Pakistan JF-17 production starts from 21/1/08

[SABRE]

Finally the 3 year delayed production in Pakistan starts tomorrow.

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Islamabad, Jan. 21: A joint production of the Pakistan-China JF-17 thunder jet would be started at Kamra from Tuesday.

Launching ceremony of JF-17 sub assemblies to be held at Pakistan Aeronautical complex Kamra tomorrow. Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mahmood Ahmed will be the chief guest.

The Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder, also known as the Fighter China-1 (FC-1) Fierce Dragon in China. It is a single-seat multirole fighter aircraft developed by China and Pakistan. The first two aircraft were delivered to the Pakistan Air Force in December 2007.

The JF-17/FC-1 is designed to be a cost-effective plane which can meet the tactical and strategic needs of the Pakistani Air Force. Till now, it has been manufactured by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation. Its maiden flight took place on August 25, 2003.

Its primary users are the Pakistan Air Force and the PLA Air Force. Four prototypes plu four have been delivered to Pakistan. Each aircraft costs an estimated 15-20 million American dollars. (ANI)ce in December 2007.

The JF-17/FC-1 is designed to be a cost-effective plane which can meet the tactical and strategic needs of the Pakistani Air Force. Till now, it has been manufactured by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation. Its maiden flight took place on August 25, 2003.

Its primary users are the Pakistan Air Force and the PLA Air Force. Four prototypes plu four have been delivered to Pakistan. Each aircraft costs an estimated 15-20 million American dollars.

http://www.topnews.in/pakistan-start-jf-17-production-tomorrow-215604

 

[Aussie Digger]

Finally the 3 year delayed production in Pakistan starts tomorrow.

---------------------------------------
Islamabad, Jan. 21: A joint production of the Pakistan-China JF-17 thunder jet would be started at Kamra from Tuesday.

Launching ceremony of JF-17 sub assemblies to be held at Pakistan Aeronautical complex Kamra tomorrow. Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mahmood Ahmed will be the chief guest.

The Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder, also known as the Fighter China-1 (FC-1) Fierce Dragon in China. It is a single-seat multirole fighter aircraft developed by China and Pakistan. The first two aircraft were delivered to the Pakistan Air Force in December 2007.

The JF-17/FC-1 is designed to be a cost-effective plane which can meet the tactical and strategic needs of the Pakistani Air Force. Till now, it has been manufactured by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation. Its maiden flight took place on August 25, 2003.

Its primary users are the Pakistan Air Force and the PLA Air Force. Four prototypes plu four have been delivered to Pakistan. Each aircraft costs an estimated 15-20 million American dollars. (ANI)ce in December 2007.

The JF-17/FC-1 is designed to be a cost-effective plane which can meet the tactical and strategic needs of the Pakistani Air Force. Till now, it has been manufactured by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation. Its maiden flight took place on August 25, 2003.

Its primary users are the Pakistan Air Force and the PLA Air Force. Four prototypes plu four have been delivered to Pakistan. Each aircraft costs an estimated 15-20 million American dollars.

http://www.topnews.in/pakistan-start-jf-17-production-tomorrow-215604

Any idea of the production rate?

Has the engine issue been sorted yet, ie: is it definintely to be powered by RD-93?

 

[ROCK45]

Questions

Will it be using a Chinese radar & missiles? Could Pakistan's J-7s be upgraded to use SD-10? Would it be a software upgrade or would a whole new radar and weapons systems be needed?

 

[SABRE]

Well I have no confirmed reports on my hands as I have no attempted to acquire them because of the busy times. But this much I had gotten some times back:

1. The engine is RD-93, from the Chinese stock. But WS-13 is also near completion. There was a press conference held by Chinese officials on that.

So I think once the RD-93 stock runs out both PAC & CAC would be using WS-13.

2. No idea of production rate. Initially it could be 20+ a year (I am just guessing)

3. Initial batches would use Chinese Radars & Missiles (BVR especially) but PAC has also contracted an agreement with France for RC-400 Radar & MICA missiles. So later would be equipped with western avionics & weapons.

I don't think there is any plan to upgrade J-7/F-7 by either CAC or PAC. They are to be phased out.

 

[old faithful]

according to pakdefforum...6-8 thunders will roll out of karma this year 2008.
Figures as high as 20-30 have been bandied about, but in first year of production, 6-8 sounds about right, with components of many more produced as well.

 

[ROCK45]

Rc400

I didn't know the RC400 was a sure thing that's interesting. It might not be cost effective but could RC400 radar be put in Pakistan's older Mirages?

 

[swerve]

I didn't know the RC400 was a sure thing that's interesting. It might not be cost effective but could RC400 radar be put in Pakistan's older Mirages?

Nose too small? And what would be the point? For the same size antenna, I wouldn't expect enough performance improvement over the Grifo for it to be worth thinking about.

 

[ROCK45]

antenna

Good point about the antenna I was just thinking being able to field the MICA on another platform.

 

[SABRE]

PAF Mirage III & V have already been experimented a lot by PAC, Dassault Aviation & SAGEM, including integrating BVR strike capability. Some of the experiments succeeded but turned out to be unfeasible in terms of cost & modification. Plus the airframe was/is waring out. It was better to go for new fighters & since PAC was working on JF-17 along with CAC the plans were scrapped.

So PAF only settled for the ROSSE-I & ROSE-II upgrades for Mirage-IIIs & ROSE-III for Mirage-V. ROSE-IV was to integrate MICA on Mirage-III but was canceled.

 

[swerve]

Good point about the antenna I was just thinking being able to field the MICA on another platform.

I expect MBDA would be happy to integrate Mica with Grifo, if there was a customer. But see Sabres post.

 

[ROCK45]

Jf-17

I see the future is the JF-17, makes sense newer platform. I just like old Mirages but it's time to move on they served Pakistan's Air Force well. Thanks

 

[suddendeath]

well hello great news yes the intial batches would use rd93 engine
there was a rumour of an american engine but dnt know the
problems solved the pakistani jf17s. would use French avionics
and chinese bvr until replacement is needed the radar would be
grifo7 used by our mirages.production rate 15 per year.
link pakistanitribune.com/news/index.shtml?104810

 

[janubravo]

great news for Pakistani Brothers ...i also heard that PAF will use some french radars init.and lets see what Musharaf do for Pakistan's defence industry in this euro-trip.

 

[SABRE]

great news for Pakistani Brothers ...i also heard that PAF will use some french radars init.and lets see what Musharaf do for Pakistan's defence industry in this euro-trip.

PAC cant place RC-400 radars on initial batches of JF-17 as they don't have the radar in hands right now. The deal is of Technology Transfer & may take some time to finalize. Probably batches starting from 2009 will have RC-400. That is my projection, unless we acquire ready built radar in few months time.

 

[DefConGuru]

A little off topic but do you think the JF-17's will be used for A2G for example against targets in the frontiers and Balochistan?

 

[janubravo]

PAC cant place RC-400 radars on initial batches of JF-17 as they don't have the radar in hands right now. The deal is of Technology Transfer & may take some time to finalize. Probably batches starting from 2009 will have RC-400. That is my projection, unless we acquire ready built radar in few months time.

yeah i knw tht my friend...but i said i heard tht they will use french radar in future not rite now.oh sorry for my last msg as it ws incomplete...

A little off topic but do you think the JF-17's will be used for A2G for example against targets in the frontiers and Balochistan?

Yea it can be used for A2G missions but pray that all issues of frontiers and Baluchistan will resolve soon.

 

[SABRE]

A little off topic but do you think the JF-17's will be used for A2G for example against targets in the frontiers and Balochistan?

Its not off topic but rather political. There are no targets in Baluchistan. As for Al-Qaida/Taliban targets there are other aircrafts that can do the job & are doing so. & I don't think there is any thing that can stop JF-17 from carrying out any sort of job.

Now lets no exceed into political discussions.

 

[Aussie Digger]

PAC cant place RC-400 radars on initial batches of JF-17 as they don't have the radar in hands right now. The deal is of Technology Transfer & may take some time to finalize. Probably batches starting from 2009 will have RC-400. That is my projection, unless we acquire ready built radar in few months time.

I imagine a single RC-400 unit or perhaps 2 would be delivered fairly quickly to all for integration, development and flight testing tasks to get underway, but production models for the "fleet" are probably a few years away.

Until they are integrated and tested and aircraft actually built for them, there is not much point having them anyway...

BTW, I think RC-400 and MICA will be a nice combination for this "lower tier" fighter. Match it to a decent EO/IR targetting pod (Damocles perhaps?) and the AASM family and a standoff weapon and you'll have a pretty handy little fighter in my opinion...

 

[tphuang]

RC-400 is only one of the radar in competition for the next batch of JF-17s and I don't it will win out. China will come up with something better for the second batch.

 

[Ozzy Blizzard]

Let me congratulate you guys on a handy little fighter. $15-20m USD is dirt cheap for that kind of capability, (comperable to early F16's in most aspects), the JF-17 represents one of the best value for money platforms at the low end of the market. Even without MICA, PL 12 is a handy weapon (Is there any provision for R73 if required?). Supersonic, BVR and PGM capability for $20m..... Bargain basement and hard to refuse for many "less wealthy" buyers.

Considering that the JF-17 should have a very bright future in the export market in africa and South america. If so i'm wondering if Pakistan will benifit from any foregin sales and if so by how much? Who would produce the export platforms?