22 Years and 100,000+ Sorties Later, How Has the JF-17 Thunder Fared?

The story of the JF-17 Thunder is often told as a manufacturing achievement, but its true genius lies in the strategic doctrine behind it. This episode is a deep-dive analysis of how the Pakistan Air Force, forged by decades of Western sanctions, developed a pragmatic and resilient program to ensure its strategic independence. With aviation historians Usman Shabir and Yawar Mazhar, we explore the key decisions -- like decoupling the airframe and avionics -- that allowed the project to succeed where others, like India's Tejas, stumbled. This is not just the history of a fighter jet; it's a case study in how to build real capability against all odds.