Pakistan is like Canada and Spain in the JSF program, they do nothing, at least nothing seriously technical, but simply provide money. The J17 program was an aide to Pakistan to counter India, along the way allowing China to make some money, also giving Chengdu Bureau's young engineers some practices.
It's similar to the Tigershark project, aimed solely to export. No major nation would take this plane seriously, other than those that don't matter, like Pakistan.
That is quit frankly a ridiculous statement.
It is wrong and crass to belittle and dismiss Pakistan's contribution to the JF17 so flippantly.
Pakistan may not have been an equal partner in terms of bring technological know-how to the programme, but their contributions are considerable and fundamental in shaping the JF17 into the aircraft it is today.
Aside from the cash, the biggest contribution Pakistan has brought to the project is their extensive experience with operating many western types (both with the PAF, but also through its close collaboration with the likes of Turkey and UEA). This is just as important in making a great fighter as having the technological know-how, and the 'greats' of modern fighters like the F15 only become as good as they are because of detailed and in-depth input from operational combat pilots, and this model has become the norm throughout the world because of how effective and successful it is.
The first FC1 prototype that CAC came up with on their own was almost a different aircraft to what the JF17 is today, and Pakistani input was fundamental in the changes, which we can all agree made the plane far better. There is no doubt that CAC learnt a thing or two from Pakistan's input with the JF17 that will no doubt benefit future planes for the PLAAF.
Your suggestion that no 'major' nation would take this plane seriously is as flawed as it is condescending and unreasonable, and looks more like an attempt to flame than a seriously thought out point.
