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World Exclusive: F-16 Block-52 Flying With J-10C

I just don't get J10's cylindrical body design with wings stuck to it reminiscent of 50s and 60s design with very little wing/fuselage blending, unlike the Rafale or even the F16s. They could've added more wing blending and increased internal volume.

Plus the ginormous vertical stabilizer looks unsightly as well.

J10s look optimized for a air superiority role not so much as a multi role fighter.

The J-10 is an evolutionary design in Chinese aircraft manufacturing development, with CAC’s follow on, the J-20, being where it got those finer details in. It’s a decent enough design and its performance metrics show it to be adequately shaped where it counts.
I doubt China would go back and refine the design, unless there was demand from potential customers in China and/or on the export market; something akin to the Su-75 single engine design to complement the twin engine J-20, but carrying armaments in low RCS pods perhaps.
 
The J-10 is an evolutionary design in Chinese aircraft manufacturing development, with CAC’s follow on, the J-20, being where it got those finer details in. It’s a decent enough design and its performance metrics show it to be adequately shaped where it counts.
I doubt China would go back and refine the design, unless there was demand from potential customers in China and/or on the export market; something akin to the Su-75 single engine design to complement the twin engine J-20, but carrying armaments in low RCS pods perhaps.

J-10 was China’s first attempt at blended wing design. It required completely new machinery to fabricate parts where the wing joined with the body. That said, the cylindrical portion of the aircraft is more pronounced because it is taller than the F-16.
 
J-10 was China’s first attempt at blended wing design. It required completely new machinery to fabricate parts where the wing joined with the body. That said, the cylindrical portion of the aircraft is more pronounced because it is taller than the F-16.

It does seem strikingly taller jet and gives the impression that it would be heavier then the F-16 although the official stats don’t seem to indicate there is too much of a difference in the weight.

Seems like a design with room for growth, especially if it got a more powerful engine to maximize the use of its current and future sensors. The eurofighter has a plan to continue improving, especially as the combined thrust of its engine is slated to improve to a max 240 kn. With more thrust the PAF J-10s could carry much (heavier) longer range Air to Air and/or Air to Ground missiles, and maintain the TWR and maneuverability. Higher thrust could enable the J-10 to be able to supercruise with some design modifications.

I’m not knocking the design, like I said, it seems like a decent enough design, especially in Air to Air. For Air to ground, longer range with the possible addition of CFT could make it an even better platform for deep strikes and anti-shipping. Let’s see how the PAF helps the design evolve even further with its use.
 
I would hope the J-10 leads to signal a changing of the guards as it were.

I also, second trying to get the Turkish upgrade if it’s possible. A good way to transition into the T-FX subsystems in anticipation of the T-FX. Also the Turks maybe develop missiles with longer ranges then the aim-120c5 or even aim-120 D to deal with the Greek build up.
Will Turkish upgrade forfeit any further support from American for F-16 upgrade? I dont think US approved any unapproved modification to F-16. That move will result cutting off further supply of AIM-120.
 
Will Turkish upgrade forfeit any further support from American for F-16 upgrade? I dont think US approved any unapproved modification to F-16. That move will result cutting off further supply of AIM-120.
Turkish upgrade would have to be with US approval, perhaps after Turkey itself gets approval to do the upgrade on its own jets, and tries to put in a good word to allow Pakistan to be allowed to do the Turkish upgrade as well.

Pakistan may not be allowed to buy more Aim-120s, so with the Turkish upgrade it could use the Turkish Gokdogan BVR missiles and Bozdogan WVR missile, which are in testing.

Down the line, a Turkish upgrade would allow Pakistan to fire the Gokhan (a Turkish ramjet enabled BVR missile)

These missiles would make the Turkish upgrade in some aspects better then an American upgrade.
 
So in terms of capability for PAF with 1. being most advanced:

1. J-10CE
2. JF-17 Block 3
3. F-16 Block-52

The Indians already have a problem with the F-16 Block-52 in terms of capability, they now have a peer airforce in S Asia and their hopes of dominance over PAF are gone for good now.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Rafale with RBE2 would be able to to go toe-to-toe with the J-10C in the air-to-air regime while boasting greater payload capacity and a greater # of hardpoints. The upgraded Su-30MKI with AESA radars would be more than sufficient to handle the rest, including the Block IIIs.

The J-10C is indeed a significant upgrade for the PAF but keep in mind that the IAF has already been training and DACT-ing with a J-10C-class fighter - namely the Rafale - since summer of 2020. This is not to dismiss the fact that there are more Rafales in India than there are J-10Cs in Pakistan.
 
Sadly upgrade will require US Gov't nod, likely not forthcoming. If it does get approved then why not US based one, $ for us, upgraded product for you ( PAF, ) why pass the $ to Turkey.

PS: I mean no disrespect to Turks or Turkish members here by my above statment, just business is business and it will allow US control over the product.
I might be going on a potential engineering assignment for Vipers at Sargodha. There is an upgrade coming soon.
 
Grifo-E isn't the top performer, but it uses the latest technology base (e.g. GaN) as some of the other EU radars. But I'd try to get a few for testing/demo JF-17s at Kamra so that the PAF can build its knowledge base. Since Pakistan is apparently working on its own AESA radars, knowing about what each vendor is now really important from both an ops and industry perspective.
We should still get Grifo E for PN dedicated fighter wing if meteor is available.
 

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