JF-17 are they worth it and can they hold their own?

• Jun 13, 2025

• #1

N

Nodeo-Franvier

Airman 1st Class

132

28

Jul 13, 2020

The modern day F-5/MiG-21 and unlike Gripen is actually considerably cheaper than F-16

Are they worth it compared to heavier offerings?

And can they hold their own?

 

• Jun 14, 2025

• #2

GTX

Lieutenant General

24,293

79,365

Dec 18, 2015

On paper they seem reasonable in terms of capability. I must admit that I find it an attractive design aesthetically, certainly more so than the HAL Tejas in the India-Pakistan environment:

 

• Jun 14, 2025

• Thread starter
• #3

N

Nodeo-Franvier

Airman 1st Class

132

28

Jul 13, 2020

GTX said:

On paper they seem reasonable in terms of capability. I must admit that I find it an attractive design aesthetically, certainly more so than the HAL Tejas in the India-Pakistan environment:

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Didn't they come out favorably against Rafale in the recent India-Pak Skirmish?

 

• Jun 15, 2025

• #4

GTX

Lieutenant General

24,293

79,365

Dec 18, 2015

Nodeo-Franvier said:

Didn't they come out favorably against Rafale in the recent India-Pak Skirmish?

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There's still a lot of conflicting arguments about that. Plus, one could argue that that any losses were more due to the missiles involved since it was supposedly at long range.

 

• Jun 20, 2025

• #5

R

RogerdeLluria

Staff Sergeant

1,375

4,941

Jul 5, 2015

The JF-17 seems to be a (long) evolution of the Mig-21, so yes, definitely could be considered the modern day Mig-21

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/chinas-jf-17-ultimate-mig-21-fighter-and-has-one-advantage-over-f-35-146052