Pakistan Air Force to receive first 12 JF-17B combat aircraft ‘in near future’

[Mentee]

Great news indeed. Choosing of an air cooled variant of AESA Radar is the main thing; whether it is KLJ-7A or LETRI LKF601E is secondary. Since the liquid cooled variants are more energy intensive due to the requirement of auxiliary coolant pumps which would result in extra load on the already underpowered jet and weighs more due to coolant hoses and pipes, it makes perfect sense and a good decision on the end!

How's it an underpowered aircraft? It's some thing in between the light and medium category while the block three without doubt qualifies to be termed as a modestly medium weight aircraft

. Saari Dunya Pakistanio ka chy khana parhti Hai yah a k zra ehtiat ki jeay

 

[Cookie Monster]

AFAIK, the only air-cooled version in the running was the LETRI LKF601E. Because it was the only option about which it was specifically mentioned that it was air-cooled. This is the first time I am hearing of an air-cooled KLJ-7A. Also, of late, Janes have on occasion been known to get it wrong. Lets wait for confirmation/corroboration from another source.

The only air-cooled AESA in the running was the LETRI LKF601E. NRIET's KLJ7A that was being evaluated...wasn't air cooled. So either there was an air cooled variant of the KLJ7A also being tested this whole time and we just didn't know about it...or there is an error in the reporting bcuz PAF won't just select an air cooled KLJ7A without testing it first.

 

[Pakistani Fighter]

It's some thing in between the light and medium category while the block three without doubt qualifies to be termed as a modestly medium weight aircraft

Block 1s and 2s only have 7 Hardpoints. Block 3 will have a additional HP on the chin. So yeah, it is a light weight fighter. You can compare it with other light weight jets

PAF won't just select an air cooled KLJ7A without testing it first.

@airomerix did hinted that our some Thunders did had AESA radars on 27 Feb and were busy jamming enemy's ground radars

 

[CHI RULES]

Dual seater looks beautiful of J17B. . While KLJ-7A AESA selected for Block-III. Great news.

Finally PAF is looking to integrate competitive stuff in JF17 as many think due to cost and ease of integration that LKF601E. shall be preferred. However the PAF in current scenario has chosen best option, reportedly the range of KLJ-7A is also more than other two contenders. The next step should be integration of next generation defensive suit in JF17, if it is planned for future deep penetration considering future emerging threats.

 

[StormBreaker]

A JF-17B aircraft is pictured taxiing out for a test flight test from PAC Kamra in late January 2020. Source: Alan Warnes

Deliveries of the first 12 of 26 twin-seat JF-17B Thunder multirole combat aircraft on order for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) are expected to commence "in the near future", PAF officials have told Jane's .

Eight of these aircraft were built at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra, while the remaining four were constructed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) in China, where the aircraft type is known as the FC-1 Xiaolong.

The aircraft, several of which are equipped with aerial refuelling probes, had been rolled out at PAC Kamra in late December 2019 during a ceremony that was also attended by the PAF's Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan. Delivery of the remaining JF-17Bs is expected to be completed by 2021.

Speaking to Jane's on 20 January, ACM Khan explained that the JF-17Bs will help to streamline the PAF's training process for the Thunder. "The JF-17 pilots are currently being posted to Lockheed Martin F-16, Chengdu F-7PG or Dassault Mirage IIIEA ROSE aircraft before converting to the JF-17," he said. "But they will start going straight to a JF-17 OCU [operational conversion unit] after completing their advanced jet training." ACM Khan added that this "will ensure that pilots transitioning to the Sino-Pakistani jet are a lot younger than they are now".

The JF-17B prototype made its first flight in China in April 2017.

Meanwhile, the PAF revealed that after a lengthy evaluation the air-cooled Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology (NRIET) KLJ-7A active electronically scanned-array (AESA) radar has been selected for the Block III variant of the JF-17/ FC-1 Xiaolong, the first prototype of which made its maiden flight on 17 December from CAIG's production facility at Chengdu-Huangtianba. PAC Kamra's newly appointed chairman, Air Marshal Syed Noman Ali, said a second Block III prototype will assist in May with the test and evaluation process.

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https://www.janes.com/article/94094...irst-12-jf-17b-combat-aircraft-in-near-future

Ahh, expected nothing less from you bro, i guess you were jumping out of excitement, thank you.

But this isn’t the complete article as well

 

[Shah_Deu]

How's it an underpowered aircraft?

My point was, given the engine remains the same, the more energy-intensive the auxiliaries get (Coolant Pumps, Fuel and Oil Pumps, Heat Exchangers, Control Motors for Ailerons and Rudders, Alternators and Generators etc), the less power available for thrusting the jet in flight. Underpowered is a strong word, i agree, but JF-17 definitely is in need of some extra thrust. Using an air cooled radar doesnt add to the already available burden on the engine which definitely helps. Every kilowatt of engine power conserved from auxiliaries is the engine power available as thrust for propulsion!

 

[StormBreaker]

Great news indeed. Choosing of an air cooled variant of AESA Radar is the main thing; whether it is KLJ-7A or LETRI LKF601E is secondary. Since the liquid cooled variants are more energy intensive due to the requirement of auxiliary coolant pumps which would result in extra energy load on the already underpowered jet and also weighs more due to a radiator (heat exchanger) and all the coolant hoses and pipes, it makes perfect sense and a good decision on PAF's end!

Here is my theory, and i do think that this will be a possibility,

WS-13IPE is being developed, WS-19 is a separate story. IPE is expected to enter production in 2020, this might generate more power, and sooner or later, we will start seeing WS-13 on thunders, in turn Thunder can integrate the real liquid cooled KLJ-7A to get the full advantage of the options, even something better than KLJ-7A perhaps...

@aliyusuf @HRK kia bat hai hrk bhai kafi khamosh hain !!

 

[HRK]

@HRK kia bat hai hrk bhai kafi khamosh hain !!

waiting for more info to come out before commenting about this development

 

[StormBreaker]

waiting for more info to come out before commenting about this development

The article is not complete even now, around 200 words missing which are most probably on Block 3

 

[ARMalik]

AFAIK, the only air-cooled version in the running was the LETRI LKF601E. Because it was the only option about which it was specifically mentioned that it was air-cooled. This is the first time I am hearing of an air-cooled KLJ-7A. Also, of late, Janes have on occasion been known to get it wrong. Lets wait for confirmation/corroboration from another source.

So now Janes may have got the radar wrong?? Seriously. Why would you want to encourage Speculations again by questioning this news?

 

[aliyusuf]

Here is my theory, and i do think that this will be a possibility,

WS-13IPE is being developed, WS-19 is a separate story. IPE is expected to enter production in 2020, this might generate more power, and sooner or later, we will start seeing WS-13 on thunders, in turn Thunder can integrate the real liquid cooled KLJ-7A to get the full advantage of the options, even something better than KLJ-7A perhaps...

@aliyusuf @HRK kia bat hai hrk bhai kafi khamosh hain !!

Let's wait confirmation of the news from other sources before plunging in deep discussion based on a premise which may or may not be correct.

So now Janes may have got the radar wrong?? Seriously. Why would you want to encourage Speculations again by questioning this news?

I am not. I am waiting for corroboration from another source first.

 

[PakAlp]

Very exciting news regarding the the Aesa radar, as expected. The 2nd prototype in May hopefully will test upgraded engine, more composite materials, more wing area, Irst and HMD. We need to see a modern 4.5th generation light weight plane. The 2nd 50th batch may have Turkish/western avionics.

 

[Shah_Deu]

Here is my theory, and i do think that this will be a possibility,

WS-13IPE is being developed, WS-19 is a separate story. IPE is expected to enter production in 2020, this might generate more power, and sooner or later, we will start seeing WS-13 on thunders, in turn Thunder can integrate the real liquid cooled KLJ-7A to get the full advantage of the options, even something better than KLJ-7A perhaps...

@aliyusuf @HRK kia bat hai hrk bhai kafi khamosh hain !!

As long as the liquid cooled version doesnt bring a considerable range difference on the table, i think ideally the PAF would stick to the air cooled version. Since the real performance parameters lay with with CAC and PAF only and are not made public and as @HRK already mentioned the lackness of more info in public domain, it would all be wild guesses on our side.

 

[ARMalik]

I am not. I am waiting for corroboration from another source first.

Fair enough!

 

[Tps43]

How's it an underpowered aircraft? It's some thing in between the light and medium category while the block three without doubt qualifies to be termed as a modestly medium weight aircraft

. Saari Dunya Pakistanio ka chy khana parhti Hai yah a k zra ehtiat ki jeay

Ess nou chado , gajar da halwa tyar karo paah