Here is a very interesting article from the Argentinian media. Where they are claiming that JF-17 would be manufactured at FAdeA under the name of Pulqui III. This article also claims that minimum of 40 JF-17's would be purchased 14 of the shelf and the rest on TOT built in Argentina. The weapons would also be locally manufactured in Argentina.
The JF-17 the candidate offered by China to replace the Mirages in Argentina
Argentina air force
Teodofredo Aug 16, 2020, 3:56 PM
By Julio Gutiérrez
Towards the year 2012, there was the intention to manufacture a supersonic combat aircraft in FAdeA that meets the needs of the Air Force and the MinDef authorities, which more than met what was needed. A fighter with the capacity to have a long-range radar, missiles beyond the horizon (BVR), the ability to carry Stand-off weapons, Radar Alert, electronic self-protection systems, flight refueling probe and an adequate degree of interoperability combined in In the Regional framework, this last item that the JF-17 could not fulfill was purposely included by the FAA to leave out Russian and Chinese fighters and open the door to the Gripen that Brazil will manufacture.
It is very difficult, even with the budget, to specify an Argentine version of the Gripen that includes the modifications requested by the FAA, that is, to replace all the British components with others of different manufacture, including those that could be manufactured in FAdeA and even then we would not be Free from a veto because the engine and various components are 20% of North American origin. If we take into account that the industrial center in Córdoba already has problems manufacturing parts for the Pampa due to the small number of planes that were ordered during the previous government (they reduced the order from 40 Pampas to only 6 and the scale of production did not It is enough for so few planes) Imagine how it would be for only 24 Gripen in the best of cases and at a cost that is already in Brazil, without having to modify anything, pays 120 million dollars each, so how much would each Gripen AR cost if we had to make a special version? And the problem still would not be completely solved because it is 20% North American, which is the country that has most embargoed Argentina in all its history.
"Combat Proven" the "Kill Mark" of this JF-17 accounts for a downing of an IAF Su-30MKI, which probably occurred in February 2019, which speaks of its qualities as an air-to-air fighter
Thus, the plane olgaily complied with what the Air Force requested, with Chinese financing since it was included in the currency swap, it is not vetorable in any component, it is 100% free to transfer to Argentina but as the FAA keeps the taboo fully in force On the material of Chinese and Russian origin, he looked for the but and said that he would have problems with logistics, as if they have never had it with the Mirage and A-4AR in all their history, also as the proposal was to manufacture it in FAdeA, the issue was almost resolved.
We do not need to have interoperable logistics with the countries of the Region, each country chooses with whom to ally, if Chile and Brazil have decided to ally with Great Britain it is not our business, there they, but we do not have to condition the choice of a fighter because they have chosen the USA-UK axis, who have conflicting interests with us from the point of view of Defense
In my modest way of seeing, the option of fighters that come from the China-Russia axis is perhaps the only option that allows to have several models, weapons, financing, free of vetoes, embargoes and political autonomy. Leaving out twin engines because the Russians are all twin engines, China is the option that offers the single engines that are tailored to what the Air Force needs.
For reasons of indoctrination of the Chiefs of the Armed Forces until now they have not been inclined to consider the possibility of evaluating the Chinese multipurpose fighters. It ended up choosing the Kfir that generated an intern within the dome that ended with the resignation of the Head of the Enlistment Command, Brigadier Roca, who personally told me that he left in disagreement over the imminent purchase of a fighter like the Kfir that came without weapons package, we had to make do with the missiles and bombs that we already had in stock, something similar to what happened with the A-4AR, a lot of electronics, but little weaponry.
Then the FAA and the MinDef (both Martinez and Aguad) were lost, looking for a "transition" fighter and then another "complementary" (of less military value) so they asked for a quote for some F-16s that were out of our budget. , then F-5E and from there Mirage F-1CR ex Armée de l'Air to finish choosing a… fighter? For the KAI FA-50, which competed with Leonardo's M-346, the claims by then had lowered a lot, they were LIFT aircraft and both of performance and capabilities inferior to the Chinese model that was intended to be manufactured at FAdeA under the name of Pulqui III.
China proposes the most advantageous options so far, by acquisition price and performance because they are single-engine aircraft, both the JF-17 and the J-10B and C are 4-gen fighters (4+ in the JF-17 and 4 ++ the J-10B / C)
China insists once again on manufacturing military aircraft at FAdeA
Last September 2019, a Chinese delegation headed by that country's defense minister himself visited the Argentine defense ministry and met with President Mauricio Macri, they again offered a military aircraft manufacturing agreement in FAdeA (no It transcended the model but it is assumed that the FC-1 has been the only aircraft proposed to be manufactured there). Due to political issues that had to do with the automatic alignment with the United States of the previous government, no progress was made, but the current Defense Minister Agustin Rossi, in an interview last February, stated that he met with the Chinese ambassador to discuss issues that had to do with military re-equipment.
When the JF-17 Pulqui III was close to being manufactured in Argentina
The IA.43 Pulqui III was a frustrated project of a supersonic fighter for the Air Force, the design had been made by Ing Kurt Tank in 1954, the following year the Liberating Revolution took place and Tank had to take refuge in India, abandoning this project. The military threw out all German scientists and engineers, losing our country a great opportunity to make the technological leap that would have placed us among the elite of aerospace technology. Great Britain did not see with sympathy that Argentina would make such a technological leap, neither did the United States because they considered that it was too much of a prize for a country that did not take part in WWII. And so our military at that time complied with the order and all the projects were abandoned.
66 years passed and the Argentine aeronautical industry could not manufacture any supersonic aircraft, although in the 80s it designed again with German help, the IA.63 Pampa, which was the first step towards the manufacture of a high-performance combat aircraft and that It was called at the beginning ACA (Argentine Combat Airplane) shortly after known as SAIA 90.
However, in 2012 he had the opportunity to do it in FAdeA, the factory management had promised the MinDef and the Chief of the FAA, that all the solutions that the FAA was looking for would come out of FAdeA They chose FC-1 from Chinese design made jointly between China and Pakistan. The airframes are assembled in China, at the headquarters of CATIC (China Aero Technologies Import & Export Corporation) in Beijing.
During the 85th anniversary of FAdeA, in 2012, the president of the same, announced the intention to manufacture the "Pulqui III", as at that time the project to manufacture under license the CATIC FC-1 Xiaolong fighter or JF-17 Thunder along with technology transfer.
The minimum to manufacture that CATIC required to extend the license was 40 aircraft, a logical amount if we talk about a manufacturing license. As the FAA requirement, in principle, it was 24 aircraft, consultations were made to know the Navy's requirement, in order to add a critical mass necessary to be able to start the negotiations with that minimum.
Although the FC-1 did not have a naval version at the time, it was not very difficult to imagine that it would require a few changes to be adapted for use on aircraft carriers. Including to this day that China has sold an aircraft carrier to Pakistan, they most likely want a shipped version of the JF-17. Therefore his possibilities in Naval Aviation were included in the analysis.
As the fighter had the potential for air-to-air, air-to-ground combat and anti-ship missions, it allowed it to be able to replace the fleet of fighters of the Air Force and Naval Aviation, that is, A-4AR, Mirage and Super Etendard, homogenizing the fleet and optimizing its use.
CATIC FC-1 Xiaolong / PAC JF-17 Thunder
The FC-1 Xiaolong or JF-17 Thunder (for Pakistan), is a simple and light multipurpose or multirole fighter, jointly developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) of China and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC for its acronym in English).
It was designed and built in order to replace the fleet of Mirage III / V, F-7P and A-5 aircraft in service with the Pakistani air force.
The maiden flight of the FC-1 was in August 2003 and entered service in March 2007. The aircraft is listed as JF-17 by Pakistan and FC-1 by China.
The reason why FAdeA had opted for an aircraft of Chinese origin, lay in the search for non-traditional suppliers that will gradually replace the material of NATO origin, given the restrictions that our armed forces (especially the FAA and the ARA) for geopolitical reasons ) came and has been enduring since the Malvinas conflict.
The reasons for the JF-17
Being an aircraft particularly adaptable to user requirements and even more so taking into account that the aspiration of the FAdeA authorities was to obtain the transfer of technology, a “personalized” Thunder could be thought of and adapted to Argentine needs.
It is known that the fleet of Argentine combat aircraft is exhausted in the case of the Air Force and does not go beyond 10 years in the case of the Navy. The Air Force is the one that most urgently requires a fighter since the A-4AR has little useful life left and the times to resolve this issue are very short. In principle, the PAF should be asked to sell 14 JF-17s, as at that time it was going to be done to solve in the short term the absence of a supersonic fighter and then in a longer term to foresee the manufacture of a combat aircraft that can enter in service from 2024/2025. The aircraft has potential for air-to-air, air-to-ground combat and anti-ship missions, which by characteristic could replace the entire current fleet of Air Force and Naval Aviation fighters, that is, A-4AR, Mirage and Super Etendard ,
According to international sources, the manufacturing quality of FAdeA demonstrated with its Pucarà and Pampa products, with three decades or more of durability, show that the Chinese product produced in Argentina could substantially improve its quality, since the quality Argentine manufacture is superior to that of the Chinese.
In general terms, one could think of an airplane with several mission profiles destined for the two forces. Basically for air-air, air-land and anti-ship profiles, in order to gradually replace the Mirage, A-4AR and Super Etendard fleet.
Propulsion
The FC-1 is powered by the Klimov RD-93 turbofan, in service on the Mig-29/35 fighter. The RD-33, of which it is the original version, is the first Klimov turbofan with afterburner that delivers between 8 and 9 tons of thrust, it is an engine with simple maintenance and very good performance. In turn, China develops its own version to replace the RD-93, called Guizhou WS-13, an improved version that delivers 86Kn with afterburner.
Cabin
The FC-1 features three 32-bit multi-function displays (MFD), head-up display (HUD), and mission management kit (WMMC).
A front control panel (UFCP) is installed between the MFD and HUD. The Chinese HUD is designed and developed to correct the fog error that frequently occurs in humid, subtropical and tropical areas.
Avionics
The avionics suite includes an Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS), Flight Control System (FCS), Automatic Test Equipment, UHF / VHF Communication Radios, Data Links, Inertial Navigation System (INS) and a friend-foe identification (IFF) transponder.
Armament
It is armed with GSh-23 23mm twin barrels or 30mm twin barrel GSh-30 guns. The aircraft has seven anchor points of which four are under the wings, one under the fuselage and two mounted on the wingtips. It can carry up to 3,700 kg of payload.
It is equipped with PL-12 or DS 10 medium-range radar homing air-to-air missiles (MRAAM), laser-guided bombs, satellite-guided bombs, gravity bombs, anti-ship missiles, anti-radiation missiles, rocket launchers and a pod. laser designator. The FC-1 / JF-17 can be equipped with short-range air-to-air missiles AIM-9L / M, PL-5E, PL-9C on the wingtips.
Electronic Countermeasures (CME)
It is equipped with a defensive aid system (DAS), which includes a radar warning system (RWS), a missile approach warning system (MAWS), a countermeasures delivery system and an interference pod. self-protection radar. The RWS collects the direction and proximity of enemy radars and transmits the data to the pilot.
The MAWS comprises several optical sensors that detect and display missiles approaching the aircraft. The decoy flares and chaff built into the countermeasure dispensing system prevents missile tracking.
Radars
The first JF-17s are equipped with the NRIET KLJ-7 radar this, it can follow ten targets located beyond the visual range (BVR). Then the S-7 Pulse Doppler Tap will replace the KLJ-7. This radar can operate in 25 working modes for 200 hours continuously.
An AESA radar has been integrated into the new Block III version, perhaps the most important development on the JF-17 upgrade path. AESA radars are complex and expensive systems, but they are a standard feature of 4 ++ fighters such as the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. In a battlefield environment increasingly plagued by electronic warfare, AESA radars can help fighter jets resist enemy jam, thus helping such fighters to successfully engage their targets. The Italo-British Selex Vixen (the same from the Gripen) was chosen in principle but as stated by the Head of the PAF “Given the western concerns about the transfer of sensitive technology, which could find its way to the east, I think we had no other option to buy Chinese ".
Cockpit y Aviònica by Pulqui III file: /// C:% 5CDOCUME ~ 1% 5CJulio% 5CCONFIG ~ 1% 5CTemp% 5Cmsohtmlc lip1% 5C01% 5Cclip_image001.gif [/ IMG]
The avionics architecture supports two mission computers based on the Multi-Bus System (MIL-STD-1553B). The core of the system is a 32-bit computer that performs mission calculations, flight management, reconfiguration / regulation of the use of the on-board system.
Customizing the aircraft, taking into account the lack of knowledge that the air force and the navy have of Chinese avionics, it could be replaced by one that follows the avionics pattern that the air force foresees having starting from the instruction, which use Israeli avionics ( Elbit) and its arrangement facilitates the visualization of the instruments together with which would continue the familiarity with the glass cockpit of the different SdA,
For navigation, it has a hybrid inertial navigation system (INS) and a global positioning system (GPS); for communications it has an independent Data-Link with two radio bandwidths with anti-jamming capability.
Despite being a lightweight fighter, it has integrated a sophisticated self-protection system consisting of RWR alerters with a complete threat database, bi-band missile firing detectors (IR and UV), together with a team of ESM and ECM very modern. For electronic warfare (EW) it has a jammer self-protection system, missile alert system, radar alert (RWR), chaff and flare dispenser.
Identification and interrogator friend or foe (IFF) system for target verification in the BVR combat range;
The Glass cockpit has three large multifunction color displays (MFD) and Smart Heads-Up Display (HUD) with a function with the ability to generate symbols; HOTAS;
Targeting has a laser and navigation designator pod (LDTP) for target illumination and with day and night detection capabilities.
[B]Helmet-mounted display technology[/B]
[URL='https://quwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/JF-17-HMDS.png'][IMG alt="alt text"]https://quwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/JF-17-HMDS.png[/URL]
Years ago to fire the fighter's weapons the nose of the aircraft had to be pointed, but this has changed since the helmet-missile combination and also with the introduction of "off-boresight" missiles such as the R-73, Python IV , AIM-9X, ASRAAM, A-Darter, IRIS-T and MICA
As is currently the case with the Pakistani version of the fighter (JF-17), an Argentine version could benefit from the adoption of the new helmet-mounted display technology (HMD - Helmet Mounted Display) that allows the pilot to point the aircraft's weapons. only with the sight and do it also in an “off-boresight” situation (outside the angle of the field of vision of the aircraft axis).
It is significant to mention that this technology is already present in the Pampa III training aircraft.
Possible weaponry
In air-to-air configuration, the FC-1 offers several options from Chinese weapons to the possibility of homologate Israeli, South African or North American weapons. For short range it has the EO / IR PL-5 II missile, PL-9 IR guidance missiles, PL-12 medium range radio guidance missiles (SD-10 for export) And, of course, short-range missiles. PL-9 range from guide * to IR. All these missiles are very effective and modern.
It could also adapt short-range missiles of Israeli origin such as the 5th generation Rafael Python V and which was mentioned as a missile that interested the FAA or the South African of the Darter family.
For short-range combat, it has double GSH-23 23mm cannons, although it is an ammunition that our armed forces do not have, it could be replaced by 20 or 30mm cannons.
The aircraft has "beyond visual range" strike capability (BVR) armed with the PL-12 / SD-10 medium-range active radar-homing air-to-air (MRAAM) missile developed by China by the Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute. (LETRI, also known as Instituto 607). The two short-range AAMs are carried at the end of the wings mounted on launch rails. The options include AIM-9P and the Chinese PL-7, PL-8 and PL-9, while those previously mentioned as the Israeli or South African require the respective homologation.
It can carry a special designator pod for laser-guided weapons that can operate both day and night. In addition, it can also carry unguided weapons, such as general purpose low resistance bombs (LDGP) and unguided rocket launchers.
Motor
As we mentioned before powered by a Russian-made Klimov RD-93 turbofan engine of 49.4kN dry or 84.4kN with afterburner. The RD-93 is a derivative of the RD-33 used by the MiG-29 fighter. In 2007, China signed a contract with Russia to supply 150 RD-93 engines for the production of the JF-17.
Due to the competition that the FC-1 presents to the Mig-29, Russia began to retreat the RD-93 engine, and induced by India (enemy of Pakistan and China) began to pressure to restrict the delivery of these and for this motif AVIC Engines in Guizhou is developing an indigenous turbofan engine designated WS-13 (or Tianshan-21) as an alternative engine option for the FC-1. The engine is said to have been based on the RD-93 design with some modifications and would deliver 10% more power, which they estimate would be available by 2015 and eliminating the Russian dependency, which would be welcome not to enter. that dispute.
Their possible mission profiles in the Argentine Armed Forces
The aircraft has extensive characteristics that allow it to be assigned various mission profiles, making it a multirole aircraft, since it has AA, AT, Depth Attack for destruction of enemy defenses (SEAD) and Anti-Ship capabilities, this makes it suitable for both the Air Force as for Naval Aviation, and in the event that it ever had an aircraft carrier again, the aircraft could be adapted as an embarked version, with a reinforcement of the landing gear, placing the arrest hook in the corresponding frame (a study similar has already been done in the Pampa) and for this eventual onboard version, a change of powerplant could be studied for the RD-33MK version with vector thrust (TVC) such as that used by the Mig-29K of the Indian Navy.
Export Possibilities
This aircraft could even be exported if it is manufactured in FAdeA and is an important gateway to the Latin American market by China (and with the more than obvious opposition of the US) China does not have an arms veto as a policy, it is broader and flexible than the US, because it must be remembered that Brazil has never been able to sell the AMX to the only two countries that were interested in the AMX, which were Argentina and Venezuela, the first being blocked by England and the second by the US.
Licensed production at FAdeA may represent China's gateway to the Latin American market given the potential of the aircraft that has been designed to replace the numerous fleets of A-4, Mirage, Kfir and F-5E existing in the regional market.
specs
Mono and two-seater
Length: 14m
Wingspan: 8.5 m (without wingtip missiles) Wing
area: 24.4m2
Height: 5.10 m
Empty weight: 6,411 kg
Loaded weight: 9,100 kg (without the two missiles at the tip of the wing)
Takeoff weight: (normal) 9,100 kg, (maximum) 12700 kg
Fuel capacity: 2,300 kg
In-flight refueling: Currently under development
Weapons load: 3,700 kg
Power plant: turbofan RD-93, 49.4kN dry or 84.4kN with afterburner
Maximum speed level: Mach 1.6 to 1.8 (at high altitude)
Max climb rate: S / D Service
ceiling: 16,700 m
Range in ferry flight: 3,000 km
Julio Gutièrrez
Administrator of the Aviacionargentina.net Forum
With the loss of the Mirages III, a few years ago, Argentina left a gap of the utmost importance unfilled in the country's air defense. Among the candidates analyzed for the replacement of the "deltas", one of the first proposals that were considered in 2014 was that offered by China, with its FC-1 Xiaolong or JF-17 Thunder aircraft in Pakistan, which we analyze here.
Her CARACTERISTICS
The JF-17 "Thunder" is an advanced multipurpose combat aircraft, of those considered light or "lift", it is a binational undertaking (China and Pakistan), designed and developed by the Chinese corporation CAC (Chengdu Aircraft Corporation) and manufactured in joint venture between Pakistan Aviation Complex (PAC), Kamra and Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) of China.
It has excellent air-to-air and air-to-surface combat capabilities.
It has state-of-the-art avionics, with optimally integrated subsystems and computerized and digital flight controls (FBW) and the ability to use state-of-the-art weapons, both in air-to-air and air-to-surface combat, with a generation of both defensive weapons. (short range) as offensive (long range) and to be used at any time and both day and night, which provide the JF-17 with a decisive advantage over opponents of the same class.
This multi-purpose all-weather fighter has remarkable combat maneuverability at all altitudes (high, medium and low). With effective firepower, agility and survivability in combat and proven its effectiveness in Pakistan's last confrontation with India.
This multipurpose fighter born as a "lift" and as a complementary aircraft to the Pakistani F-16s, is likely to emerge as a powerful platform to match at this time and given its evolutions and improvements to front line fighters and suitable for any force airline that needs a top-of-the-line aircraft.
Progress
The first JF-17 prototype aircraft (called FC-1) was unveiled in May 2003 and made its first flight in August of that year.
The following year two more prototypes were incorporated, in order to test the flight qualities, performance and flight tests of the engine. while the next two prototypes (2005) were used in flight tests of integrated avionics. L
All basic flight tests were completed in 2007, which also marked the arrival of the JF-17 Thunder aircraft in Pakistan, where it was officially presented to the country's authorities, coinciding with Pakistan's National Day on March 23, 2007. A test flight and assessment was established at Kamra's PAC (Pakistan Aeronautical Complex), which carried out detailed operational assessment of the aircraft, as well as ground and air crew training.
The JF-17 was declared fully operational at the PAF (Pakistan Air Force) in August 2009 and internationally unveiled and exhibited at the UK's Farnborough Airshow in 2010.
Officially, production began on March 7, 2009, in which PAC and CAC signed a contract to start production in a joint series of 42 JF-17 fighters (Block 1), in a first stage, to be delivered to the Pakistani Air Force. In 2010 it received its first 8 JF-17s produced in the People's Republic of China.
In August 2011, 26 JF-17s were produced in Pakistan [1] (production was jointly carried out at CAC in China and finished manufacturing at PAC in the Pakistani city of Kamra, in May of the same year learned that representatives of the People's Republic of China and Pakistan agreed to supply a second batch of 50 aircraft (Block 2) for the Pakistani Air Force
, with 42 JF-17s being produced in Pakistan in 2013.
In 2015, the Chinese side proposed to replace the Russian engines with Pakistani JF-17s with analogs of its own production, but Pakistan refused, citing the possible high replacement cost and the absence of claims to the existing power plant [8].
According to the plan envisaged by the PAF in 2010, the plans were to incorporate 250 JF-17s in 15 years of production.
https://www.aviacionargentina.net/t...china-para-sustituir-los-mirages-en-argentina
