Re: New JF-17/FC-1 thread
For price differential, what we're going from internet estimates is the FC-1 being under 20 million, and the J-10 being around 25 to 28 million. That isn't much.
China is still a poor and developing country. But it does not change the fact that it accounts for 15 percent of the world's GDP (historically it has been as high as 33% in the 1800s), 30% of the world's industrial output, has the world's largest foreign reserves, and a growing middle class of around 300 million, as big as the entire population of the United States. But most importantly it is a big country, and that means 1.4 billion citizens to protect. Currently China's defense budget is like each person contributing 20 to 30 dollars each year for that, yet it amounts to tens and tens of billions. Unlike other countries, the spending of the defense yuan is only recycled within the economy, so it pays for the jobs of others.
There are hundreds of antiquated fighters out there but recent white paper by the PLA suggests they don't intend to replace them on a one to one basis. In fact, the PLAAF is expected to drastically shrink with plane retirement. Don't listen to those neocon threat hypers. As if a modest fighter design like the FC-1 is somehow a threat to the Raptor or F-35, or even the Block 2 Super Hornet. Even if indeed the FC-1 comes under 20 million, thats still too high for a one to one replacement of the antiquated aircraft; J-7s were built which during their day would be well under a million. In today's dollars that would only still be a fraction of the FC-1's.
This is not to say that the FC-1 doesn't have its virtues. Its shaping quite nice in fact. Despite the limitations of range, internal fuel volume, number of hardpoints, it can work out as a flexible multirole tactical support fighter. Back up the J-10s and J-11s in air to air engagements, back up the JH-7A and Su-30s in air to surface missions. Previous jets like the J-7G and the J-8F are mainly one trick ponies, good in one particular role, not much on others. FC-1 looks like it can do BVR, WVR and air to ground support, and offer better range radius and operational maintainability.
Rumors now seem to suggest it may have yet another new radar again. Hopefully it gets the same holo hud as the J-11B to complement those large displays. Better sensors such as optical MAWS will certainly help with the situational awareness and the survivability of the aircraft. Most promising is the new engine.
Mostly we like to see some hard numbers out there, maybe hopefully we get some pilot impressions. Even if the numbers are not good, but the pilot impressions are very good, then the chances can be hopeful.
I respect pshamin's credits as a pilot and an officer. I certainly quite well aware of it. I hope that one day, he himself gets to fly an FC-1, and personally would wish he can share some impressions of that and whatever that can be allowed to be shared in public.
For price differential, what we're going from internet estimates is the FC-1 being under 20 million, and the J-10 being around 25 to 28 million. That isn't much.
China is still a poor and developing country. But it does not change the fact that it accounts for 15 percent of the world's GDP (historically it has been as high as 33% in the 1800s), 30% of the world's industrial output, has the world's largest foreign reserves, and a growing middle class of around 300 million, as big as the entire population of the United States. But most importantly it is a big country, and that means 1.4 billion citizens to protect. Currently China's defense budget is like each person contributing 20 to 30 dollars each year for that, yet it amounts to tens and tens of billions. Unlike other countries, the spending of the defense yuan is only recycled within the economy, so it pays for the jobs of others.
There are hundreds of antiquated fighters out there but recent white paper by the PLA suggests they don't intend to replace them on a one to one basis. In fact, the PLAAF is expected to drastically shrink with plane retirement. Don't listen to those neocon threat hypers. As if a modest fighter design like the FC-1 is somehow a threat to the Raptor or F-35, or even the Block 2 Super Hornet. Even if indeed the FC-1 comes under 20 million, thats still too high for a one to one replacement of the antiquated aircraft; J-7s were built which during their day would be well under a million. In today's dollars that would only still be a fraction of the FC-1's.
This is not to say that the FC-1 doesn't have its virtues. Its shaping quite nice in fact. Despite the limitations of range, internal fuel volume, number of hardpoints, it can work out as a flexible multirole tactical support fighter. Back up the J-10s and J-11s in air to air engagements, back up the JH-7A and Su-30s in air to surface missions. Previous jets like the J-7G and the J-8F are mainly one trick ponies, good in one particular role, not much on others. FC-1 looks like it can do BVR, WVR and air to ground support, and offer better range radius and operational maintainability.
Rumors now seem to suggest it may have yet another new radar again. Hopefully it gets the same holo hud as the J-11B to complement those large displays. Better sensors such as optical MAWS will certainly help with the situational awareness and the survivability of the aircraft. Most promising is the new engine.
Mostly we like to see some hard numbers out there, maybe hopefully we get some pilot impressions. Even if the numbers are not good, but the pilot impressions are very good, then the chances can be hopeful.
I respect pshamin's credits as a pilot and an officer. I certainly quite well aware of it. I hope that one day, he himself gets to fly an FC-1, and personally would wish he can share some impressions of that and whatever that can be allowed to be shared in public.
