Miragedriver
Brigadier
There are several J-7 posting already on Sinodefense, so I figured that one more wouldn’t make a difference.
In reading all the articles regarding the JF-17/FC-, and its wonderful capabilities, I started to contemplate why it is not selling like “hotcakes” (as the Americans would say). The aircraft is very capable and probable similar to a block 30 F-16 (this is just my opinion, not a fact).
Using my third world mind set. I see that many of the potential customers that could afford to by the aircraft are opting for surplus F-16 that are becoming available, or to a lesser extent the used MiG-29s. This places air forces on a budget (with the global economy crisis) in a position to look for a more economical means of replacing older aircraft, or as a placeholder until a more suitable replacement can be obtained.
The limited funds and resources usually available to the nation experiencing aging aircraft and a minimized budget, a multimillion-dollar weapon systems, many not be the answer. While it may be a status symbol for developing countries to have JF-17s, F-16s and MiG-29’ on their ramps, one has to question if these aircraft are proper for the job. More important is the question of whether the particular country has the industrial, educational, and technical base to support such high-technology aircraft.
So here is the question:
Do any of you see the potential of China marketing a single seat version of the JL-9, or developing the J-7MF type of aircraft for 3rd world nations that need to “fill the ranks” for to replace aging MiG-21 already in the fleet?
In reading all the articles regarding the JF-17/FC-, and its wonderful capabilities, I started to contemplate why it is not selling like “hotcakes” (as the Americans would say). The aircraft is very capable and probable similar to a block 30 F-16 (this is just my opinion, not a fact).
Using my third world mind set. I see that many of the potential customers that could afford to by the aircraft are opting for surplus F-16 that are becoming available, or to a lesser extent the used MiG-29s. This places air forces on a budget (with the global economy crisis) in a position to look for a more economical means of replacing older aircraft, or as a placeholder until a more suitable replacement can be obtained.
The limited funds and resources usually available to the nation experiencing aging aircraft and a minimized budget, a multimillion-dollar weapon systems, many not be the answer. While it may be a status symbol for developing countries to have JF-17s, F-16s and MiG-29’ on their ramps, one has to question if these aircraft are proper for the job. More important is the question of whether the particular country has the industrial, educational, and technical base to support such high-technology aircraft.
So here is the question:
Do any of you see the potential of China marketing a single seat version of the JL-9, or developing the J-7MF type of aircraft for 3rd world nations that need to “fill the ranks” for to replace aging MiG-21 already in the fleet?
