Re: JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread 2009
I don't think you comprehended properly . The J-7, J-8 and J-8 II have descended from the MiG-21 / J-7 line, or family of aircraft. The FC-1 was the last of the J-7 improvements.
That's your own fabrication that has got nothing to do with reality.
Here's how the story goes. 1986-7: PAF is happy to be having the then relatively new and very potent F-16 as its frontline fighter. Chengdu and PAF have interest in enhancing the laters F-7 (second line) fighters. Chengdu is also interested because there could be a great market for enhancing F-7s. PAF is interested in better avionics and engine.
Chengdu contacts the then Grumman Corp. about a redesign of the Mig-21 derived F-7s. The proposal includes re-aligning the intakes from the nose to the side of the aircraft, new avionics and a new engine. PAF is happy because they have top of the line F-16 and is improving its F-7s. This project is named "Super-7". Agreement between Chengdu and Grumman happens in 1988.
Then comes Tianamen incident, US company withdraws from the deal. PAF loses interest by US withdrawal (remember they were drooling over the F-16 and wanted something western). The whole proposal of the upgraded F-7 goes to the bin i.e. its get canceled because the top customer ain't interested anymore. Chengdu realizes that there could be potential for a cheap light fighter aircraft, it decides not to forget about the plan to have a light fighter but look for other alternative partnerships. At this point, its about a light fighter not necessarily about an enhanced F-7. Other countries show no interest.
Comes Pressler and his sanctions, PAF's pride - the F-16s are embargoed. PAF is shocked and disappointed. It goes looking for other options like Gripen...doesnt work, they got US parts. In parallel Chengdu is offering PAF its services but PAF is busy trying to negotiate with the french about the Mirage. Political reasons (Zardari) and ridiculously costly french equipment prevents the deal.
PAF finally realizes it has little option. With non-willingness of others and/or very high costs...it needs to turn to Chengdu. But this time around the customer's requirement is different. They do no want an upgraded F-7 anymore...they want an F-16...a frontline fighter. Chengdu has always been and still is interested in a light fighter aircraft. Long negotiations continue with PAF still in doubt whether to go for this new plane or buy the french ones either new or used.
Finally PAF decides and join hands in 1998-99. The objective...a new lightweight, low-cost alternative to the F-16. During the negotiations, it was decided and worked upon that technical help will be sought from Mikoyan, who had worked on a single engine model of the Mig-29 ( This news was confirmed to me by someone directly related to the project) - project that never finished and materialized because the Russian airforce lost interest in a single engine fighter. This new project of a new light-weight fighter was given the name FC-1.
PAF had been flying the F-16 for quite some time and liked its handling very much...hence its natural tendency to force the designers to incorporate the same type of handling in the design. It must be noted here that talks between PAF and CAC had been nearly finished earlier and the JF-17 was scheduled to be launched much earlier. But a major increase in specification by PAF, the partner and launch customer, had to be accommodated after the Indian decision of acquiring the Su-30MKI. Therefore, the contract was signed around 1998-99 and requirements finalized by 2001. Minor additions have, since then been added.
It must also be noted that Mikoyan's major role was for technical assistance...mainly validating the technical data from the test results about the design and suggesting improvements for any flaws. Its also advisable to notice that an aircraft is more than just its external features.
Therefore, saying that the FC-1 is an improvement or comes from the family of Mig-21 is absolute nonsense. Not a single thing between them comes from the same family. Remember, the once super-7 project differed from the F-7 mainly in having western avionics and engine and not airframe except for the intakes or a few minor changes.
The Super - 7 project died with the withdrawal of Grumman Corp. The only thing that lived from that project is the idea of having a light-weight fighter.
The FC-1 is a hybrid between the Russian MiG-21 and the F-16. The frontal part of the fuselage was likely to have been designed by Mikoyan.
Mikoyan is a company, its not equal to a Mig-21. It had other projects unless you want to say the Mig-35 is an improvement of the Mig-21 since its designed by Mikoyan.
No. Russia has not announced any such sale for FC-1, although it did announce the development of a new version of RD-93. Anyway, PAF is not interested in the RD-93 anymore, whatever version it may be.
PAF is not interested in the RD-93 engine in future, but it will still power the first 50 which is quite a significant number and hence still a matter of concern.
Anyone with knowledge about it, can you please shed more light on this?
