radar signals while still remaining stealthy.

 

[Bewal Express]

AESA can track multiple targets and also engage multiple targets simultaneously. JF17 was using PESA before.

PESA: Passive electronically scanned array

AESA: Active electronically scanned array

The AESA is a more advanced, sophisticated, second-generation of the original PESA phased array technology. PESAs can only emit a single beam of radio waves at a single frequency at a time. The AESA can radiate multiple beams of radio waves at multiple frequencies simultaneously. AESA radars can spread their signal emissions across a wider range of frequencies, which makes them more difficult to detect over background noise, allowing ships and aircraft to radiate powerful radar signals while still remaining stealthy.

Will JF 17 hold its own against the new generation of Rafale the Ind have purchased?

 

[Musakhel]

Will JF 17 hold its own against the new generation of Rafale the Ind have purchased?

Nope not even close.

 

[WebGuru]

Will JF 17 hold its own against the new generation of Rafale the Ind have purchased?

I don't know much about Rafale but both JF17 (Block 3) and Rafale are categorized as 4th generation +i think someone like [MENTION=253]the Great Khan[/MENTION] can give us more details. Although from what i heard after the indian order of Rafale our PAC had Rafale in mind when Block 3 of JF17 was being built.

 

[finalfantasy7]

AESA can track multiple targets and also engage multiple targets simultaneously. JF17 was using PESA before.

PESA: Passive electronically scanned array

AESA: Active electronically scanned array

The AESA is a more advanced, sophisticated, second-generation of the original PESA phased array technology. PESAs can only emit a single beam of radio waves at a single frequency at a time. The AESA can radiate multiple beams of radio waves at multiple frequencies simultaneously. AESA radars can spread their signal emissions across a wider range of frequencies, which makes them more difficult to detect over background noise, allowing ships and aircraft to radiate powerful radar signals while still remaining stealthy.

ok, whats a better fighter jet this jf-17 or the eurofighter typhoon, im assuming the typhoon is better - brief description ow much

 

[Lonewarrior]

Will JF 17 hold its own against the new generation of Rafale the Ind have purchased?

Nope not even close.

its possible with this one,

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?282499-Chinese-Media-Pakistani-JF-17-testing-PL-15-Very-long-Range-Air-to-Air-Missiles-(200-km)

if not thn we have SAMs to counter it..

 

[Junaid_ahmed]

Good news & I also heard that Pakistan successfully test fires extended range missile from JF-17 recently. But as a layman in warfare tools I don't get these things & all I know is that as long as JF 17 can hit the enemy accurately they are ok.

 

[Junaid_ahmed]

Nope not even close.

Musa bhai do JF mil k to ek rafale ko marlengay na?

 

[the Great Khan]

I don't know much about Rafale but both JF17 (Block 3) and Rafale are categorized as 4th generation +i think someone like [MENTION=253]the Great Khan[/MENTION] can give us more details. Although from what i heard after the indian order of Rafale our PAC had Rafale in mind when Block 3 of JF17 was being built.

In short yes it will be able to hold its own. The Block 3 is being specifically designed to help us handle the Rapha. As [MENTION=133397]WebGuru[/MENTION] mentioned it will come with an AESA radar, new jamming avionics, the frame will be strenthened so it can carry more weapons and they will as a chin mounted IRST pod. (helps with precision bombing and allows the aircraft to switch its radar off but still detect targets if required among other things). They may even use a different engine but thats not really been confirmed. Also it will outnumber the Rapha as we will be able to build quite a few of them with China's help. India is only getting 36 Rapha's and you can bet they will crash a few of them while in training.

We will at some point integrate the new Chinese missile called the PL-15 which has a range of about 350km. So you could basically fire it from 300km away and hit the Rapha.

If we were facing a very competent airforce I would be more worried about the Rapha but i am reassured because the IAF will be flying it.

My biggest worry is that once they get the S400 SAM and the Rapha they will look to get revenge for what we did to them these last few weeks.

 

[Varun]

They better watch out - we have Mig-21 BISONS! #Pwoar

 

[Pete Rose]

In short yes it will be able to hold its own. The Block 3 is being specifically designed to help us handle the Rapha. As [MENTION=133397]WebGuru[/MENTION] mentioned it will come with an AESA radar, new jamming avionics, the frame will be strenthened so it can carry more weapons and they will as a chin mounted IRST pod. (helps with precision bombing and allows the aircraft to switch its radar off but still detect targets if required among other things). They may even use a different engine but thats not really been confirmed. Also it will outnumber the Rapha as we will be able to build quite a few of them with China's help. India is only getting 36 Rapha's and you can bet they will crash a few of them while in training.

We will at some point integrate the new Chinese missile called the PL-15 which has a range of about 350km. So you could basically fire it from 300km away and hit the Rapha.

If we were facing a very competent airforce I would be more worried about the Rapha but i am reassured because the IAF will be flying it.

My biggest worry is that once they get the S400 SAM and the Rapha they will look to get revenge for what we did to them these last few weeks.

I think someone needs to do an academic paper on the benefits of having the development wing of our airforce so deeply embedded in with a major supplier/ally (i.e., PAF to China).
Obama's last eight years really solidified/accelerated our strategic drift from the US. Our planners realize that we're not gonna be getting much of the goodies from the US anymore and started looking elsewhere. (Its one of the things that one has to credit our democratic/dictators for: they run the country like a perenial economic basket case, skirting with loss of financial sovereignty, but they keep their eyes on the prize: so folks who hate bhutto should take pause at his adamant will to continue the nuclear program, zia for the f16's and the otehr goodies from the US, Musharraf for stringing along the US for more goodies all the final commissioning the JF17 plants and deepening the R&D with China). I mean they are all idiots because they did not use the strength of their positions to better by the country fiscally, but they still made sure we are armed to the teeth in a world that is increasing unfriendly. I leave that for others to figure out if it was worth it.

Contrast to what I see (as a lay person in India): some of the best and brightest minds there who somehow have yet to internalize the lessons of their neighbors. When they had deep ties (And still do) with Russia they didnt seem to make any effort to copy or improve the tech. And now because Obama principally has given them legitimacy on the world stage, they are caught in a rock and hard place. if they strengthen their defense ties with russia they upset their new masters. if they try to move towards the US or EU for weapons, they do so at the risk of endangering the maintenance of their largely russian current fleet.

 

[the Great Khan]

I think someone needs to do an academic paper on the benefits of having the development wing of our airforce so deeply embedded in with a major supplier/ally (i.e., PAF to China).

We didnt have much of a choice. As our industrial strength is practically non existant, it was the only way to ensure we could get a plane that was sanction free and able to keep the PAF alive. During the 1999 Kargil conflict the PAF stayed away from the LOC because they didnt have the capability to take on the IAF. that cost us the lives of many soldiers and people. The PAF were so wedded to Uncle SAM that they got hammered due to the pressler amendment. The JF17 was actually conceived originally as a three way joint project with the US,China and Pakistan.
Obama's last eight years really solidified/accelerated our strategic drift from the US. Our planners realize that we're not gonna be getting much of the goodies from the US anymore and started looking elsewhere. (Its one of the things that one has to credit our democratic/dictators for: they run the country like a perenial economic basket case, skirting with loss of financial sovereignty, but they keep their eyes on the prize: so folks who hate bhutto should take pause at his adamant will to continue the nuclear program, zia for the f16's and the otehr goodies from the US, Musharraf for stringing along the US for more goodies all the final commissioning the JF17 plants and deepening the R&D with China). I mean they are all idiots because they did not use the strength of their positions to better by the country fiscally, but they still made sure we are armed to the teeth in a world that is increasing unfriendly. I leave that for others to figure out if it was worth it.

As for the goodies, well we knew we were vulnerable after the end of the end of the afghan war and the pressler amendment. We were flying F6's right up until ten years ago. That plane was a 50's -60's era plane while our adversary had SU-30's. In 8 years we have gone from no BVR to full on BVR equipped and trained. We still only spend about 5.billion in total on defence. The PAF gets about 1.5-2.0 billion..Its peanuts in the grand scheme of things.

Contrast to what I see (as a lay person in India): some of the best and brightest minds there who somehow have yet to internalize the lessons of their neighbors. When they had deep ties (And still do) with Russia they didnt seem to make any effort to copy or improve the tech. And now because Obama principally has given them legitimacy on the world stage, they are caught in a rock and hard place. if they strengthen their defense ties with russia they upset their new masters. if they try to move towards the US or EU for weapons, they do so at the risk of endangering the maintenance of their largely russian current fleet.

as for India, they have a very very slow bureaucracy, corruption, the forces are subserviant to this corrupt civilian system. bloated public suppliers who leach the govt (HAL), DRDO etc. They have an obsession to build everything at home when really all they needed to do was partner with a western company. They even tried that and failed e.g. the Tejas..We cant afford to fail. They can. Hence why we cant be seen to make mistakes with defence procurement. they can afford to do so..

 

[Pakpak]

In short yes it will be able to hold its own. The Block 3 is being specifically designed to help us handle the Rapha. As [MENTION=133397]WebGuru[/MENTION] mentioned it will come with an AESA radar, new jamming avionics, the frame will be strenthened so it can carry more weapons and they will as a chin mounted IRST pod. (helps with precision bombing and allows the aircraft to switch its radar off but still detect targets if required among other things). They may even use a different engine but thats not really been confirmed. Also it will outnumber the Rapha as we will be able to build quite a few of them with China's help. India is only getting 36 Rapha's and you can bet they will crash a few of them while in training.

We will at some point integrate the new Chinese missile called the PL-15 which has a range of about 350km. So you could basically fire it from 300km away and hit the Rapha.

If we were facing a very competent airforce I would be more worried about the Rapha but i am reassured because the IAF will be flying it.

My biggest worry is that once they get the S400 SAM and the Rapha they will look to get revenge for what we did to them these last few weeks.

100 percent. When they get these new toys I bet they will make up an incident so they can use them for an incident to get back at us.

 

[WebGuru]

In short yes it will be able to hold its own. The Block 3 is being specifically designed to help us handle the Rapha. As [MENTION=133397]WebGuru[/MENTION] mentioned it will come with an AESA radar, new jamming avionics, the frame will be strenthened so it can carry more weapons and they will as a chin mounted IRST pod. (helps with precision bombing and allows the aircraft to switch its radar off but still detect targets if required among other things). They may even use a different engine but thats not really been confirmed. Also it will outnumber the Rapha as we will be able to build quite a few of them with China's help. India is only getting 36 Rapha's and you can bet they will crash a few of them while in training.

We will at some point integrate the new Chinese missile called the PL-15 which has a range of about 350km. So you could basically fire it from 300km away and hit the Rapha.

If we were facing a very competent airforce I would be more worried about the Rapha but i am reassured because the IAF will be flying it.

My biggest worry is that once they get the S400 SAM and the Rapha they will look to get revenge for what we did to them these last few weeks.

Thanks for the detailed reply TGK. I think Block 3 will be ready by August from what i heard and India is also gonna get Rafa in Sept. Any chance of us getting J20 from China in near future?

 

[Lonewarrior]

Any chance of us getting J20 from China in near future?

in my knowledge, J-20 isnt for export purpose. but we can get J-31.

 

[ExpressPacer]

If Pakistan is able to rope in even 10 J20's, we will rule the skies. If any jet is able to give competition to the raptor, it is the flying Dragon that is the J20. Unfortunately, unless there is a massive diplomatic game played by IK, it looks very difficult for Pakistan to be able to purchase one.

As we speak however, SMQ - the Pakistani Foreign Minister is in China and could possibly broker a deal with regards to military technology. A bailout is one of our lesser needs now.

 

[Pete Rose]

If Pakistan is able to rope in even 10 J20's, we will rule the skies. If any jet is able to give competition to the raptor, it is the flying Dragon that is the J20. Unfortunately, unless there is a massive diplomatic game played by IK, it looks very difficult for Pakistan to be able to purchase one.

As we speak however, SMQ - the Pakistani Foreign Minister is in China and could possibly broker a deal with regards to military technology. A bailout is one of our lesser needs now.

Pakistan just needs to keep its head down, clear our the miscreants that are bothering the neighbours and focus on macroeconomic stabilization. They will produce block 3 soon enough, and should be content with that. India is not getting f35 any time soon. We should continue to focus on getting more buyers for the jf17 and keep our friends in the gulf happy so that our pilots and engineers continue to have access to their f15s

 

[ExpressPacer]

Pakistan just needs to keep its head down, clear our the miscreants that are bothering the neighbours and focus on macroeconomic stabilization. They will produce block 3 soon enough, and should be content with that. India is not getting f35 any time soon. We should continue to focus on getting more buyers for the jf17 and keep our friends in the gulf happy so that our pilots and engineers continue to have access to their f15s

Fully agreed. However, I hope you understand that Pakistani macroeconomic objectives can only be met PROVIDED that there is security.

 

[the Great Khan]

Thanks for the detailed reply TGK. I think Block 3 will be ready by August from what i heard and India is also gonna get Rafa in Sept. Any chance of us getting J20 from China in near future?

From what I've read and heard through the net and various experts, the Block 3's design specification has been frozen, in other words its ready. We should be getting our first ones probably in September but we still havent got our JF17B's yet so I would probably say end of the year is looking more realistic. If you understand how new systems are introduced and integrated you have to allow for training and new processes and procedures to be setup. We will be integrating not just the JF17 blck3 but the JF17B block3 too. The twin seater will allow us to provide better training to our pilots and to also add a new strike option to the PAF.

As for the J20, again from my travels on twitter and the net and reading what some chinese friends are saying, there are two schools of thought on this.

the first says we will not get this because the Chinese wont provide us the J20 no matter what. Its too sensitive even for us. The second opinion says we can get a version tailor made to us as China is ready to give us anything within reason.

I tend to follow the first option but I think project AZM is what China will give us. A modified J20 type fighter with a single engine but with similar avionics and systems inside it. Its quite clear that neither the Chinese nor the US want to introduce stealth fighters into the subcontinent so I expect India will also not get a stealth fighter anytime soon. Therefore there is no rush for us. All of our Block 2 JF17's will be eventually converted to block 3's and they are already in the very early stages of looking at what a block 4 will be. Anytime the IAF tries to add a new capability , we will simply block up our JF17's.

The key is the replacement of the F16. Because at some point we will have to replace them. but with what? Shahid Raza who is an analyst on twitter and a very good one, seems to think we will get the F35. He has done a reasonable job articulating why and you should check out his twitter as I have learnt loads from following him. My eprsonal opinion is that we will probably somehow convince the US to upgrade our F16's to the V version which has an AESA radar and soldier on with them till we get project AZM on board.

The Indian Raphael is a dangerous fighter but we can take it on and like we surprised them this time we can again.

 

[the Great Khan]

If Pakistan is able to rope in even 10 J20's, we will rule the skies. If any jet is able to give competition to the raptor, it is the flying Dragon that is the J20. Unfortunately, unless there is a massive diplomatic game played by IK, it looks very difficult for Pakistan to be able to purchase one.

As we speak however, SMQ - the Pakistani Foreign Minister is in China and could possibly broker a deal with regards to military technology. A bailout is one of our lesser needs now.

I doubt we will get the J20 because it will force India to go for the f35 which could be problematic for us. Asof now I dont believe the chinese or the US want to introduce stealth into the subcontinent. Even a squadron of j20's would allow us the ability to deter the IAF further but i think we've done enough to deter them for a few more years after the recent skirmish. They are demoralised and shaken. We have destroyed their idea of a conventional deterrent. They now realise that in a war we can inflict as much if not more damage on them..

 

[Romali_rotti]

From what I've read and heard through the net and various experts, the Block 3's design specification has been frozen, in other words its ready. We should be getting our first ones probably in September but we still havent got our JF17B's yet so I would probably say end of the year is looking more realistic. If you understand how new systems are introduced and integrated you have to allow for training and new processes and procedures to be setup. We will be integrating not just the JF17 blck3 but the JF17B block3 too. The twin seater will allow us to provide better training to our pilots and to also add a new strike option to the PAF.

As for the J20, again from my travels on twitter and the net and reading what some chinese friends are saying, there are two schools of thought on this.

the first says we will not get this because the Chinese wont provide us the J20 no matter what. Its too sensitive even for us. The second opinion says we can get a version tailor made to us as China is ready to give us anything within reason.

I tend to follow the first option but I think project AZM is what China will give us. A modified J20 type fighter with a single engine but with similar avionics and systems inside it. Its quite clear that neither the Chinese nor the US want to introduce stealth fighters into the subcontinent so I expect India will also not get a stealth fighter anytime soon. Therefore there is no rush for us. All of our Block 2 JF17's will be eventually converted to block 3's and they are already in the very early stages of looking at what a block 4 will be. Anytime the IAF tries to add a new capability , we will simply block up our JF17's.

The key is the replacement of the F16. Because at some point we will have to replace them. but with what? Shahid Raza who is an analyst on twitter and a very good one, seems to think we will get the F35. He has done a reasonable job articulating why and you should check out his twitter as I have learnt loads from following him. My eprsonal opinion is that we will probably somehow convince the US to upgrade our F16's to the V version which has an AESA radar and soldier on with them till we get project AZM on board.

The Indian Raphael is a dangerous fighter but we can take it on and like we surprised them this time we can again.

A few things about your post:

- You will not get a F35, reason being:
A) You cannot afford it
B) The Americans would not want the Chinese anywhere near their latest jet.
C) It has a god damn kill switch on it, Americans will dictate whatever terms, which I am sure your military and ISI would be against.


Onto the Rafale:

-You didnt really surprise us, you shot down a MIG 21 Bison, it falls down on its own most times, so it was no surprise. Rest of what you are claiming, you cant back it up with any proof, so let's leave that shall we ?

- Rafale would overwhelm whatever Chinese fighter you have, it clearly wont be much of a match, however it also comes down to the pilots also, so whoever is the more efficient could win the day....

 

[Pete Rose]

A few things about your post:

- You will not get a F35, reason being:
A) You cannot afford it
B) The Americans would not want the Chinese anywhere near their latest jet.
C) It has a god damn kill switch on it, Americans will dictate whatever terms, which I am sure your military and ISI would be against.


Onto the Rafale:

-You didnt really surprise us, you shot down a MIG 21 Bison, it falls down on its own most times, so it was no surprise. Rest of what you are claiming, you cant back it up with any proof, so let's leave that shall we ?

- Rafale would overwhelm whatever Chinese fighter you have, it clearly wont be much of a match, however it also comes down to the pilots also, so whoever is the more efficient could win the day....

Agree mostly.
The f35 and it’s competitors upset the balance of deterrence, I don’t think anyone wants to do that for Pakistan or India. The efficacy of an F-16 vs Rafale on at first glance should favor the rafale, but it’s also a function of flying time within whatever airforce it’s a part of. The block 3 jf17 has been spoken of a lot, but until we see one produced with the all the goodies it’s supposed to have, its difficult to judge.
What I would say though is that despite kargil being an unmitigated disaster for Pakistan at every level, the results might have been different, had PAF been in a situation it is in today vs then.

 

[Pete Rose]

I doubt we will get the J20 because it will force India to go for the f35 which could be problematic for us. Asof now I dont believe the chinese or the US want to introduce stealth into the subcontinent. Even a squadron of j20's would allow us the ability to deter the IAF further but i think we've done enough to deter them for a few more years after the recent skirmish. They are demoralised and shaken. We have destroyed their idea of a conventional deterrent. They now realise that in a war we can inflict as much if not more damage on them..

For us to get a j20 will be a function of things spiralling out of control between india and China as a result of India doing the US’s bidding. So far this has not come to pass. But I don’t think we should rule out that new alliances might be formed over time which allow for Chinese airbases to exist on Pakistan territory. These might have j20’s on ground.

 

[the Great Khan]

A few things about your post:

- You will not get a F35, reason being:
A) You cannot afford it
B) The Americans would not want the Chinese anywhere near their latest jet.
C) It has a god damn kill switch on it, Americans will dictate whatever terms, which I am sure your military and ISI would be against.

I didnt say we were going to get the F35. i'm saying some analysts believe it could be an option. I disagree with them but in this weird world we live in it could be a rare possibility. INMHO we have a more realistic chance of getting a single engine version of the J20. Maybe a modified F31 type plane. We will not buy a twin engine aircraft.

Onto the Rafale:

-You didnt really surprise us, you shot down a MIG 21 Bison, it falls down on its own most times, so it was no surprise. Rest of what you are claiming, you cant back it up with any proof, so let's leave that shall we ?

The shooting down of the MIG wasnt a surprise and if you go back and read about Cope India from a few years ago, youll know that the MIG decimated the USAF F15's in excercises. You can downplay the loss all you want but in our kashmir theatre the Bison is a dangerous machine. The surprise was the raid in broad daylight against your installations. The raid showed that we could evade your defences, attack and return without losing anybody.

- Rafale would overwhelm whatever Chinese fighter you have, it clearly wont be much of a match, however it also comes down to the pilots also, so whoever is the more efficient could win the day....

You've been saying that the Flanker would overwhelm the Chinese piece of junk but it didnt score a single kill against any PAF fighter. For a aircraft touted as the best machine in the subcontinent this is a pretty pathetic record. On the contrary the JF17 has now got a proven record as a swing role fighter able to carry out ground as well as air attacks. No doubt the HUD display footage and other bits and bobs will be used to help sell a few abroad. The Rapha is a formidable machine but it will take you at least a few years to train the pilots to fly it properly, create an adequate doctrine and then use it. By then we would have flown against it in multiple air exercises (we already have) and will have developed counter measures. In BVR combat we only have to see it first and in WVR combat our pilots have proven to be formidable. I hope your IAF continues to underestimate us..

regards

 

[finalfantasy7]

so have we equipped the jf17 with the electronically scanned array radar

 

[Lonewarrior]

The First serial production JF-17 Block III are showing up

The first images of the first batch of new JF-17 Thunder Block III, fresh off the assembly line at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra, surfaced on the web.

The different photos show a flight line of seven Thunder Block III aircraft, but if we go by the serial numbers, the total number of fighters produced for this first batch could be eleven units.

Among the improvements incorporated in the Thunder with respect to the previous Block II are:

-AESA NRIET KLJ-7A radar of Chinese origin
-Wide-angle holographic HUD, derived from the one used by the J-20 stealth fighter
-Refurbished cockpit with updated display elements
-Updated avionics
-3-axis fly-by-wire flight system
-HMD (pilot’s helmet mounted sight)
-An extra hardpoint under the fuselage for target designation, reconnaissance or ECM pods
I-ncreased use of composite materials in fuselage and wing structure
-Dual wing pylons for medium-range air-to-air missiles
-Upgraded self-defense systems, very similar to those used on the J-10C
-New weapons such as PL-10 and PL-15 air-to-air missiles or CM400AKG long-range anti-ship missiles

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First picture of JF-17 Thunder Block-3 &#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816;<br><br>3P10 indicates that atleast 10x airframes have been produced of JF-17 Thunder Block-3.<br><br>It's almost certain that JF-17 Thunder Block-3 will be the part of 23rd March 2022 Parade along with J-10C Vigorous Dragon &#55357;&#56370; <a href="https://t.co/c2knEdn5SK">pic.twitter.com/c2knEdn5SK</a></p>— Pakistan Strategic Forum (@ForumStrategic) <a href="https://twitter.com/ForumStrategic/status/1478382684271529986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/01/the-first-serial-production-jf-17-block-iii-are-showing-up/