Manticore
RETIRED MOD
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- Jan 18, 2009
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The original radar to compete the Grifo-S was Type 1471 developed around 2003 and tested on a J-8 platform, pulse Doppler, 660 mm antennae, look down shoot down and track on 8 targets simultaneously and engage 2 in SA mode. The 664 mm figure was given by me who has info from someone involved in the project but much info is hard to come by, however, PAF requirement was atleast 650 mm diameter, nothing less.
Selex offered two variants of Grifo-s, one was 600 mm antennae, another had a staggering 800 mm but the overall nose modification had to be redone to a great deal and consumed a lot of time. Grifo also had messy SA modes and no compatibility with SD-10, which was the prime need for JF-17. After a rework, they came up with better SA and SAR mode but still no compatibility with SD-10. While China had successfully developed a subset of the J-10 radar with bigger (664 mm vs 600 mm antenna for Grifo-s) radar and better digital signal processor allowing more processing and a more powerful transmitter allowing a peak output of 7-8 kw. This radar was still subjected to more testing on J-8 testbed and by 2006, was finally revealed in a brochure as the KLJ-7 variant. The radar antenna diameter is not a fantasy but an accepted reality. A member calculated some numbers by pixels which is his opinion and i respect it.
In general, comparison of jf-17 with f-16 is not justified due to different classifications for both in general performance, agreed. However, in terms of general capability, f-16 has a monster of an engine i.e. the PW 120-GE-110, 25000-29000 pounds thrust with afterburner allowing much higher payloads and overall range but the jf-17 has much powerful avionics and radar which is comparable to most modern fighters out there and which the f-16 (pre- block 52 models) lack such as a powerful mission computer with spare upgradability room for further upgrades, complete glass cockpit environment and ability to carry a complete set of Chinese Pakistani/ and most guided weapons in air to air, air to surface and air to sea modes.
via nabil..........................................................