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On 11 July, footage emerged of a Pakistan Air Power (PAF) JF-17C Block-III with the serial quantity “323” – i.e., the twenty third Block-III unit. This means that manufacturing of the Block-III has crossed 20 items and is now nearing the present 30-unit order positioned by the PAF.
The JF-17C/Block-III is the newest and present variant of the Thunder. The primary Block-III prototype flew in 2019 and entered serial manufacturing in 2022. Its essential enhancements over the JF-17 Block-II embrace the KLJ-7A energetic electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, helmet mounted show and sight (HMD/S) system, and built-in digital countermeasures (ECM) suite.
The JF-17C can deploy the newly acquired PL-15E long-range air-to-air missile (LRAAM), which provides a said vary of 145 km. It might probably additionally launch the PL-10E excessive off-boresight air-to-air missile (HOBS AAM), which the HMD/S can cue for within-visual-range (WVR) engagements. It additionally appears that the JF-17C is able to deploying the Taimur air-launched cruise missile (ALCM), which can be utilized towards fastened and shifting targets (together with floor warships) at a spread of as much as 280 km.
The JF-17C may additionally have some commonality with the J-10CE, the PAF’s different AESA radar-equipped fighter plane. For instance, it seems that each fighters use the identical HMD/S mannequin, which is customized fabricated for the pilot’s head measurements. This creates an attention-grabbing dynamic the place a pilot who’s initially certified on the JF-17C might be reassigned to the J-10CE later into their profession; they’ll take their HMD/S with them between fighter platforms (which can embrace J-31 in future as nicely). Furthermore, each the J-10CE and JF-17 can deploy the identical AAMs, such because the PL-15E and PL-10E…
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