JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread

[Zahid]

Second Squadron of JF17 has been inducted, replacing Q5. Everybody is quite pleased with JF17 and its performance. Since the aircraft is multi-role, it is easily available as CAS and hence its induction as replacement of Q5.

Stealth-optimized JF17 is excellent news. Any aggressor facing JF17 would have to really think about cost of aggression.

I think no redesign would be worthwhile without AESA radar, since traditional radar dish is a serious reflector and a major contributor to RCS.

I wonder if chinese contingent to PAF's Shaheen-I exercise got to see JF17 in serious action to show its worth?

 

[s7s7s7]

Second Squadron of JF17 has been inducted, replacing Q5. Everybody is quite pleased with JF17 and its performance. Since the aircraft is multi-role, it is easily available as CAS and hence its induction as replacement of Q5.

Stealth-optimized JF17 is excellent news. Any aggressor facing JF17 would have to really think about cost of aggression.

I think no redesign would be worthwhile without AESA radar, since traditional radar dish is a serious reflector and a major contributor to RCS.

I wonder if chinese contingent to PAF's Shaheen-I exercise got to see JF17 in serious action to show its worth?

Why JF-17's production and induction is so slow? 2008-2011, only 2 squadrons. There must be some reason.

 

[Deino]

Second Squadron of JF17 has been inducted, replacing Q5. ....worth?

I only know the 26 Sqn so far ... do You know what's the second one ?

Deino

 

[wcheema]

I only know the 26 Sqn so far ... do You know what's the second one ?

Deino

16th sqd, both 16 and 26th sqd based at peshawar

 

[plawolf]

Why JF-17's production and induction is so slow? 2008-2011, only 2 squadrons. There must be some reason.

They are still finishing off the testing and integration and minor changes and updates might be added from time to time.

What more, this is the first time Pakistan has built a modern fighter by itself, it is expected that it will take some time to get them working as efficiently as a company and country that has been building jet fighters for decades.

They have done pretty well so far all things considered.

 

[Londo Molari]

I think no redesign would be worthwhile without AESA radar, since traditional radar dish is a serious reflector and a major contributor to RCS.

I agree that AESA would be very logical for a stealth design. But keep in mind that the slotted array radars used by most fighters today (including JF-17) do not have those reflector dishes anymore. They do not contribute to RCS that much. They do give away your position as soon as you turn them on though, which is where AESA has an advantage.

Why JF-17's production and induction is so slow? 2008-2011, only 2 squadrons. There must be some reason.

This is not slow at all, especially considering 2008 was the first year. What are you comparing this speed of induction to?

 

[s7s7s7]

They are still finishing off the testing and integration and minor changes and updates might be added from time to time.

What more, this is the first time Pakistan has built a modern fighter by itself, it is expected that it will take some time to get them working as efficiently as a company and country that has been building jet fighters for decades.

They have done pretty well so far all things considered.

Changes for a bulk producting type should be processed very cautiously. Agree the rest.

 

[Asymptote]

Perhaps Chengdu is hoping that a completely indigenous FC-1 with enhanced stealth capabilities can finally snag a contract for the FC-1 with the PLAAF?

Highly doubt it.
PLAAF already have Su-30MKK and J-10 in its inventory as front-line fighters, and China is developing J-11B and J-20 as its premiere superiority multi-role fighters. The J-10 will become the "low" in "hi-lo" of PLAAF - its single engine, short combat radius (1600 km vs Su-30 MKK's 3000 km range) means J-10 will function like the F-16 in USAF, while Su-30MKK/J-11B will be the F-15, and J-20 will be like the F-22.

That makes JF-17/FC-1 in a weird position to be market to PLAAF - Its not as fast as J-10, doesn't fly as far as J-10, only carries half as much combat load as J-10....

Even if JF-17/FC-1 airframe gets stealth upgrade, Chengdu (CAC) is already upgrading J-10 to J-10B with stealth and other related upgrades, so that makes JF-17/FC-1 seems uncompetitive.

Perhaps it could be use as supersonic trainer, but China already have Hongdu L-15, Guizhou JL-9 as dedicated trainers, not to mention modified J-10S trainer variant.


So, I think reality is is JF-17/FC-1 will be more of an pure export fighter for China than seeing it in service inside China.

 

[bingo]

Highly doubt it.
PLAAF already have S-30MKK and J-10 in its inventory as front-line fighters, and China is developing J-11B and J-20 as its premiere superiority multi-role fighters. The J-10 will become the "low" in "hi-lo" of PLAAF - its single engine, short combat radius (1600 km vs Su-30 MKK's 3000 km range) means J-10 will function like the F-16 in USAF, while Su-30MKK/J-11B will be the F-15, and J-20 will be like the F-22.

That makes JF-17/FC-1 in a weird position to be market to PLAAF

I don't know why China wants to a be replica of USA in every sense. Are you guys really that impressed by USA?

To be fair, USA is pretty good. But it has its own imperfections.

For your own good, you need to "BE YOURSELF".

Do you think, if USA were holding on to something "comparable to JF-17", that would be a sufficient reason for PLAAF also to have the actual JF-17 to match it?

Perhaps, USA could say that they have F-16 vs J-10, F-15 Vs Su-30MKK/J-11 and F-22 Vs J-20.

But oh, PLAAF also has JF-17 ..... we guys have nothing comparable.

 

[Munir]

It has all to do with costs and results. PLAAF is moving from huge numbers of lots of different aircraft to some less but a lot better quality. But we also know that it will expand its power. I think there will be room cause JF17 is a good plane all inhouse and extremely cheap. It an do pretty much everything in defending homeland. It is almost comparable with J10 but 1/3 of the costs. Surely it has less room to evolve or less ordnance/range but do you need that if you have enough with IFR, good sensors/links, 4 BVR and 2 WVR? If they need something though then you can go towards J10,J11,FC20 and J20. The numbers China still needs to produce it will become handy. It was not handy cause there is no chinese engine and the fact that their priority is first medium and high tech. We can discuss it over and over again but to my knowledge the JF17 has a role and China can use that in the future (+2 years).