ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force continues to invest heavily in the evolution of its flagship indigenous fighter, the JF-17 Thunder, through the ambitious PFX (Pakistan Fighter Experimental) program, even as negotiations and technical evaluations for fifth-generation platforms such as the Chinese J-35 and Turkish KAAN progress steadily. This multi-layered modernization strategy reflects a calculated effort to maintain both near-term operational relevance and long-term technological independence in an increasingly challenging regional security landscape.
The decision to sustain and expand the JF-17 family comes against the backdrop of persistent qualitative asymmetry in South Asian air power. India’s acquisition of Dassault Rafale jets, development of the Tejas Mk2, and deployment of advanced S-400 air defense systems have significantly raised the bar for conventional deterrence. In response, the PAF has adopted a doctrine that combines affordable numerical strength with selective high-end capability insertion, ensuring it can respond flexibly to diverse threat scenarios.
Central to this approach is the concept of “affordable mass.” While true fifth-generation stealth fighters offer superior low-observability and sensor fusion, their unit cost—often exceeding eighty to one hundred million dollars—makes large-scale procurement financially unfeasible for Pakistan. The JF-17 platform, by contrast, has historically been acquired at approximately twenty-five to thirty million dollars per unit, allowing the air force to maintain adequate squadron strength even during periods of economic strain.
The PFX program represents the most significant evolutionary step in the Thunder’s history. Unlike previous block upgrades that focused primarily on incremental improvements, the PFX introduces a comprehensive redesign philosophy aimed at bridging the gap between fourth-generation maturity and fifth-generation aspirations. It seeks to integrate 4.5 generation technologies into a proven, cost-efficient airframe while preserving the industrial ecosystem already established at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra.
Strategic planners view the PFX as the “high” component of a high-low mix, or more accurately, a medium-high capability within a light-to-medium fighter category. The doctrine is straightforward: when budgetary resources cannot match a numerically and technologically superior adversary, the PAF must achieve superiority through faster technological iteration cycles and greater operational autonomy.
The evolutionary path of the JF-17 provides critical context for understanding the PFX. Block I, introduced between 2007 and 2013, established production capability and basic combat functionality. Block II, delivered from 2013 to 2019, added air-to-air refueling, improved avionics, and enhanced datalinks. Block III, currently in production, marked a major leap with the integration of the KLJ-7A AESA radar, digital fly-by-wire controls, helmet-mounted displays, and long-range PL-15E missiles, effectively bringing the platform into the 4 generation category.
The PFX goes beyond block nomenclature. It is structured in development spirals, with the initial PFX Alpha phase concentrating on maturing indigenous subsystems on existing airframes—primarily late Block II and Block III aircraft—before committing to a new-build airframe. This systems-first methodology reduces technical risk and draws valuable lessons from the earlier, more ambitious but ultimately stalled Project Azm, which aimed at a completely new fifth-generation design.
Public visibility of the PFX increased significantly during the IDEAS 2024 exhibition in Karachi, where senior PAF officials confirmed active development and indicated a first-flight target window of 2028–2029. Subsequent appearances of PFX conceptual art at international airshows further underscored the program’s priority within the service’s long-term planning.
One of the most discussed aspects of the PFX concerns potential physical enlargement of the airframe. Open-source analysis suggests an increase in maximum takeoff weight from approximately 13,500 kg in the Block III to around 17,500 kg in the PFX configuration. This growth would follow well-established design precedents, notably the transformation of the F/A-18 Hornet into the Super Hornet and the scaling of the F-16 into the Mitsubishi F-2.
Such enlargement would primarily address the JF-17’s historically limited combat radius and payload constraints. By stretching the fuselage and increasing wing area by an estimated twenty-five percent, designers could incorporate significantly more internal fuel, additional hardpoints, and greater volume for cooling systems required by advanced avionics. These changes would reduce dependence on external drop tanks, thereby preserving stealth characteristics and weapon-carrying flexibility during long-range missions.
Material selection also plays an important role. The PFX is expected to dramatically increase the use of indigenous composite materials, potentially exceeding sixty percent of the airframe structure. This approach would help offset weight penalties associated with structural enlargement while simultaneously contributing to modest radar cross-section reduction through radar-absorbent coatings and optimized panel alignments.
Propulsion choices remain the subject of intense debate. Current production aircraft use the Russian Klimov RD-93MA engine, delivering approximately 91.2 kN of thrust with afterburner. While reliable in recent iterations, dependence on Russian supply chains carries geopolitical risks. Consequently, the PAF is actively evaluating Chinese alternatives, particularly the Guizhou WS-13 series and the more advanced WS-19 engine originally developed for the J-35 program.
The WS-19, if successfully integrated, would offer thrust levels in the 100–110 kN range, potentially enabling supercruise capability and superior thrust-to-weight performance compared with many regional competitors. Turkish collaboration on propulsion technology also remains under consideration, although major breakthroughs in this domain are expected to take longer to materialize.
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The true centerpiece of the PFX program lies in achieving “avionics sovereignty.” Modern air combat increasingly hinges on software control, sensor fusion, and electronic warfare superiority rather than raw aerodynamic performance. The PFX Alpha phase is therefore focused on replacing imported black-box systems with domestically developed or co-developed alternatives.
Significant progress has been made in radar technology. Researchers at Air University Kamra and associated institutions have shifted emphasis to gallium nitride-based X-band transmit/receive modules, demonstrating superior power density, thermal efficiency, and jamming resistance compared with older gallium arsenide technology. These advancements are expected to yield an indigenous AESA radar capable of detecting low-observable targets at extended ranges while maintaining resilience against sophisticated electronic countermeasures.
Electronic warfare capabilities are advancing through Project Panjnad, a flagship initiative led by the Defence Science and Technology Organization and the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation. This program aims to deliver integrated cognitive jamming systems using digital radio frequency memory technology, enabling real-time adaptation to unknown threat emitters and the creation of false targets to confuse enemy fire-control radars.
Network-centric warfare forms another pillar of the PFX concept. The introduction of the indigenous Link-17 datalink will enable seamless manned-unmanned teaming with platforms such as the Turkish Bayraktar Kızılelma and Anka-3 loyal wingman drones. In this operational model, the PFX serves as a command node, directing unmanned systems into high-threat zones while remaining at safer standoff distances to engage targets with long-range precision munitions.
Weapons integration further enhances lethality. The indigenous FAAZ family of air-to-air missiles, developed by Global Industrial & Defence Solutions, promises ranges approaching 180 km and high kinematic performance. These missiles, when combined with existing PL-15E and PL-10E systems, provide robust beyond-visual-range and within-visual-range engagement envelopes.
Strategic strike capability is preserved through integration of the Ra’ad-II air-launched cruise missile, which offers a range of approximately 600 km and dual conventional/nuclear warhead options. Anti-ship roles are supported by high-supersonic CM-400AKG and subsonic C-802AK missiles, ensuring multi-domain relevance.
The industrial ecosystem supporting the PFX continues to mature. The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra has steadily increased its share of airframe manufacturing, while the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park serves as the primary innovation hub. Close collaboration with Air University Kamra ensures a sustainable pipeline of skilled engineers and researchers.
Turkish defense cooperation has proven particularly valuable. Multiple memoranda of understanding facilitate technology transfer in avionics, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems integration. These partnerships provide diversification of supply chains and access to combat-proven systems, enhancing overall program resilience.
Export prospects remain encouraging. Earlier JF-17 variants have already been sold to Myanmar, Nigeria, and Azerbaijan. The PFX’s combination of advanced sensors, long-range weapons, and competitive pricing positions it favorably for additional markets, particularly among nations seeking alternatives to Western-controlled platforms.
While challenges remain—including economic volatility, engine reliability concerns, and the complexity of multi-national subsystem integration—the PFX program demonstrates Pakistan’s determination to pursue strategic autonomy through disciplined, incremental innovation. By maintaining momentum on the indigenous track alongside selective acquisition of fifth-generation platforms, the Pakistan Air Force aims to ensure credible deterrence across the full spectrum of future conflict scenarios well into the 2030s and beyond.
