JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread

[tphuang]

It was said in one of those company reports that Guizhou Liyang was making a huge investment this year to build a production line of WS-13. So I would think that they should be testing it on JF-17 by now. That's why I threw out the possibility that this new prototype is for that. the only thing is that I can't tell the difference with RD-93.

 

[thunderchief]

While ws13, a less senstive and more important for export engine is nowhere to be seen.

There are no known pictures of WS-13 ?

 

[Deino]

There are no known pictures of WS-13 ?

Yes indeed ... all we have is that strange old development chart showing different Chinese engines but the WS-13 shown is actually nothing more than a plain and simple RD-33 (due to its gear box on top) !



As such nothing so far ...

 

[thunderchief]

Yes indeed ... all we have is that strange old development chart showing different Chinese engines but the WS-13 shown is actually nothing more than a plain and simple RD-33 (due to its gear box on top) !

As such nothing so far ...

Well, WS-13 could be plain and simple RD-33/93 clone and for that reason it didn't receive much attention because China tends to develop original stuff lately . But clone theory would explain similarity between 0213's engine and those on regular JF-17 .

 

[Deino]

Not exactly - regarding the external parts (most of all the nozzle) You are correct - since the RD-33 (similar to the AL-31F in a Flanker) has its gear-box on top, while the RD-93 has its gear-box on the bottom.


As such to use this type of engine the WS-13 must have the gear-box mounted on the bottom as on the RD-93.

Deino

 

[A.Man]

New Photos

 

[Scratch]

There's a defense news article on the JF-17 (rather informative for the casual follower at least) quoting a former Pakistani air commodore, an analyst of the Pakistan Military Consortium and the director of sales and marketing for the JF-17.

It starts of by discussing if a UAE offer to provide used Mirage 2000 might be a blow to the JF-17 in Egypt, or if operating costs will push them towards the Thunder. Also if all the second hand F-16s and the like are issues on the market.

They're talking to 11 countries about a sale, finalizing block III design which is a big step but production still 3 years away. Weapons and an option to include foreign / western tech, like a EJ200 engine for a Saudi version?

Any thoughts on those things, anyone?

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[kwaigonegin]

There's a defense news article on the JF-17 (rather informative for the casual follower at least) quoting a former Pakistani air commodore, an analyst of the Pakistan Military Consortium and the director of sales and marketing for the JF-17.

It starts of by discussing if a UAE offer to provide used Mirage 2000 might be a blow to the JF-17 in Egypt, or if operating costs will push them towards the Thunder. Also if all the second hand F-16s and the like are issues on the market.

They're talking to 11 countries about a sale, finalizing block III design which is a big step but production still 3 years away. Weapons and an option to include foreign / western tech, like a EJ200 engine for a Saudi version?

Any thoughts on those things, anyone?

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I know the final design is not finalized yet however what are the general upgrades to the Blk III? anyone here know? appears to be a pretty major enhancement even over the Blk II. Are we talking really advanced systems like EODAS, next gen AESA, Off boresight capabilities, litening/damocles pods etc?

 

[thunderchief]

Any thoughts on those things, anyone?

Unfortunately, looks like window of opportunity for JF-17 is slowly closing . It is not closed yet, but ... 10 years ago 4th generation airplanes were still very modern and expensive . At that time, prospect of new 4tg gen fighter with price tag at $15-20 million was very alluring. Today, newly built 4th generation planes are almost out of production and world moves toward 4.5th generation and 5th generation . That means that many of premium fighters from few years ago (F-16, Mirage-2000 etc ) now have reduced prices . Not to mention Russian aircraft costing even less . With JF-17 still struggling with Block II many perspective buyers are simply going for second-hand 4th gen fighters from established manufacturers .

JF-17 could still make some impact on the market, but CAC and PAC would need to act now and offer definitive version with fully integrated air-ground weaponry with possible offer of local assembly if buyer demands that . Stable supply of engines would have to be addressed one way or another (WS-13 or firmer contract with Russia) . Avionics pack for export version would have to be publicized semi-openly . Otherwise, years could simply bypass JF-17 and let it be just a footnote in history of aviation .

 

[Dolcevita]

Unfortunately, looks like window of opportunity for JF-17 is slowly closing . It is not closed yet, but ... 10 years ago 4th generation airplanes were still very modern and expensive . At that time, prospect of new 4tg gen fighter with price tag at $15-20 million was very alluring. Today, newly built 4th generation planes are almost out of production and world moves toward 4.5th generation and 5th generation . That means that many of premium fighters from few years ago (F-16, Mirage-2000 etc ) now have reduced prices . Not to mention Russian aircraft costing even less . With JF-17 still struggling with Block II many perspective buyers are simply going for second-hand 4th gen fighters from established manufacturers .

JF-17 could still make some impact on the market, but CAC and PAC would need to act now and offer definitive version with fully integrated air-ground weaponry with possible offer of local assembly if buyer demands that . Stable supply of engines would have to be addressed one way or another (WS-13 or firmer contract with Russia) . Avionics pack for export version would have to be publicized semi-openly . Otherwise, years could simply bypass JF-17 and let it be just a footnote in history of aviation .

Apparently Chile are not happy with the second hand F-16 acquired from the Netherlands for various reasons including operating cost and restrained performance.

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