Enclosed weapons pod for the JF-17?

[Kompromat]

@Horus if this is done it will allow PAF breathing space even if they can't induct true 5th gen plane till 2030, and if PAF got 5th gen plane till 2027 still they will need some thing like Stealthy JF-17 to support them.

Or when any stealth aircrafts come into service, these little buggies can still be used with pods for homeland defense as force multipliers.

 

[The SC]

@Horus just imagine a stealthy design JF-17 with capability to carry upto 03 of these type of pods and conformal fuel tank, better engine with new nozzle for being stealthy, AESA radar and advance avionics from Chinese 5th gen plane will be a night mare for IAF's front line fighter fleet.

I think shaping design with low aerodynamic coefficient will do the trick for integration of the weapon pods to the overall design. It can be easier than the internal weapon bay, since it is the shaping of the pods that is required, the same goes for the conformal fuel tanks.

 

[Basel]

Even without a stealthy design and even with 1 pod it can do a lot of damage. The frontal RCS of JF-17 is quite small. It can sneap up close to a big fat russian machine and fry it.

But a redesign is cost effective way to have 5th gen capabilities as CAC can do it much easily as they have tested many designs and they can make stealthy JF-17 much easily, with use of ram and composites materials it will become very potent and with all goodies mentioned in previous post JF-17 may become front line fighter of PAF.

There was MOU signed for developing Stealthy JF-17.

How efficient and effective PAF will become if Indian radar can't see JF-17 taking off and landing on base and MKI cant find it on its radar.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

wouldnt it require a much more powerful power plant ... apart from some redesiging ... also rising the cost ... i dont think it would be feasible... rather it should be developed on par with other 4.5th gen fighters....


And get a 5th gen fighter instead of a semi stealthy JFT.

 

[Mutakalim]

I agree with you on that for general purpose as a multirole fighter.The internal weapon bay in my opinion is another option for a dedicated version for deep strike surprise attacks and even some air to air combat against a sophisticated warplane or a heavy maneuverable one, although not as deep as bigger platform, the strikes can take out command and control posts on the front-line or a bit further away or for disrupting and destroying the main logistic routes, among other valuable and vital targets of the enemy on the battlefield and control the battle area environment.
They will also be stealthier for BVR combat, thus deadlier by closing the gap of radar range undetected and firing their missiles first.

Well if u opted for internal weapon bay, dont u think it would reduce internal fuel capacity and also some avionics gadgets? However loitering time can be increased by adding CFTs in the design.

 

[Basel]

wouldnt it require a much more powerful power plant ... apart from some redesiging ... also rising the cost ... i dont think it would be feasible... rather it should be developed on par with other 4.5th gen fighters....
And get a 5th gen fighter instead of a semi stealthy JFT.

Getting a very Stealthy JF-17 upto 40 to 50 mil is way cost effective then going for another 4 gen fighter jet. RD-93MK can do the job if needed while current engine will be good enough as use of composites will reduce weight too.

One reason IAF going for Rafale is that it is stealthy design and weapons pod is under consideration for it too.

 

[Jungibaaz]

Internal weapons bays won't happen.
External weapons pods not feasible, not a requirement and won't work for their purpose for now.

 

[The SC]

Well if u opted for internal weapon bay, dont u think it would reduce internal fuel capacity and also some avionics gadgets? However loitering time can be increased by adding CFTs in the design.

Dedicated versions, I have put the emphasis on "dedicated", It might be a squadron or two.
CFTs will give it back its full fuel carrying capacity or as you have said increase the loitering time for stand off role, the latter will be nice, with a stealthy stand off, enemy can see some formations, but miss the one who is going to hit him.

 

[The SC]

Internal weapons bays won't happen.
External weapons pods not feasible, not a requirement and won't work for their purpose for now.

And why is that sir?

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Getting a very Stealthy JF-17 upto 40 to 50 mil is way cost effective then going for another 4 gen fighter jet. RD-93MK can do the job if needed while current engine will be good enough as use of composites will reduce weight too.

One reason IAF going for Rafale is that it is stealthy design and weapons pod is under consideration for it too.

Rafael isnt "stealthy" ... and we dont need to go for another 4th gen fighter... just invest in the JF prog... and make it as capable as the f-16 blk 60 or something... and with all the pods n stuff.. it will need a more powerful power plant...

 

[Myth_buster_1]

I think discussing an enclosed weapons pod will be more feasible.

View attachment 148217

Fuel tank can barely fit under jf17 belly because of wheels obstruction.

 

[rockstar08]

you definitely need to re design Jf , and for more fire power , you need a powerful engine ... which we dont have right now ...
but with some addition it can easily turn out to be a medium weight fighter ..close to blk52 F-sola

 

[Jungibaaz]

And why is that sir?

Whatever is said about the JF-17. It is meant to be a cost-effective fighter that offers the similar capabilities to an F-16. Only with the JF-17 we will be able to unlock it's full potential, employing whatever weapon we like. It is not meant to be stealthy, it cannot be stealthy.

Internal weapons pods are for those aircraft that have an immaculate radar cross section in clean configuration. It makes sense for those aircraft because millions is spent on each to keep it from being observable on radar, and when you add add weapons externally, they increase that many fold and nullify much of the effort made to keep it 'stealthy'. The JF-17 will be observable on radar, make no mistake, there is no special amount of composites used in airframe that we know of, RAM application, general shaping of the airframe to cut RCS in mind, apart from the DSI which in itself is not intended to do so, but it does as a secondary or even third benefit.

It would cost an immense amount of money, effort and time to add internal weapons bays OR external weapons pods. The former requires a completely new airframe. The latter requires immense modification of the current airframe for external weapons pods to be a requirement, it makes no sense to put pods on an aircraft that will radiate and will show up on radar even in clean configuration. It may make sense for aircraft like the Eurofighter, Rafale and above, but not an any other aircraft.

So, we can't afford it, we don't need it, and it doesn't make practical sense.

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

The best thing for the JF 17 will be an aesa radar, off bore sight missiles, and a potent BVR for intercept role.

 

[Chak Bamu]

No point discussing this until after Block III at least.

We may as well discuss PF-18 instead of JF-17 and we know that it is not likely in present circumstance.