Thunder is Rolling

[The SC]

Apparently there are two contenders for the AESA radar that is to be installed on the JF-17 Block-III, namely the NRIET KLJ-7A and Leonardo-Finmeccanica Vixen-1000ES AESA radars. The decision on which of these AESA radars is to be selected for the JF-17 Block-3 will, in my humble opinion, be based upon the following considerations ...

1) Performance
2) Integration with the existing Chinese subsystems and weapons/armament
3) Access to future upgrades to the radar and the armament
4) Free from future sanctions and hidden kill/switches and Trojans
5) Which radar is more ready at the moment to be installed (because customization and integration take time) so as not to further delay the launch, development and the induction of the JF-17 Block-III.

The Vixen-1000ES scores much better on the performance benchmark. It offers a better detection range of 150km for a 1 sqm RCS target i.e. 224km for a 5 sqm RCS target. It also offers state of the art WFoV of 200 degrees off bore sight. This feature is quite significant because it allows the parent fighter to turn 90 degrees to the original missile launch flight path and still keep on providing MFU to the launched missile till its own active radar switches on. It is quite similar to the performance of the Raven ES-05 on the Gripen-NG. Furthermore it comes mated with a Skyward IRST which is an advantage.

The KLJ-7A is stated to have a detection range of 170km for a 5(or is it 3?) sqm RCS target and has a conventional AESA FoV without any built-in IRST unit like Vixen-1000ES.

Chinese missiles and munitions have been the mainstay weaponry to the Thunder program so far. This provides us access to very nearly the best the Chinese have to offer and further access to future improvements. Same is the case for the KLJ-7A radar. Any future improvements will be available for us to retrofit. Can we say the same for the Vixen? Will we be having access to the future upgrades of the Vixen? Will the Vixen function the same against adversaries whether they be the Indians or western/NATO? Will we be allowed Meteor? Can we just go along with a western only armament if integration to Chinese weapons and subsystems is an issue (for whatever reasons)?
Will we be getting access to future upgrades to the radar and weapons?

Also how soon can the Vixen be made ready for installation in the context of the above mentioned issues. We cannot have further delays on the Block-III.

These are IMHO realistic considerations. Even if we get a favorable outcome on all of the above for the Vixen-1000ES, we should not pin all our stakes on a western vendor. My personal opinion would be to equip 25 of the Block-III planes with Vixen and equip the other 25 with KLJ-7A. This way if the worst of our fears are realized during a conflict or an all out war, it won't be a total show stopper. The KLJ-7A ones will still be 100% effective.

Just my thoughts.

Very good analysis, you thoughts join mine, I was thinking the same, and concentrating on the fact that the KLJ-7A was made specifically (Tailor made, as specified in many reports) for the JF-17-Blk3, which means that weapons integration was already sorted out as well as a probable integration of an IRST system, either integrated to the radar itself or in a form of a fixed pod..Also the sanction free prerogative, the price and the access to upgrades and some ToT will play in favour of the Chinese AESA radar..
It will be nice though to have a few JF-17 equipped with Italian AESA radars (and avionics) for demonstration to potential _confirmed to a certain point; KSA and Qatar_ Middle Eastern Customers.. the best will be to put both radars on some JF-17B for full demonstrations and comparisons, hence giving a fair choice to the potential future customers, insuring at the same time to show some parity between the Chinese tech versus the Western tech which has some better or more advanced characteristics, but with the Chinese not far behind.. I am saying this because the Saudis who are very picky and difficult customers were saying that they were quite impressed by the Chinese electronics they saw on the JF-17..

 

[The SC]

Does jf17 block 3 has DRFM and aesa jammer in its ew suite I am humbly submitting this question for a serious answer thanks

Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) will bring some added high value to the JF-17 program, it can deceive an enemy by recording his received radar signals, manipulating them and sending back false information that seems to be real.
A DRFM jammer is a very effective way of adding clutter to the scene without just using unsophisticated noise-jamming techniques, You can create false targets, or hide real targets, using the enemy's own waveforms against him.

Read the following case study: Pakistan should get this technology a.s.a.p

Today, DRFM jammers employ a computer-based "library" of known threats that are used to identify and neutralize incoming signals, Sutphin explained. DRFM equipment may also include an electronic-intelligence (ELINT) capability, which monitors and collects information on enemy signals and jammers. The ELINT data gathered may eventually be used – possibly weeks, months, or years later – to improve U.S. threat-response techniques.

Case Study

Next-Generation Electronic Warfare Development Targets Fully Adaptive Threat Response Technology

https://gtri.gatech.edu/casestudy/GTRI-next-generation-electronic-warfare-angry-kitten


Also, Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars are innately harder to jam and can operate in Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) modes to reduce the chance that the radar is detected.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_jamming_and_deception
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_jamming_and_deception

 

[mzeeshanfahd]

Apparently there are two contenders for the AESA radar that is to be installed on the JF-17 Block-III, namely the NRIET KLJ-7A and Leonardo-Finmeccanica Vixen-1000ES AESA radars. The decision on which of these AESA radars is to be selected for the JF-17 Block-3 will, in my humble opinion, be based upon the following considerations ...

1) Performance
2) Integration with the existing Chinese subsystems and weapons/armament
3) Access to future upgrades to the radar and the armament
4) Free from future sanctions and hidden kill/switches and Trojans
5) Which radar is more ready at the moment to be installed (because customization and integration take time) so as not to further delay the launch, development and the induction of the JF-17 Block-III.

The Vixen-1000ES scores much better on the performance benchmark. It offers a better detection range of 150km for a 1 sqm RCS target i.e. 224km for a 5 sqm RCS target. It also offers state of the art WFoV of 200 degrees off bore sight. This feature is quite significant because it allows the parent fighter to turn 90 degrees to the original missile launch flight path and still keep on providing MFU to the launched missile till its own active radar switches on. It is quite similar to the performance of the Raven ES-05 on the Gripen-NG. Furthermore it comes mated with a Skyward IRST which is an advantage.

The KLJ-7A is stated to have a detection range of 170km for a 5(or is it 3?) sqm RCS target and has a conventional AESA FoV without any built-in IRST unit like Vixen-1000ES.

Chinese missiles and munitions have been the mainstay weaponry to the Thunder program so far. This provides us access to very nearly the best the Chinese have to offer and further access to future improvements. Same is the case for the KLJ-7A radar. Any future improvements will be available for us to retrofit. Can we say the same for the Vixen? Will we be having access to the future upgrades of the Vixen? Will the Vixen function the same against adversaries whether they be the Indians or western/NATO? Will we be allowed Meteor? Can we just go along with a western only armament if integration to Chinese weapons and subsystems is an issue (for whatever reasons)?
Will we be getting access to future upgrades to the radar and weapons?

Also how soon can the Vixen be made ready for installation in the context of the above mentioned issues. We cannot have further delays on the Block-III.

These are IMHO realistic considerations. Even if we get a favorable outcome on all of the above for the Vixen-1000ES, we should not pin all our stakes on a western vendor. My personal opinion would be to equip 25 of the Block-III planes with Vixen and equip the other 25 with KLJ-7A. This way if the worst of our fears are realized during a conflict or an all out war, it won't be a total show stopper. The KLJ-7A ones will still be 100% effective.

Just my thoughts.

50/50 ratio for Italian and Chinese radars.......... I think If not by choice .......then imagine a scnerio where some customer may face hurdles in getting western AESA (or Chinese AESA) so we might be integrating Chinese AESA for them (or vice versa) hence the we may see both the radars on our little baby ..... just a thought