JF-17 Block-3 -- Updates, News & Discussion

[TheTallGuy]

The engine is expected to enter fight test mode towards the end of the year which means the JF-17 Block III would enter flight tests with the RD-93MA engine sometime in 2021-22 at the earliest.

Now things are opening up and dare i say cats out of the bag! @SQ8 @untitled @Armchair @NA71@Safriz @Chak Bamu @Thorough Pro

 

[HRK]

RD-93MA Engine, to Power Pakistan JF-17 Block III Jets, Enters Thermal Chamber Tests

• Our Bureau
  
• 01:58 PM, July 8, 2020
  
• 472

RD-93MA engine (for JF-17 Jet) Undergoing Tests
A new engine for the Pakistani JF-17 fighter jet, dubbed RD-93MA being developed by Russia’s United Engine Corporation (UEC)-Klimov has entered thermal chamber tests to confirm high-speed characteristics in simulated flight conditions.

The RD-93MA has been specifically developed to power single engine light fighter jets. It is an upgrade of the RD-93 engine which currently powers the Pakistani JF-17/Chinese Chengdu FC-1 single engine fighter jets.

With the successful completion of the thermal chamber test stage, it will be possible to proceed to flight design tests. A set of tests in the TsIAM large thermal pressure chamber will be held as part of the experimental design work on the RD-93MA, a UEC statement said today.

During the tests, the engine will simulate conditions as close as possible to actual flight. Here, the BARK-93MA, the automatic control system of the engine, designed and manufactured at UEC-Klimov, will also be put to test.

The thrust of the RD-93MA is expected to 9300 Kgf compared to 8300 kgf of the RD-93, a significant bump-up in power which will help the JF-17/FC-1 to carry more armaments and fly at a higher speed (this information is not from UEC but earlier published sources).

“The RD-93MA engine is distinguished by improved operational characteristics, increased thermodynamic parameters, a larger fan and an upgraded automatic power plant control system. The main engine parameters are also enhanced- the assigned resource and thrust, an emergency engine start mode is provided, and the possibility of emergency fuel drain is realized.” the statement said.

JF-17 Thunder Aircraft of Pakistan Air Force
“All this is due to the specifics associated with the possible use of the power plant on a single-engine aircraft, which entails additional safety requirements,” the statement added leaving no doubt as to its potential applications for an foreign customer as Russia does not possess a single-engine fighter jet.

“The start of testing was preceded by a long preparatory phase. During 2018-2019 design documentation was handed over to manufacturing plants, production was organized in a new cooperation structure, engine models of the RD-93MA were developed and a new engine "harness" was manufactured. In addition, tests of the VK-100-1MK turbo-starter in the TsIAM heat chamber according to confirmation of high-altitude launch were conducted. Prototypes of the BARK-93MA (automatic engine control system) were made and much more,” the statement said.

The JF-17 block III, a highly advanced version of the JF-17 Block II, was test flown for the first time at the start of this year. Besides the engine, the key upgrade is an AESA- Active electronically scanning array- radar which has already been selected from a Chinese manufacturer.

Earlier reports said the RD-93MA engine will be directly sold to Pakistan. However, sources told defenseworld.net that the engine upgrade work is under contract from a Chinese company for which over 100 such engines is to be manufactured.

The engine is expected to enter fight test mode towards the end of the year which means the JF-17 Block III would enter flight tests with the RD-93MA engine sometime in 2021-22 at the earliest.

link ..... ???

 

[StormBreaker]

RD-93MA Engine, to Power Pakistan JF-17 Block III Jets, Enters Thermal Chamber Tests

• Our Bureau
  
• 01:58 PM, July 8, 2020
  
• 472

RD-93MA engine (for JF-17 Jet) Undergoing Tests
A new engine for the Pakistani JF-17 fighter jet, dubbed RD-93MA being developed by Russia’s United Engine Corporation (UEC)-Klimov has entered thermal chamber tests to confirm high-speed characteristics in simulated flight conditions.

The RD-93MA has been specifically developed to power single engine light fighter jets. It is an upgrade of the RD-93 engine which currently powers the Pakistani JF-17/Chinese Chengdu FC-1 single engine fighter jets.

With the successful completion of the thermal chamber test stage, it will be possible to proceed to flight design tests. A set of tests in the TsIAM large thermal pressure chamber will be held as part of the experimental design work on the RD-93MA, a UEC statement said today.

During the tests, the engine will simulate conditions as close as possible to actual flight. Here, the BARK-93MA, the automatic control system of the engine, designed and manufactured at UEC-Klimov, will also be put to test.

The thrust of the RD-93MA is expected to 9300 Kgf compared to 8300 kgf of the RD-93, a significant bump-up in power which will help the JF-17/FC-1 to carry more armaments and fly at a higher speed (this information is not from UEC but earlier published sources).

“The RD-93MA engine is distinguished by improved operational characteristics, increased thermodynamic parameters, a larger fan and an upgraded automatic power plant control system. The main engine parameters are also enhanced- the assigned resource and thrust, an emergency engine start mode is provided, and the possibility of emergency fuel drain is realized.” the statement said.

JF-17 Thunder Aircraft of Pakistan Air Force
“All this is due to the specifics associated with the possible use of the power plant on a single-engine aircraft, which entails additional safety requirements,” the statement added leaving no doubt as to its potential applications for an foreign customer as Russia does not possess a single-engine fighter jet.

“The start of testing was preceded by a long preparatory phase. During 2018-2019 design documentation was handed over to manufacturing plants, production was organized in a new cooperation structure, engine models of the RD-93MA were developed and a new engine "harness" was manufactured. In addition, tests of the VK-100-1MK turbo-starter in the TsIAM heat chamber according to confirmation of high-altitude launch were conducted. Prototypes of the BARK-93MA (automatic engine control system) were made and much more,” the statement said.

The JF-17 block III, a highly advanced version of the JF-17 Block II, was test flown for the first time at the start of this year. Besides the engine, the key upgrade is an AESA- Active electronically scanning array- radar which has already been selected from a Chinese manufacturer.

Earlier reports said the RD-93MA engine will be directly sold to Pakistan. However, sources told defenseworld.net that the engine upgrade work is under contract from a Chinese company for which over 100 such engines is to be manufactured.

The engine is expected to enter fight test mode towards the end of the year which means the JF-17 Block III would enter flight tests with the RD-93MA engine sometime in 2021-22 at the earliest.

 

[Mrc]

Now things are opening up and dare i say cats out of the bag! @SQ8 @untitled @Armchair @NA71@Safriz @Chak Bamu @Thorough Pro

it did fly in November 2019 with an engine i suspect.


may i dare as well to say the photos and video you saw labelled as first test flight were actually....not first flight.. for one simple reason.....no body in world would dare to bring such a crowd for them to see the plane fail to fly or crash....it has been flying for couple of months at that point its safe to assume

 

[Indos]

Earlier reports said the RD-93MA engine will be directly sold to Pakistan. However, sources told defenseworld.net that the engine upgrade work is under contract from a Chinese company for which over 100 such engines is to be manufactured.

The engine is expected to enter fight test mode towards the end of the year which means the JF-17 Block III would enter flight tests with the RD-93MA engine sometime in 2021-22 at the earliest.

So it basically means there will be 100 JF17 Block 3

 

[Evora]

Link:-
https://www.defenseworld.net/news/27376#.XwYAeUBRUzQ

 

[Meliodas]

http://www.deagel.com/Propulsion-Systems/RD-93MA_a000909005.aspx

https://thediplomat.com/2020/01/pak...on-of-first-batch-of-jf-17b-fighter-aircraft/

Above diplomat ljnk mentions that we are already using ma93 engine

 

[The Raven]

I remember seeing a placard at one of the MAKS airshows around 5-6 years ago which had a poster showing the RD-93MA destined for the JF-17, and the Klimov rep at the stand stated it was to demonstrate "what we can do with the RD-93 and JF-17", rather than anything confirmed at that time. Looks like it turned out to be true after all.

 

[StormBreaker]

I remember seeing a placard at one of the MAKS airshows around 5-6 years ago which had a poster showing the RD-93MA destined for the JF-17, and the Klimov rep at the stand stated it was to demonstrate "what we can do with the RD-93 and JF-17", rather than anything confirmed at that time. Looks like it turned out to be true after all.

A disappointing news for me tbh, This kinda proves that China isn’t doing well in this category still.
Although, I have another theory as well, “Get RD-93MA If you want Flankers from China” which is dumb theory

 

[TheTallGuy]

it did fly in November 2019 with an engine i suspect.


may i dare as well to say the photos and video you saw labelled as first test flight were actually....not first flight.. for one simple reason.....no body in world would dare to bring such a crowd for them to see the plane fail to fly or crash....it has been flying for couple of months at that point its safe to assume

My friend, its well known that 1st flight took place and prototype was flying with normal RD93 Engine...it had the Flight control system working...what i was pointing out was delays or issues regarding engine power & electrical supply with RD93. since radar is not even ready product.

so time line has been extended till 2022-23...and dare i say Block 3 is last iteration of Thunder. we move on ...to AZM aka FC31/J35

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

UEC is indeed testing an engine called 'RD-93MA'.

However, I don't think it'll make its way to the Block-III. The PAF froze the Block-III's design, so pivoting to the RD-93MA at this stage would mean pushing the project back 1-2 years. UEC itself is saying they've yet to carry out flight tests.

OTOH, if the PAF opts for a Block-IV, it could slot in the RD-93MA.

Likewise, the RD-93MA could also an option for the FGFA/AZM/FC-31.

07/08/2020
The new engine for the development of the UEC will be tested in a thermal chamber TsIAM

The RD-93MA engine was shipped from St. Petersburg to Moscow. The power plant of the UEC-Klimov development (part of the United Engine Corporation of Rostec State Corporation) will have to confirm the high-speed characteristics in the conditions of flight simulation at the stand of the P.I. Baranova (TsIAM).

A set of tests in the TsIAM large thermal pressure chamber will be held as part of the experimental design work on the RD-93MA. During tests for the engine conditions will be simulated as close as possible to flight. The operation of the automatic control system of the BARK-93MA engine, also designed and manufactured at JSC UEC-Klimov, will be tested.

Upon successful completion of this stage, permission will be obtained for flight design tests.

The beginning of the tests was preceded by a long preparatory phase. During 2018-2019 design documentation was issued and handed over to manufacturing plants, production was organized in a new cooperation structure, engine models of the RD-93MA and KSA-54M were made, a new engine "harness" was designed and manufactured, tests of the VK-100-1MK turbostarter in the TsIAM thermo-chamber according to confirmation of high-altitude launch, prototypes BARK-93MA and IDK-93MA were made and much more. Immediately before sending the engine for testing, UEC specialists prepared and tested all the necessary equipment for connecting the engine to the test bench.

RD-93MA is a new aircraft engine developed by JSC "UEC-Klimov". The power plant in addition to the engine includes an automatic control system BARK-93MA and a box of aircraft units KSA-54M.

The RD-93MA engine has improved performance. In particular, increased thermodynamic parameters, an improved design of the fan and the hot part, an upgraded automatic power plant control system. The main indicators are also increased - the assigned resource and traction. An additional emergency engine start mode was provided in the air and the possibility of emergency fuel drain was realized. All this is due to the specifics associated with the possible use of the power plant on a single-engine aircraft, which entails additional safety requirements.

https://www.uecrus.com/rus/presscenter/odk_news/?ELEMENT_ID=3280​

 

[TheTallGuy]

However, I don't think it'll make its way to the Block-III. The PAF froze the Block-III's design, so pivoting to the RD-93MA at this stage would mean pushing the project back 1-2 years. UEC itself is saying they've yet to carry out flight tests.

you are may be correct that Current Block 3 are to be equipped with RD93 then this begs a question can RD93 provide necessary juice to power AESA (Air-cooled) and new Fly by light FCS?

Its high time @messiach could make comment?

and 2nd point if indeed pushing back 1-2 years, then current hot rumor with smokes and mirror may be true..indeed aircraft are purchased as urgent stop gap. please also not we have seen KLJ-7 air cooled AESA yet..you have to add that as well.

 

[Mrc]

My friend, its well known that 1st flight took place and prototype was flying with normal RD93 Engine...it had the Flight control system working...what i was pointing out was delays or issues regarding engine power & electrical supply with RD93. since radar is not even ready product.

so time line has been extended till 2022-23...and dare i say Block 3 is last iteration of Thunder. we move on ...to AZM aka FC31/J35

you don't select a radar that's not a ready product simple...how do we know that radar is not ready??? and if radar is not ready how the heck we are having electrical supply problems???

both are contradictory... either radar is ready or there is not electrical supply problem

whats not ready today may not be ready for 10 years....

i would really like to wait for some think authentic than shooting in air.... but thats just me


by the way there is some secrecy surrounding this project....

radar thats chosen has never been publically displayed even as a mock up

so wait

 

[Evora]

The induction of RD93MA is not decided overnight but it was well planned in time of first ordered as mentioned in the page no 16 of Klimov's annual report in 2013. "Order of upto 400 units for FC1 China, RD93MA in 2020".
So PAF is well aware of the timeline and RD93MA will be retrofit with Block3.

 

[Safriz]

Incremental engine modification of the same model number is normal.
I think RD-93MA of sone older version will be used in Thunder 3.
An engine designated RD-93MA has been around at least since 2017.