Pakistan Air Force | News & Discussions.

[fatman17]

DUBAI AIR SHOW

China Touts Stealth Fighter Jet, But So Far No Takers
Lara Seligman,

Aaron Mehta/Staff

China is showcasing the FC-31 fighter at this year's Dubai Airshow.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — China showcased its first stealth fighter jet here on the opening day of the Dubai Air Show, but so far the fifth-generation aircraft has no customers in sight.

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is "in negotiations" with the Chinese Air Force to buy the multi-role FC-31, AVIC project manager Lin Peng told reporters on Sunday. Peng declined to say when a deal would be finalized.

Top company officials briefed the media on the stealth characteristics and attack capabilities of the FC-31, but did not take questions from the audience.

This is the first time the Chinese company has showcased the FC-3, also known as the J-31 internationally, although a prototype aircraft flew during the Zhuhai Air Show in China last year. Chinese fighters are designated with a "J" for fighter and "FC" for export.


With J-31 Flight, China Makes a Statement

FC-31 would be the first aircraft of its kind available to global customers who face US export restrictions or cannot afford Lockheed Martin's F-35 joint strike fighter. The Chinese company is trying to pitch the FC-31 as a competitor to the JSF, but at this point it is unclear how successful this will be. The customer lineup appears to be Iran and Pakistan.

The FC-31, which closely resembles the F-35, is a medium-sized, low-observable aircraft designed for "the demands of future battlefield environments," Peng told reporters during the briefing.

Officials touted the aircraft's "outstanding situational awareness" achieved with advanced radar, high maneuvering capabilities, and multi-spectrum low-observability. The plane is equipped with twin engines made in China, officials said — not the Russian RD-93 engines previously on the aircraft.

The FC-31 will carry the Small Diameter Bomb, as well as a variety of guided and unguided weapons, officials said.

The test aircraft has been flying for more than two years, Peng told reporters after the briefing. AVIC is planning first flight of the production aircraft in 2019, with initial operational capability scheduled for 2022. The FC-31 will be fully operational in 2024.

US officials and analysts widely believe the FC-31 design was stolen from the F-35 after reports of a major cyber breach of Lockheed's programs by Chinese hackers in April 2009.


Email: lseligman@defensenews.com

Twitter: @laraseligman

 

[fatman17]

FC31

 

[Jammer]

Pakistani jets garner interest at Dubai air show - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

 

[fatman17]

RIA Novosti cites “open sources” that estimate the flyaway cost of an SU-35 at about $65 million.
What does a F16 C block 52 cost in comparison.

 

[niaz]

Because of the fact that more than 4,000 F-16’s have been produced, F-16 is the least expensive 4+ generation US/Western fighter.

Different publications give different prices and so many items are involved that it is difficult to compare price offer of one country with prices quoted to another. For example

Israeli paid about $4.5-billion for 102 F-161 (about $44-million per unit) in 1997 dollars.

Understand contract signed in 2006 36- Block 52 for PAF Block 52 cost $3-billion. However these were upgraded Block 52s supposedly equipped with APG68 (v) 9 radar.

Remember reading a couple a years ago that General Dynamics offer to Indian Airforce for F-161N was sweetened with offset agreements to such an extent that it would have cost only $50-million per unit in out of pocket expense.

For comparison purposes, a good guesstimate would be that in today's dollars; F-16 B52 would costs about $50-million and Block -60 about $80-million a piece.

Russian aircrafts have always been cheaper than their Western counterparts; however German Airforce experience with Mig-29 acquired thru unification, showed that due to fewer hours between engine overhaul; total life cycle cost of the US aircrafts was slightly better.

 

[fatman17]

Pakistan shows interest in Russia’s Yak-130 trainer aircraft

National News9

Pakistan could become the fourth country to operate the Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft as Islamabad has expressed an interest in the aircraft, an online news outlet reported on Tuesday.

The new outlet claimed that the parties had already held preliminary talks. Quoting industry sources, the news outlet claimed that Pakistan Air Force officials had been talking to executives from Rosoboronexport and Irkut.

According to the report, the Pakistani side has evaluated the flight performance of the Yak-130 and noted its “unique feature of mimicking the flying characteristics of a number of fighter aircraft such as the F-16 and JF-17, which would make the task of transitioning from a trainer to a fighter a lot easy for pilots.”

The Yak-130 is designed for training flying school cadets in piloting skills and combat engagements against ground and air targets specific to fourth and fifth-generation aircraft.

For a training flight, the aircraft can be programmed to suit different weather conditions and take into account the specific type of aircraft for which the pilot is trained – from the Russian Su-30 to the US F-35 and the French Rafale.

Pakistan’s acquisition of the Yak-130 would be the second purchase the country has made of Russian aircraft. In 2014, Russia lifted its arms embargo against Pakistan and a contract for the supply of four Mi-35M transport and attack helicopters was concluded.

 

[fatman17]

Exercise Sea Spark 2015

 

[Paksanity]

China-Pakistan fighter said to have found new buyer - Headlines, features, photo and videos from ecns.cn|china|news|chinanews|ecns|cns

AVIC officials confirm signing deal for JF-17 export at Dubai air show.

 

[Bratva]

J-11 D with rumor Aesa Radar

 

[Sulman Badshah]

Not written by me ... found it on BD forum

Copy the whole comment
========================
FRESH inside info, not speculation - sharing what i come to know

PAF is seriously considering ~40 high end fighters currently they are in talks with UK for EF2000 T3 Blk 20+ with CFT or Su-35S or some version of it with AESA Chinese radar and other avionics. In case if Russia fail to provide in time PAF is working as plan B with Chinese for a variant of J-16.

one thing for sure that uncle sam 8 - 18 f-16V offer is not considered sufficient by PAF. PAF might got for F-16V upgrade to blk 52+ and get few more of them but they need top end 4.5 gen fighter. with quite a few 5th gen technologies.

Su-35S for PAF is high on the agenda. followed by EF2000 with fall back plan of some J-16 variant for PAF. it seems that PAF is dead serious about this acquisition.

other news is, PAF is in serious negotiations with SAC to have a JF-31 based on FC-31; if all goes well the contract is expected by 2017-18 to be inducted in squadron operations by 2022-25.

===============================

one more thing, i asked quite a few queries some informal some direct, but putting 1 + 1, i come to the conclusion that

PAF wants EFT with CFT and newer engines, AESA etc. this will help integrate US based equipment. vertical as well as horizontal integration. Also PAF wants source code to integrate local and Chinese equipment. UK seems to be ok so far.UK needs 10% down with rest easy loan payments. roughly 10% USD. to sweeten the deal EFT manufacturer has thrown EJ200 engine local prod and future JFT integration saperately

Russia would not allow US equipment integration but ok with local and Chinese, they need 20 -25% down, roughly 800 mil USD

the issue: there is a very strong opposition to buying British equipment in PAF, after taste of post independence support to PAF i guess, do not know for sure.

total number PAF is looking for 40 with 32 as an option

 

[HRK]

Not written by me ... found it on BD forum

Copy the whole comment
========================
FRESH inside info, not speculation - sharing what i come to know

PAF is seriously considering ~40 high end fighters currently they are in talks with UK for EF2000 T3 Blk 20+ with CFT or Su-35S or some version of it with AESA Chinese radar and other avionics. In case if Russia fail to provide in time PAF is working as plan B with Chinese for a variant of J-16.

one thing for sure that uncle sam 8 - 18 f-16V offer is not considered sufficient by PAF. PAF might got for F-16V upgrade to blk 52+ and get few more of them but they need top end 4.5 gen fighter. with quite a few 5th gen technologies.

Su-35S for PAF is high on the agenda. followed by EF2000 with fall back plan of some J-16 variant for PAF. it seems that PAF is dead serious about this acquisition.

other news is, PAF is in serious negotiations with SAC to have a JF-31 based on FC-31; if all goes well the contract is expected by 2017-18 to be inducted in squadron operations by 2022-25.

===============================

one more thing, i asked quite a few queries some informal some direct, but putting 1 + 1, i come to the conclusion that

PAF wants EFT with CFT and newer engines, AESA etc. this will help integrate US based equipment. vertical as well as horizontal integration. Also PAF wants source code to integrate local and Chinese equipment. UK seems to be ok so far.UK needs 10% down with rest easy loan payments. roughly 10% USD. to sweeten the deal EFT manufacturer has thrown EJ200 engine local prod and future JFT integration saperately

Russia would not allow US equipment integration but ok with local and Chinese, they need 20 -25% down, roughly 800 mil USD

the issue: there is a very strong opposition to buying British equipment in PAF, after taste of post independence support to PAF i guess, do not know for sure.

total number PAF is looking for 40 with 32 as an option

how reliable the poster is ... ?? he has any proven history in such matters ..... ??

 

[Sulman Badshah]

who reliable the poster is ... ?? he have any proven history of in such matters ..... ??

didn't knew him .. that was the first time i visited BD military forum

 

[araz]

didn't knew him .. that was the first time i visited BD military forum

This is as much as we know. We have all been saying that there is a need for twin engined plane. PAF has evaluated the SU35 and the air chief was recently given a hands on demo of the EFT. The EFT is a much more expensive option although technology wise as close to Rafale as you can get. Therefore SU35 remains on top of the list. Here again we have repeatedly pointed out that the SU series will need an AESA radar as it is curently flying PESA which the Chinese can and will provide thereby making integration of Current inventory of weapons an easier task. We have also today heard of Pakistani overtures towards building in house repair facilities for Russian engines which might make life a little bit easier for them.
The US plans are also known and well duscussed here. The possible AESA upgrade has also been discussed . The only thing new is the costing for each plant.
We have also talked at length about j31 and possible induction date and problems that the project could face. The induction in 2022-25 is borrowed from the recent articles and from our estimates
The Chinese J16 offering will be easier if the Russians refuse to sell SU35 to us. So all in all a few tit bits from here and there and the only new thing is the costing.
A

 

[fatman17]

Pakistan Seeks Joint Plane EngineDevelopment With Russia


14:54 12.11.2015(updated 14:56 12.11.2015)

A Russian engine is being installed in Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighter jet which inspires hope for cooperation between the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and the Russian engine maker, a PAC representative said on Monday.

Russia-Pakistan Military Cooperation Not Threatening Relations With India

“As we know, a Russian engine is being installed on the JF-17 Thunder and we are looking forward to further cooperation with the engine manufacturer in Russia,” the Pakistani official told RIA Novosti news agency on the sidelines of the 2015 Dubai Air Show on Monday.
The PAC representative expressed interest in having Pakistani engine specialists undergo training in Russia and their Russian colleagues helping modernize the company’s engine-repair facilities in Pakistan.

The JF-17 all-weather multirole fighter, jointly developed by Pakistan and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation, is currently being modified with a Russian-made RD-93 engine.

Founded in 1971 by the Pakistan Air Force, the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex is a major aerospace, defense, aviation contractor and military corporation producing aerial systems for both military and civilian usage.

 

[fatman17]

Air Platforms

Dubai Airshow 2015: AVIC sets out plans for FC-31 export fighter

Gareth Jennings, Dubai - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

10 November 2015

A model of the AVIC FC-31 aircraft at the Dubai Air Show 2015. Although other aircraft were featured on the stand, officials described this export fighter as their biggest priority. Source: IHS/Gareth Jennings

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) plans to perform the maiden flight of a production-standard FC-31 'fifth-generation' fighter before the end of the decade, with full-operational capability to be declared a few years later, a company official said on 8 November.

Speaking at the Dubai Airshow 2015, vice-president of China's National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation Li Yuhai said that with a prototype J-31 'Falcon Eagle' having been flying since 2012, a production-model FC-31 dubbed 'King of the Hawks' will fly in 2019 before initial operating capability is declared in 2022, with full operating capability following in 2022.

As noted by Yuhai, this timetable depends on a customer launch being signed up in the near future. Billed by AVIC as an export fighter, the FC-31 has received interest from Pakistan, with IHS Jane's reporting earlier this year that the Pakistan Air Force has a potential requirement for 30 to 40 of the fighters. While Yuhai said AVIC is in discussions with the People's Liberation Army Air Force, he did not provide details.

AVIC's press conference at the Dubai Airshow marked the first time that the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation FC-31 fighter had been discussed by the corporation outside of China. Although neither Yuhai nor any of the other officials present took questions, the press conference did reveal further specifications and characteristics for the single-seat, twin-engine multirole combat aircraft.

As noted by the aircraft's chief designer, Lin Peng, the FC-31 is 16.8 m in length, has a 11.5-m wing span, is 4.8 m in height, and has a maximum take-off weight of 25,000 kg.

The aircraft is fitted with 10 stores points (four internal, six external) and has a loading weight of 8 tonnes (2 tonnes internal and 6 tonnes external). Possible weapons fits include an internal gun, PL-9 air-to-air missiles (AAMs), SD-10A (improved) AAMs, small-diameter bombs, and export air-to-surface missiles.