JF-17 Thunder Multirole Fighter [Thread 4]

[Pak47]

Well i don't know about this. In fact i can't find any source that says this. As far as block 2 is concerned, there have been rumours that it will be using composites or more composites according to you.

While a lot of people say that blk 2 will have IRST, and etc.... I don't really believe that unless there is proof to it. People have been saying that blk 2 will start production in July 2012 but before i can believe that i would want to see pics of the prototypes.

See this video sir. Also if you want to know more about JFT the owner of this video is a great place for info.. Check it out! =)

 

[Bratva]

is chinese air force using JF-17 AS WELL?

yes they are using jf-17.

 

[MastanKhan]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us
USAF F-18 pilots checking out our bird! They seem impressed.

Hi,

Americans will always praise a good effort and a good thing in the making----.

 

[Qasibr]

Lot of insider news of jf-17 is not turning to be accurate. Like aesa, irst, etc etc for block 2 was not proven true and we are heaing for irst and HMD on block 2 since late 2009 which will not be on block 2 . Like wise in ideas 2008 we seen a retractable sweedish IFR for JF-17 and was hopeful it will be on block-1 which was not and surprised me a alot.

The PAF is *very* close-mouthed about the JF-17 these days, especially about future developments. Very little, if any, details come out, and this is a very sharp contrast from how things were earlier on. Pakistan has always traditionally been more open compared to the way China guarded it's former projects(PLAAF already had J-10 squadrons before admitting they'd even started inducting), or the way the US guards it's "skunkworks" secret projects.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the information we do get, is actually dis-information purposefully designed to mislead. The way India delayed it's MMRCA to prevent JF-17's French avionics deals, perhaps they want the Indians to NOT have a very clear picture of what's going on inside and what abilities we're focusing on, in future blocks and developments. Earlier, India was dragging it's MMRCA to prevent avionics opportunities to us, but looking at how the JFT project is still progressing rapidly, and how they'd be left at a disadvantage if they continously delay their MMRCA, tejas is delayed repeatedly(as more and more of their aircraft start nearing their airframe life and requiring urgent replacement), now they are showing signs of finally pushing their MMRCA deals forward(though, given their joy of bureaucratic hurdles, it's entirely possible they'll screw aircraft manufacturers yet again).

With the JFT, as we've seen multiple times, there are so many moving parts in the situation, and while what seniors report on the situation might be true then, rapidly changing circumstances and new opportunities can very easily completely change that.

 

[abdulbarijan]

Oh common guys...
why the long faces....
we all know the history of the JFT...
a jet that was branded a paper plane
when it became reality its critics called it a Mig-21 class airframed plane at best a replacement of F-7 and Mirage III/V
with the advent of PT-04 it was called a 30 year old F-16 A/B class plane
After it hammered the falcons it was called early F-16 C/D class plane

In other words this JF-17 of ours took less than a decade to be from a paper plane to a early F-16 C/D class plane
and even today the insiders report things which practically blow ur mind off..

Dont think for a second that an entire different block will just have some IFR,data link and avionics upgrade....there is more to it than just that...
Its common sense...the PAF is always silent about such stuff..and that is a fact..

 

[abdulbarijan]

I think the use of composites will definitely be used. Most likely in the future. Pakistan have basically used Chinese and American technology to create this aircraft. Now that we have F-16 blk 52s (with composite use) in service, we will surely see it's tech being copied on to JF-17. Some may argue that Americans are keeping an eye on them. But my answer to them is, IT WILL NOT BE FOR LONG.

I don't think JF-17 was made to just replace PAF's older aircrafts. I mean it was thought to follow that logic before; but now we are seeing DSI intakes, 4.5 generation avionics, AESA radar (coming in soon). If all this is being incorporated then surely there should be no problem, trying to make it stealthier. We will have something called "J2-X"

Try doing a little more research. The 2 seat development has begun by the way. It will be in Block III...

You should keep one thing in mind "cost effectiveness".We want a jet that can offer a whole hell lotta capability but with cost effectiveness and that was one of the basic goals in the project.Going for something like complete stealth with internal bays and stuff will require massive changes in the airframe and a new powerful engine which will diminish its basic goal....

Although we are hearing about pretty good stuff like block III being extra special with 5th generation avionics and stuff...but one thing is clear PAF will do anything to keep the price tag from below 35 million odd....there is no way we will go up there..
only thing that can happen for us to go there is a sudden economic boom which will then allow us to pour more money into the JF-17

Right now we created an aircraft
with
BVR capability
state of the art avionics with people saying they are on par with block 52
a complete multirole fighter
using technologies like DSI and stuff
Than u have a very good glass cockpit with very good MMI
A very maneuverable jet that hammered F-16 A/B reckoned as one of the best if not the best dog fighter ever made...

All this in 15-20 million price tag...Impressive is what say it is...

 

[ziaulislam]

i think IRST and retractable refueling probe are much important then aesa as we are seeing AWACCS induction

 

[timberwolf]

Give it 10 on looks , I wonder if it would fly

JF-17 XL v.1.1

Retouched the canopy a bit.

 

[CallsignAlzaeem]

JF-17 XL v.1.1

Retouched the canopy a bit.

Much better.

 

[TaimiKhan]

Lot of insider news of jf-17 is not turning to be accurate. Like aesa, irst, etc etc for block 2 was not proven true and we are heaing for irst and HMD on block 2 since late 2009 which will not be on block 2 . Like wise in ideas 2008 we seen a retractable sweedish IFR for JF-17 and was hopeful it will be on block-1 which was not and surprised me a alot.

Problem is, wishing for something on some product is easy, but when the planning stage kicks in, then you start facing problems which may lead to deferment of the original plan and bring in something more realistic, which is achievable with current funds. All these things were wished for the JF-17 as a future possible options, but when planning stage came, either there was no funds available or may be other product related limitations came into play.

Whats the benefit of manufacturing low cast airplane which just fire bvr missiles and have a fixed ifr which increases rcs btw and do not have HOBOS missiles and HMD to fire it or any IRST. . . instead of keeping low cost plane why not add some of these features to keep pace with the latest acquisitons of IAF.

Lot of benefit, especially looking into the decades old 2-3rd Gen fighters which we have, which need to be replaced or urgent basis. If we keep waiting for finalization of more & more modifications, lot of more time will be lost, which we already have while waiting for the modification of JF-17 since its inception.

Many of these options would be added as and when available. JF-17 is a modular design, that is the reason that first jets were manufactured and now capabilities would be added as time passes by, so in short time period, we have good number of aircraft with latest capabilities. And all these things need lot of money, so first get as many jets as possible, keep doing the integration on testing basis and when funds are there, start integrating throughout the whole fleet.

Block 2 will have data link capability, a fixed IFR and some upgraded avionics as per official PAC JF-17 production team press release which again means Block 1 has very limited data link or no data link capability at all or else why mention data link capability on block 2 specifically? Why not mention then when they start producing block 1 ?

Current Blk has data link capability, but has a few limitations, which are being worked on. As said here on few occassions, PAF is looking for an inside solution which would help all the assets of PAF talk with each other and with anything. Since, the export drive for JF-17 has started recently, and whatever export order we are gonna receive would most probably be for a Blk-2 version, that is why its being specially mentioned in the presentations.

It creates a impression wheather due to lack of funds and money, many upgrades planned on block 2 were cancelled or insiders who fed info to outsiders were just a smock screen to create confusion out there.

Money and product limitations are the main reason for the things not being integration currently. Thus decision taken to produce more jets and also work around the bottlenecks with respect to hardware / product limitations and once solutions found and money is available, the already produced jets would be upgraded.

Then there is SD-10B issue which remains a myth up to date like the myth created of J-10 coming in december 2011 in Pakistan. Seeing is believe now, and i hate PAF keep guessing game, when same info is leaked out by insiders, then why they cant officially tell them? Like radar range, whats the problem in telling if chinese awac is fully aesa radar or combination of pesa and aesa. Whats the problem in officially disclosing full specs of block 2 of what kind of upgraded avionics you are talking about.

There is no Myth, its very simple, every product has a range of improvement in it. SD-10A is integrated and tested with JF-17, no issue in integrating it with JF-17s, but if we can wait for a little while for a more improved version, what's the hardship in that ?? That is what we are doing, waiting for a further improved version, which most probably would be designated the B one and get them on the JF-17s. There is no rush for us.

J-10s were thought as stop gap, emergency measure after some incident, but once things cooled down, the plans were dropped and its acquisition in future would be done, that was the thing. The info of getting J-10s in a short period of time was accurate, but then plans changed as the emergency for which they were thought died away.

And radar ranges not being disclosed is a good thing, to keep secrecy. Its done all around the world, even western product showing ranges are not the real ones, there is always something hidden to keep secrecy as with full range or radar specification, enemy can make counter strategies very easliy, thus element of surprise is kept.

 

[Bratva]

^ Taimi another main problem i sense, If PAF is developing inhouse solution for Chinese data link to work with other western counterparts then wouldn't export variants of JF-17 would cause a problem? for example, Egypt is interested in JF-17's but they had F-16's and they would like to data link JF-17 and F-16's then wouldn't it be a overhead that they also had to use in house solution? Wouldn't it be a turn off for those who had western aircrafts but the JF-17 they are buying has not a generic Data link with them which do not be easily data linked with Western jets?

 

[ziaulislam]

lots of updates that we were talking about are infact too modern..very few airplanes have AESA. even the indian MRCA aircrfts have AESA in testing stage. same goes for the IRST.
retractable air refueling probe is good but there isnt much harm in a fixed one.

but still i thin k PAF should opt for IRST atleast if they cant get an AESA

 

[PakShaheen79]

IIRC, IRST was part was original program. Have no idea why they haven't incorporated it as yet. I am sure, IRST will be the part of next block. If PAF official didn't mention it in Dubai Air show brifing, it doesn't mean that they have told every detail about future upgrades.

 

[Black Widow]

JF-17 XL v.1.1

Retouched the canopy a bit.

Awesome... good job bro... i sit possible if you can give a gold-treated canopy and retractable probe, with ISRT on node... It will look awesome then...

 

[Bratva]

IIRC, IRST was part was original program. Have no idea why they haven't incorporated it as yet. I am sure, IRST will be the part of next block. If PAF official didn't mention it in Dubai Air show brifing, it doesn't mean that they have told every detail about future upgrades.

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 Project Team in their official press release disclosed the upgrades of Block-2 which were fixed IFR, Data link, and upgraded avionics. No IRST was mentioned in it.