F-17 Thunder of the Pakistan Air Force on static display at the 2010 Farnborough Airshow. Image via Wikipedia
According to press reports the Chinese are handing over the Block II version of the JF-17 Thunders to Pakistan. There might me more to this story than the headlines seem to suggest. We had written about the indigenous manufacture of the new FC-20 in Pakistan. It seems that Block II version of the JF-17 Thunders are closer to the FC-20s than the original JF-Thunders.
In fact news reports and our sources seem to suggest that the new FC-20, originally a redesigned form of J-10s (as the J-10Bs) now has features of the J-11 as well. All this suggests that aircraft development in China and Pakistan is progressing at a rapid pace. As new technology is developed, it is being pushed down to the older designs.
What is fascinating is that the Block II of the JF-17 Thunder is a major redesign that allows it to capture some of the new features of the J-10B and the J-11 also.
The JF-17s will be manufactured at Kamra, Pakistan, but taken China for final upgrades in avionics and sensor suite. They will contain the AESA radars similar to whats in the J-10B (J-10B has bigger version). The Chinese integrated avionics, sensors and EW suite is at the level of Europes best planes (Rafael, Saab). The sophisticated radar will be fitted in Nanjing, China, while KAMRA is upgraded to handle this installation.
President Musharraf switched his order from the F-16s to the FC-20s. It seems the same has been done again, and Pakistan will get 58 FC-20s. The newer redesigned FC-20s incorporate the lethal AESA radars, a higher degree of stealth composite use, low observability features and an advanced integrated avionics suite. Amazingly the FC-20 contains the J-11s Head-Up Display (HUD)modified wings with over 50% composite use. The J-10 project was conceived in the 1984 based on the experience . Astonishingly the canard fore-planes have been modified. Both indicating a significant structural and aerodynamic revamp (tailless delta wing and canard foreplanes) that would require significant changes. What is not surprising is that the fact that this FC-20 incorporates the advanced J-20s Fly By Wire (FBW) dead give away was the canted nose and the The Divertless Supersonic Inlet (DSI) bump on the fuselage visible at the engine air intake.
The FC-20 shows amazing maneuverability, and Fly-By-Wire (FBW) maturity as evidenced by the fact that it can outdo the aerobatic FLANKER while performing Pugachevs Cobra maneuver (fly-straight-then-stand-on-it-tailthen move forward). He notes that FC-20 not only performs this maneuver but also performs it better, recovering significantly faster.
Cobra maneuver
http://gamesareevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/cobra2.jpg
Various other maneuvers
http://gamesareevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/cobra2.jpg
The Pakistan Navy will also be buying the J-11BsJianji-11 or Jian-11 (Shenyangs indigenously adapted version of the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, and resembles its Russian equivalent) with Russian engines. On the wishes of Delhi, Moscow doesnt sell military parts to Pakistan, but gets around it by grudingly allowing the sale through China. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will get a major leap, and a significant boost, in the next 12-24 monthsway before the MMRCA kicks in. The next Operation Geronimo wont be so easy to conduct. The F-16s are not allowed to be used against India or the US. The FC-20s have no such restrictions. Pakistan views Beijing as an all-weather friend, unlike the fair-weather Washington.
Block I will be exported. Block II may also be exported. After that it will be FC-20s. China n Pakistan surely sell minimum 300 pieces (thats for sure at the rate of 40 to 50 pieces per year from both PAC & CAC, they will earn near to 5 billion.
150 Block I (2009)(including PAF 50) = 100 export x $17m = $1.7 Billion
250 Block II (2012)(including PAF 150) = 100 export x ~$22m = ~$2.2 Billion
200 Block II (2016)(including PAF 100) = 100export x ~$26m = ~$2.6Billion
Right now the JF-17s Block II will be used by the PAF in addition to the 150 Block Is. The Block II contains several eye catching features which makes the plane lethal.
Awaited integration of A-Darter missiles from Brazil / South Africa with High Off Boresight (HOBS) capability and Brazilian Helmet Mounted sight (HMS).
The vastly superior (than AMRAAM-120 C5s) Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile is the SD-10B which has been found more than a match for the AMRAAM-120 C5s, Beyond the SD-10Bs, a Meteor class (Boeng) BVR Air-to-Air missiles. METEOR (found on the Saab) engages air targets autonomously (whether fighters, bombers, transport aircraft, AWACS or cruise missiles) by using its active radar seeker by day or night and in all weather or dense electronic warfare environments.
Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radars are of the highest quality as found on the Rafale (which will have it in 2013). Thales is all set to begin production RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, keeping an eye on Indian MMRCA. The Block II of the JF-17 Thunders will have the AESA right now.
Radar cross-section (RCS) reductions also known as Stealth: Comprehensive upgrades for Stealth low RCS profile. Ways of reducing RCS is the cockpit glass, Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) paint , refined structure without right-angles, redesigned new nose structure for AESA radars, embellished use of composites and retractable refueling probe.
The J-11 B carries the following specs:
A multifunctional pulse-Doppler fire-control radar reportedly capable of tracking 6~8 targets and engaging 4 of them simultaneously.
An digital flight-control system.
A Chinese version of the Russian OEPS-27 electro-optic search and tracking system.
A strapdown INS/GPS navigation system.
A glass cockpit featuring four colour multifunctional displays (MFD) and a wide-angle holographic head-up display (HUD).
The cooperation doesnt end here
According to pres reports, the Chinese have also sold Pakistan the latest radar. This could be the (Chinese designator HQ-19), the advanced Chinese version of the S-400 (SA-20 Triumf) system jointly developed with Russia. This HQ-19 would stop any incursion from almost any sourcein its tracks.
The Pakistani telecommunications, energy, infrastructure, heavy engineering, IT, mining, and defense industries sectors have received considerable Chinese investments.
Pakistan and China have concluded deals and agreements worth $ 35 billion and a bilateral trade volume reaching $15 billion
According to press reports the Chinese are handing over the Block II version of the JF-17 Thunders to Pakistan. There might me more to this story than the headlines seem to suggest. We had written about the indigenous manufacture of the new FC-20 in Pakistan. It seems that Block II version of the JF-17 Thunders are closer to the FC-20s than the original JF-Thunders.
In fact news reports and our sources seem to suggest that the new FC-20, originally a redesigned form of J-10s (as the J-10Bs) now has features of the J-11 as well. All this suggests that aircraft development in China and Pakistan is progressing at a rapid pace. As new technology is developed, it is being pushed down to the older designs.
What is fascinating is that the Block II of the JF-17 Thunder is a major redesign that allows it to capture some of the new features of the J-10B and the J-11 also.
The JF-17s will be manufactured at Kamra, Pakistan, but taken China for final upgrades in avionics and sensor suite. They will contain the AESA radars similar to whats in the J-10B (J-10B has bigger version). The Chinese integrated avionics, sensors and EW suite is at the level of Europes best planes (Rafael, Saab). The sophisticated radar will be fitted in Nanjing, China, while KAMRA is upgraded to handle this installation.
President Musharraf switched his order from the F-16s to the FC-20s. It seems the same has been done again, and Pakistan will get 58 FC-20s. The newer redesigned FC-20s incorporate the lethal AESA radars, a higher degree of stealth composite use, low observability features and an advanced integrated avionics suite. Amazingly the FC-20 contains the J-11s Head-Up Display (HUD)modified wings with over 50% composite use. The J-10 project was conceived in the 1984 based on the experience . Astonishingly the canard fore-planes have been modified. Both indicating a significant structural and aerodynamic revamp (tailless delta wing and canard foreplanes) that would require significant changes. What is not surprising is that the fact that this FC-20 incorporates the advanced J-20s Fly By Wire (FBW) dead give away was the canted nose and the The Divertless Supersonic Inlet (DSI) bump on the fuselage visible at the engine air intake.
The FC-20 shows amazing maneuverability, and Fly-By-Wire (FBW) maturity as evidenced by the fact that it can outdo the aerobatic FLANKER while performing Pugachevs Cobra maneuver (fly-straight-then-stand-on-it-tailthen move forward). He notes that FC-20 not only performs this maneuver but also performs it better, recovering significantly faster.
Cobra maneuver
http://gamesareevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/cobra2.jpg
Various other maneuvers
http://gamesareevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/cobra2.jpg
The Pakistan Navy will also be buying the J-11BsJianji-11 or Jian-11 (Shenyangs indigenously adapted version of the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, and resembles its Russian equivalent) with Russian engines. On the wishes of Delhi, Moscow doesnt sell military parts to Pakistan, but gets around it by grudingly allowing the sale through China. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will get a major leap, and a significant boost, in the next 12-24 monthsway before the MMRCA kicks in. The next Operation Geronimo wont be so easy to conduct. The F-16s are not allowed to be used against India or the US. The FC-20s have no such restrictions. Pakistan views Beijing as an all-weather friend, unlike the fair-weather Washington.
Block I will be exported. Block II may also be exported. After that it will be FC-20s. China n Pakistan surely sell minimum 300 pieces (thats for sure at the rate of 40 to 50 pieces per year from both PAC & CAC, they will earn near to 5 billion.
150 Block I (2009)(including PAF 50) = 100 export x $17m = $1.7 Billion
250 Block II (2012)(including PAF 150) = 100 export x ~$22m = ~$2.2 Billion
200 Block II (2016)(including PAF 100) = 100export x ~$26m = ~$2.6Billion
Right now the JF-17s Block II will be used by the PAF in addition to the 150 Block Is. The Block II contains several eye catching features which makes the plane lethal.
Awaited integration of A-Darter missiles from Brazil / South Africa with High Off Boresight (HOBS) capability and Brazilian Helmet Mounted sight (HMS).
The vastly superior (than AMRAAM-120 C5s) Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile is the SD-10B which has been found more than a match for the AMRAAM-120 C5s, Beyond the SD-10Bs, a Meteor class (Boeng) BVR Air-to-Air missiles. METEOR (found on the Saab) engages air targets autonomously (whether fighters, bombers, transport aircraft, AWACS or cruise missiles) by using its active radar seeker by day or night and in all weather or dense electronic warfare environments.
Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radars are of the highest quality as found on the Rafale (which will have it in 2013). Thales is all set to begin production RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, keeping an eye on Indian MMRCA. The Block II of the JF-17 Thunders will have the AESA right now.
Radar cross-section (RCS) reductions also known as Stealth: Comprehensive upgrades for Stealth low RCS profile. Ways of reducing RCS is the cockpit glass, Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) paint , refined structure without right-angles, redesigned new nose structure for AESA radars, embellished use of composites and retractable refueling probe.
The J-11 B carries the following specs:
A multifunctional pulse-Doppler fire-control radar reportedly capable of tracking 6~8 targets and engaging 4 of them simultaneously.
An digital flight-control system.
A Chinese version of the Russian OEPS-27 electro-optic search and tracking system.
A strapdown INS/GPS navigation system.
A glass cockpit featuring four colour multifunctional displays (MFD) and a wide-angle holographic head-up display (HUD).
The cooperation doesnt end here
According to pres reports, the Chinese have also sold Pakistan the latest radar. This could be the (Chinese designator HQ-19), the advanced Chinese version of the S-400 (SA-20 Triumf) system jointly developed with Russia. This HQ-19 would stop any incursion from almost any sourcein its tracks.
The Pakistani telecommunications, energy, infrastructure, heavy engineering, IT, mining, and defense industries sectors have received considerable Chinese investments.
Pakistan and China have concluded deals and agreements worth $ 35 billion and a bilateral trade volume reaching $15 billion
