JF-17 Thunder / FC-1 / Super-7 Discussions

Good analyses as to what is being rumoured and what is actually happening but given the secretive nature of Pakistani forces and that of China as well, we can never be too sure what the end product would be like.

These news pieces can serve as a benchmark as to what is required by PAF or PLAAF from the JF-17/FC-1 but only when it is put on serial production, will we get to know what they finally decided on in terms of avionics package, radar, weapons suite, etc.
 
Musharraf to inspect Sino-Pak fighter jet

PTI
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 16:32 IST



BEIJING: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will inspect the multi-purpose JF-17 (Thunder) fighter jet, jointly manufactured by China and Pakistan, during his visit to southwest China's Sichuan province.

The maiden flight of the JF17 was held on September 3, 2003, in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. Sources also did not rule out a demonstration flight of the JF17 for the visiting Pakistani general.

The JF17 fighter jet project, which China and Pakistan jointly funded, started in 1999 when CATIC signed a co-operative agreement with the Pakistan Air Force.

Since then, CATIC, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Company, Chengdu Aircraft Designing Institute and the Pakistan Air Force have been developing the fighter jet.

Musharraf left here on Wednesday for Sichuan to continue his state visit to China during which he held talks with Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao.

He also witnessed the signing of 13 bilateral agreements ranging from trade and energy to agriculture and defence.

As his visit coincided with the 55th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Musharraf unveiled a series of commemorative events in Beijing.

In Sichuan, the hometown of giant pandas, Musharraf will visit a base of giant panda in the provincial capital Chengdu and meet with businesspeople there, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
 
If the initial batches of FC1 are provided with a Chinese radar , avionics and weapons, they will still be a quantum leap over the A5C's that Pakistan still flies. The A5's haven't even got a radar.

I believe that if Western radars are installed in later batches of the FC1 then the logical thing for Pakistan to do will to have something in common with the large numbers of Mirage's Pakistan has in stock. I think these will be flying for at least another 15 years as they have the most advanced avionics and weapons in the PAF. It has been noted that some Mirages have been tested with the SD10 missile. I am not sure what type of weapons the US is willing to supply the PAF and at what price. So far it would appear that no BVR capable radars/missiles have been provided to PAF by the US. At present the FC1 will be the best hope for Pakistan to have a high tech airforce, which at present it does not have.
 
Heard that along with the JF-17, Chinese are also planning a display of J-10 and Y-8s before President Musharraf.
 
pshamim said:
Heard that along with the JF-17, Chinese are also planning a display of J-10 and Y-8s before President Musharraf.
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Supposed to be some sort of military exhibition this week. Not sure if the F10 will be specifically shown to Al Presidente for possible sale to Pakistan Air force.

It has been reported though that several defence agreements have been signed-some indications that JF17 has been discussed. Pakistan in desperate need of advanced planes and early induction of J10 and JF17's will help fill the gap. The recent 2 F16's donated to Pakistan are, I believe able AMRAAM's. If not then the present JF17 , with Chinese avionics will be superior to the F16 ( A+ and B+) in air to air combat?
 
chinawhite said:
the Grifo S7 doesn't even reach pakistans expectations because it doesn't have simultaneous attack capabilities
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I think you accept what is offered. If Pakistan wants multi engagement capabilities for its fighters it'll have to opt for the Dassault Rafale or something Western. At present China may be able to assist through its arms suppliers in Russia or Ukraine if they provide the F10 or even the JF17 once full trials are over.
 
Hussain said:
I think you accept what is offered. If Pakistan wants multi engagement capabilities for its fighters it'll have to opt for the Dassault Rafale or something Western. At present China may be able to assist through its arms suppliers in Russia or Ukraine if they provide the F10 or even the JF17 once full trials are over.
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i think pakistan should try to acquire the blue vixen 500e active electronically scanned array radar,this radar manufactured by selex has been offered for the indian lca(no chance of india acquiring it),for the south korean t-50 and has about 1000 t/r modules.

seems to be much more capable than the grifo s7 radar and is idealy suited for a light weight fighter like the jf-17.
 
Hussain said:
The recent 2 F16's donated to Pakistan are, I believe able AMRAAM's. If not then the present JF17 , with Chinese avionics will be superior to the F16 ( A+ and B+) in air to air combat?
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musharaf said when he was retuning from china, jf-17 is much better then f-16 which are currently in our airforce
 
A lot of what's in these posts regarding the radar and avionics is passe. A lot has changed since the early days and Griffo S-7 in reality is not as bad as it sounds on the net. That data has not been updated for four years and again a lot has changed.
 
Hussain said:
I think you accept what is offered. If Pakistan wants multi engagement capabilities for its fighters it'll have to opt for the Dassault Rafale or something Western. .
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Hussain read my post above in the radar section. or maybe just read my whole post again. I said one of the reasons why the Grifo wont be accepted as the FC-1 radar is because it does not have simultaneous attack capabilities

Basically most radars installed in aircraft have multi engament capabilities. Why would you need the rafale for that?
 
New JF-17 Video

Video is 11 minutes long and speaker a Chinese gentleman. It was released just 3 or 4 days ago. Video starts from the beginning of project. In the end I thought that I saw the LERX. If correct, it must be #4 prototype. I may be wrong too as My eyes are old and not at 100%.
Now this may not be the latest video but I have never seen it for the first time.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KhPZlUxtN1I&search=China%20thunder%20fighter
 
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1st Export of FC-1?JF-17

There is news that Zimbabwe has placed an order for 12 FC-1 with China for $200 million. If true, FC-1/JF-17 are already in export market.
Wonder which version of this aircraft being sold?

However, I cannot vouch for the validity of this report. I cannot find a supporting evidence or story anywhere.
Quote:

PIE IN THE SKY

Monday, July 03, 2006


ZIMBABWE has placed a $US200 million ($290 million) order to buy a fleet of Chinese-made fighter jets and military vehicles, even as the African country's depleted food stocks and remaining hard currency run out.
Reports in Zimbabwean media and South Africa's leading business journal, Business Day, say Robert Mugabe's Government has ordered 12 FC-1 fighters. Six are expected to be delivered this week. The purchase makes Zimbabwe one of the biggest customers of China's new-generation jet fighter.
After news of the deal broke, Zimbabwe's Defence Minister, Trust Maphosa, confirmed the order before the country's legislature. He said the purchase was necessary to replace the existing fleet of aircraft, which had been grounded because of Western sanctions.
Once the envy of Africa, the Zimbabwean air force has deteriorated badly since sanctions were imposed by Western countries in protest against the increasingly despotic character of Robert Mugabe's regime.
In 1998, the Zimbabwean air force played a key role in defending the government of Congolese president Laurent Kabila from a coalition of rebel forces during a bloody civil war. Since then its planes, mostly British-made Hawker Hunters, have been grounded due to lack of parts and maintenance.

http://www.freemarketnews.com/Analys...d=234&nid=5547
 
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well, the fact that it says 6 are to be delivered this week tells me this article lacks capability. I'd think that if this purchase is true, it'd be announced in china too, but there is no mention. Seems to be a rehashing of the report from a while back.
 
tphuang said:
well, the fact that it says 6 are to be delivered this week tells me this article lacks capability. I'd think that if this purchase is true, it'd be announced in china too, but there is no mention. Seems to be a rehashing of the report from a while back.
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ya credibility of this report is doubtful ... but lets suppose if this deal is a fact than would how China and Pakistan going to induct the planned fighters inot PLAAF and PAF as early as 2007
 
pingpong said:
If PLAAF would be using RD-93, then what about the pakistanis. What engine they will use. This is the big question as pakistanis AC's are old and they desperatly need new jet. From the above news it seems that FC-1 will going to get late.

so far only hypothetical answers have been given. could any guy give any inside report of pakistani airforce options regarding the engine dilemma.
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from what i have read on sinodefence.com it seems like both countries will use the same thing the RD-93 but do correct me if i am wrong
 
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sorry about this top statment guys but anyway i wiuld have to agree with ali.auf it would not be possible for the two countries to get their aircraft's on time
 
guys the 6th prototype of jf-17 made its flight on the 10th of september 2006.the interesting thing about this is it has a bubble canopy,EW antennae on its spine.here is the pic

 
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