JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread

Franklin

Captain
That 0213 plane that we have seen in Chengdu could be a testbed for the new RD-93MA engine. We know that China has already signed the contract to buy the improved RD-93MA engines earlier this year at the Zhuhai Air Show. They could have gotten 1 or 2 samples of that engine to inspect and test before they signed the contract. Now they are going to the next step by integrating the engines in to the airframe to see if they need to make structual or software changes to the plane for the new engines.

Meanwhile at Kamra in Pakistan they are not building any new planes at the moment (you can correct me if I'm wrong) but they are busy refitting the older block I planes to the newer block II standard. Perhabs Pakistan doesn't want any new planes with the old engine and are waiting for the new engines to arrive. While they are waiting they will be busying themselves with refitting the older planes.
 

Deino

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
in regard to # '0213' I thought it has been confirmed to be an older prototype modified to test an upgraded environmental control system probably for higher temperature and humidity ... said at the request of potential customers from Africa, South Asia or South America !??
 

janjak desalin

Junior Member
JF-17 is high likely but could Argentina be interested in co-developing the J-31? Or afford it?
Well, it's been reported that Argentina sought to purchase 24 JAS-39 Gripen for ~2.9 billion USD. Thus, if the figures quoted at this site:
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are accurate, the J-31 (which would be designated FC-2 for export???) and JAS 39E/F Gripen are roughly equal in cost. Additionally, as it's been speculated that the J-31 might be intended for carrier operations, and, as Argentina still maintains a naval air arm, a long-term strategic plan could involve the purchase of a navalized FC-2.
 
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Franklin

Captain
Pakistan is now going to buy the jet engines for the JF-17 Thunder directly from Russia and no longer via China.

JF-17 Thunder: Govt to buy jet engines directly from Russia

Pakistan will directly import engines from Russia to manufacture its JF-17 Thunder fighter jets. The engines were earlier imported via China.

According to sources in ministry of defence production, China has recently issued no objection certificate (NOC) to Pakistan, which was earlier producing the fighter jet as a joint venture with China.

“The Chinese NOC now allows Pakistan to import fighter jet engines from Russia directly,” a source said. “This will not only reduce the cost of production of the fighter jet but will also lead to enhanced defence cooperation between Russia and Pakistan.”

Islamabad and Moscow had recently agreed to boost cooperation in several spheres including that of defence during the recent Russian defence minister’s visit to Pakistan. “This is a significant move since Pakistan had never struck any direct defence deal with Russia,” the sources said.

“Russia was clearly tilted towards India and the new Russian policy towards Pakistan is seen as a coup pulled by the country’s foreign policy.

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Franklin

Captain
In Britain the UKIP party wants to end all aid programs to Argentina as it is close to buying fighter jets from China. The article mentions a deal for 20 JF-17 Thunders.

Call For End To Foreign Aid To Argentina As It Buys Fighter Jets From China

A British politician has called for an end to British tax payers money going to Argentina after it was reveals that the country has reached an agreement with China to purchase fighter jets capable of attacking the Falkland Islands as talks with Beijing start to produce results.

During a three day visit by Argentinian President Kristina de Kirchner to China, a ‘strategic partnership’ deal was discussed in which Argentina secured 15 economic agreements and significant financial investment from China to prop up its weak economy, the Sunday Express reports.

UKIP MEP Nathan Gill said it was “inconceivable that Britain has contributed £7 million to Argentina in foreign aid, via a £50 million EU aid programme.”

“In the light that Argentina has now purchased Chinese fighter jets, all aid to Argentina must be cancelled immediately.

“It is an insult to veterans of the Falklands war, those who lost loved ones and the hard pressed British tax payer for this government is funding the Kirchner regime.”

China was not the first port of call for the South American country which still insists the British Falkland Islands are part of its overseas territories. Initially Buenos Aires was in discussion with Vladimir Putin to purchase 12 Sukhoi Su-24 ‘Fencer’ bombers which could reach the Island’s capital.

But that deal had stalled after a series of delays and concerns over the contracts of maintaining the fleet after the sale had occurred.

With the failure of those talks, Argentina appears to have struck a much better deal, taking delivery of 20 of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, courtesy of the Chinese arrangement: a move which will cause concern in both the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as Mrs Kirchner continues her crusade to convince the international community that her country should control the South Atlantic islands.The deal struck will see Beijing supplying around 20 FC-1/JF-17 ‘Thunder’ fighter jets produced by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation which are capable of carrying a range of weapons including air-to-air missiles and laser guided bombs.The single-seat, single-engine, fighter has a top speed of Mach 1.8 at altitude of 55,000 ft and combat range of 840 miles, allowing it to comfortably fly to Port Stanley and back from the Tierra del Fuego air base in southern Argentina.

In the last few weeks there have been reports of an increase in the number of British troops being sent to the Falkland Islands as part of “high-readiness exercises” according to a military source.

The Islands have a core military presence of 1,200 troops, four Typhoon fighter jets and Artillery.

But with the Islands on the highest alert of years, a source said the aim of the deployment was to “put more than 1,000 troops from five different cap badges into the islands by November but they will deploy in small groups from 150 to 300, for short tours

The UK currently has a significant strategic gap when it comes to defending its overseas territories in particular due to the absence of any aircraft carriers until the Queen Elizabeth is operational in 2020. The task force which was deployed in 1982 would not be available following the 2010 coalition Strategic Defence and Security Review.

In January the Ministry of Defence reveals the Rapier air defence system, the surface to air missiles which protect the Falklands from enemy attacks launched from the sky, were to be upgraded.

China plans to invest £162 billion in projects in Latin America including the Cepernic Kirchner dams, the Belgrano Cargas railway and the Arucha nuclear plant as well as writing off millions of pounds of previous loans as it uses its economic might to exert its geopolitical influence.

The procurement of Chinese aircraft is worrying; they are modern, fast and very capable,” said an RAF source.

“However, we have a robust capability in the Falklands and I imagine that de Kirchner is trying to reinforce her military to strengthen her foreign policy at the negotiating table.”

Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute think tank said: “Argentina had been negotiating for Russian aircraft, but in fact the Fencers they were looking at are very outdated if you are looking to hold the Falklands, and they have a very poor record for aftersales service for customers.

“China’s JF-17 is based on the old Soviet Union’s Mig 21, the backbone to the Soviet air force, so it has excellent pedigree.

“But it is cheaper than what Russia has to offer, brand new, and has a good reputation for being reliable and having an extremely wide armament fit.

“It is the non-Western equivalent to the Swedish Gripen, which Argentina originally tried to acquire through Brazil before the deal was stopped by Britain because it contained 30 per cent British parts.

“It would certainly allow Argentina’s air force to fly over Port Stanley, though it’s no match for RAF Typhoons and its pilots don’t have the asymmetrical training that RAF has.

In addition, we have the Type-45 destroyer which is the most formidable air defence destroyer in the world.

“This deal would give China the first proper export market for this new fighter jet, which has been developed with Pakistan, and it seems China is willing to offer Argentina very good finance terms.”

He added: “ There is definitely an aspect of trying to restore Argentinean martial pride, bearing in mind what an enormous issue the ‘Malvinas’ issue remains there.

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delft

Brigadier
One might reasonably ask why Argentina would have accepted any aid from the UK in the first place.
If I understand it correctly the EU is providing Argentina with GBP 50m ( is that EUR 60m ? ) for reasons of international trade policy of which the UK contribution would be GBP 7m. It does not concern direct aid from London to BA but UK exporters are likely to profit from the arrangement and Brussels would be pretty angry if London didn't keep to the rules.
 

janjak desalin

Junior Member
First, has anyone found a credible report concerning the status of discussions about a Argentinian/Chinese co-production of FC-1/Pulqui-III? The reports that a deal has been made are coming from un-sourced and somewhat incredible sources.
Second, and without getting, too far, off-topic, though the FC-1/Pulqui-III might be a logical first-step in a co-production compact, the J-31/FC-2 might integrate, quite nicely, with the intentions/plans of this cancelled FAdeA program:
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.
As I've speculated above, the 2.9 billion USD price tag for the failed JAS-39 bid, if accurate, suggests a serious commitment on the part of the Argentinian Defense Ministry. According to,
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, price estimates, that figure could purchase 72 FC-1 block III or 32 JF-31.
 
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