First Batch Of JF-17 Block 3 Leaves Production Line & Completes Taxi Test

In a low-key ceremony held at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, the first batch of JF-17 Thunder Block 3 leaves the production line and completes the First Taxi test.

𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 (𝗣𝗔𝗖) 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗶 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 08 (𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁) 𝗝𝗙-17 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸-𝗜𝗜𝗜 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 31𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 2021.

Quite interesting, the construction number 3P10 shown indicates that at least ten airframes have already been produced.

So, the next step is It’s almost certain to see them painted in PAF colors and carrying PL-10/PL-15 AAMs.

It seems that JF-17 Block-3 Thunder will take part in the 23rd March 2022 Parade along with the PAF newly purchases 25 J-10C Vigorous Dragon fighter jets.

The JF-17 Block-III will be among the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) new qualitative drivers. This basically means that the Block-III will introduce new technologies to the PAF combat aircraft fleet.

Related Article: JF-17 Thunder Block 3: Complete Details and Specification What We Know So Far

Chief among these gains is the induction of an AESA radar, which will boost the PAF’s electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) capabilities.

ECCM is a means to protect one’s own radars from falling victim to enemy ECM techniques – such as radar-spoofing – and triggering electronic warfare (EW) instruments, such as enemy radar warning receivers (RWR).

AESA radars achieve these capabilities through their large numbers (i.e., around 1,000) transmit/receive modules (TRM), which basically function as small individual radars, each with their own frequency and ability to change frequencies with each pulse.

Another feature of the aircraft is that it can successfully hit four targets by identifying 15 targets simultaneously.

JF-17 Thunder Block III aircraft are currently undergoing various stages of testing, including flight tests.

Currently, the PAF intends to procure 50 Block-III. Deliveries of all aircraft are due by 2024.