SinoDefence Forum

crazyinsane105

China’s Chengdu Aircraft (CAC) has postponed delivery of the first FC-1/Super-7 Thunder Dragon light fighter until 2007 to accommodate design changes. CAC says it will roll out a modified FC-1 prototype by year-end featuring revised air intakes, an extended strake and a larger vertical fin. The changes will be incorporated into the fourth prototype aircraft, a model of which was at last week’s Aviation Expo 2005 show in Beijing.

FC-1 Photo Link

Problems with the original FC-1 design began to surface after its first flight in 2003, prompting the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute to start working on a revised version last year. The changes have forced CAC to delay production of the first batch of aircraft for launch customer Pakistan and to postpone delivery of the type from late 2005 until 2007.

CAC is believed to have decided to pursue a revised design for the FC-1’s air intakes after smoke was discovered coming from the aircraft’s Klimov RD-93 engine during test flights.

It is believed test- pilot reports of control problems prompted CAC to also expand the wing leading-edge strakes, while the manufacturer says the vertical fin was elongated to accommodate an expanded equipment bay.

The redesigned FC-1 will have a maximum take-off weight slightly above the 12,400kg (27,300lb) of the original aircraft, but its top speed will be unchanged at Mach 1.6. The first prototype of the new design is scheduled to begin test flights early next year, with another two prototypes to be completed in 2006.

CAC continues to fly two prototypes of the original design, and to use a third for static testing. The company says the new batch of prototypes will initially fly with Chinese avionics, but will later be modified with Western systems. Pakistan is now evaluating British, French and Italian avionics packages and is expected to make a selection next year.

Islamabad has already ordered 16 FC-1s, assembly of which will be split between CAC and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, and may acquire up to 134 more locally assembled aircraft.

http://www.flightinternational.com/A...t+fighter.html

Well, since the JF-17 is being redesigned, I guess that it is natural for this to occur. Even though it is going to be postponed, the JF-17 probably won't be outdated once it hits serial production (in the postponment, more modifications and improvements will probably be made).

MIGleader

well, i guess th wait is needed. they still need a while before they can put the ws-13 on it. remebr, they can export the rd-93.

vincelee

well, the smoke problem was just that, a smoke problem. RD-33 equiped MiG-29s have the same problem, but I gotta say, the first test flight of the FC-1 was pretty damned smokey.


.....maybe it was humid that day.

Chairman Hu

Oh man... not the engine problem...

great... there goes my dream of the RD-93 engine instead of the RR engine for the JH-7...

So the FC-1 is gonna be delayed for another year, have they found the problem and solved it yet?

tphuang

seriously, this is clearly designed just for PAF. If not for PAF's constant spec changes, it'd be out already.

vincelee

RD-33/93 is too big for the JH-7.

Gollevainen

China will never put the WP-13 on it cos its TURPOJET engine not Turbofan...and don't come giving me the bullshit that turbojets still have their place in the modern aviation industry cos they don't.

yeas...althoug roughly the same weight and diameters, RD-33 is almoust twice as long as the Spey...
But can it go anotherway around? Spey/WS-9 on the FC-1?

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chinawhite

Wow the FC-1 turned out a very good fighter.

Looks like a falcon crossed with a hornet

skyhawk2005

Who's paying for the changes?

I agree that PAF is the one who is instigating these changes. FC1/JF17 was all good at first report. You don't go months and months, even years, where FC1/JF17 flight performance is good, and suddenly it has developed problems.

Most likely, with the recent F16 purchases, the PAF can afford the wait/delay of the FC1/JF17 project and change/revise it's performance target goals.

So who's paying for these changes? China? PAF?

I really don't understand what PLAAF is doing here. They should devote most of their resources to developing JXX, and getting the WS10A out.

Spending resources in time, and money on JF17 is questionable since there are doubts on whether the FC1 wil be inducted into the PLAAF.

skyhawk2005

Why is China doing this?

First of all, the FC1/JF17 will be mainly a Pakistani plane. Sure, China may export some FC1s but even then, it will have to share it's profits 50/50 with Pakistan.

I don't understand the need for China to do this when it has J10, J11, and JXX. The FC1 shouldn't be inducted into China's airforce. It's range is too short, and aside from price, there is nothing the FC1 can do that the J10 cannot do better.

China should be devoting its resources to completing the WS10A. And developing JXX. Even the J10/J11 are merely stopgaps, not a final solution because third generation planes are insufficient to match fourth generation stealth fighters like the F22.

skyhawk2005

A turbofan is a turbojet with turbine blades in the front. Any turbojet can be converted into a turbofan, very easily.

Gollevainen

Yeas, turpofan is a turpojet whit fans, everyone knows that. But "any turbojet can be convered to turpofan EASILY" is bullshit. It's complex mechanical desing prosess requiring lots of know-how...or by following your logic, China would have produced indegenious turpofans years ago...

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FreeAsia2000

China is acting strategically. China wants to remove Pakistan's reasons
for relying on America. Pakistan agreed because at the time Pakistan
had no reason to believe it would ever be getting any equipment from
America.

It has to do with long term military procurement plans and politics

adeptitus

Aye

Any weapon sales from Washington require notification and approval from the US Congress. In other words the changing winds of US politics can affect your supply of weapons, munitions, and parts.

The US made Block 52+ F-16's are better - they're techically mature, mass produced and ready to roll down the assembly line. The FC-1/JF-17 is not a proven warplane. But Pakistan can depend on PRC to supply parts and munitions in the future.

An inferior JF-17 in flying condition, is better than a superior F-16 in non-flying condition.

MIGleader

i dont think pakistans f-16s are going to be much better that the new fc-1. their f-16s are not so advanced. but pakistan nneds to shre the radar with china.