fatman17
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 32,563
- Reaction score
- 98
- Country
- Location
JF-17 an international success.
China’s flagship international fighter program is the JF-17 Thunder, developed and produced by the Chengdu works of AVIC’s combat aircraft subsidiary in cooperation with Pakistan, which has used it as a vehicle to create and grow its government operated industry.
The JF-17 evolved from a series of Chinese studies of radically modified MiG-21’s but was an entirely new aircraft by the time the design was unveiled at the Paris air show in 1999. In the same year, Pakistan signed the initial co-development agreement with China National Aero-Technology Export & Import Corp (CATIC).
“At the start of the project, Pakistan had no industrial or technological base “, Pakistan Air Force then Chief of Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said at a conference last year. However he noted that Pakistan has participated in all stages of the design and helped develop the requirements for the fighter.
The design was defined in 2001 and first flight took place in 2003, six prototypes were followed by a batch of eight Chinese built aircraft for evaluation. Production in Pakistan started in 2005 and the first locally built aircraft rolled out in November 2009. According to Suleman, the type’s performance ‘exceeded expectations’ leading to a decision to perform tests and introduce it into service in parallel.
Pakistan’s goal is to replace its ‘vintage fleet’, comprising more than 250 Mirages and older Chinese F-7’and A-5III fighters, with JF-17s. The first batch of 42 aircraft, the last of them delivered earlier this year, replaced the A-5IIIs (a 1970’s era Chinese development of the MiG-19), equipping three squadrons.
Overall Suleman says, should allow the air force to replace its older fleet (not necessarily one-for-one, given the much greater capability of the aircraft) at ‘one third’ to ‘one fourth’ the acquisition cost of any other modern fighter, with a similar savings in operating cost.
The JF-17 has been displayed at the Dubai and Farnborough air shows, and Pakistan’s industry has talked to avionics suppliers worldwide about providing systems for the aircraft. According to the Russian media , the original contract for the fighters RD-93 engine covered 100 power plants with an option for 500 more, an uprated 20,500Ib.-thrust version , the RD-93MA is under development. Meanwhile one JF-17 is reported to be flying with the Guizhou WS-13 engine. – Aviation Week.
China’s flagship international fighter program is the JF-17 Thunder, developed and produced by the Chengdu works of AVIC’s combat aircraft subsidiary in cooperation with Pakistan, which has used it as a vehicle to create and grow its government operated industry.
The JF-17 evolved from a series of Chinese studies of radically modified MiG-21’s but was an entirely new aircraft by the time the design was unveiled at the Paris air show in 1999. In the same year, Pakistan signed the initial co-development agreement with China National Aero-Technology Export & Import Corp (CATIC).
“At the start of the project, Pakistan had no industrial or technological base “, Pakistan Air Force then Chief of Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said at a conference last year. However he noted that Pakistan has participated in all stages of the design and helped develop the requirements for the fighter.
The design was defined in 2001 and first flight took place in 2003, six prototypes were followed by a batch of eight Chinese built aircraft for evaluation. Production in Pakistan started in 2005 and the first locally built aircraft rolled out in November 2009. According to Suleman, the type’s performance ‘exceeded expectations’ leading to a decision to perform tests and introduce it into service in parallel.
Pakistan’s goal is to replace its ‘vintage fleet’, comprising more than 250 Mirages and older Chinese F-7’and A-5III fighters, with JF-17s. The first batch of 42 aircraft, the last of them delivered earlier this year, replaced the A-5IIIs (a 1970’s era Chinese development of the MiG-19), equipping three squadrons.
Overall Suleman says, should allow the air force to replace its older fleet (not necessarily one-for-one, given the much greater capability of the aircraft) at ‘one third’ to ‘one fourth’ the acquisition cost of any other modern fighter, with a similar savings in operating cost.
The JF-17 has been displayed at the Dubai and Farnborough air shows, and Pakistan’s industry has talked to avionics suppliers worldwide about providing systems for the aircraft. According to the Russian media , the original contract for the fighters RD-93 engine covered 100 power plants with an option for 500 more, an uprated 20,500Ib.-thrust version , the RD-93MA is under development. Meanwhile one JF-17 is reported to be flying with the Guizhou WS-13 engine. – Aviation Week.
