JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread

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Junior Member
Registered Member
But why Ra'ad-I and not the improved -II?
RA'AD-II is new addition of recent years so understandably inventory of RA'AD-II will very low EVEN IF it is under production; all we know about RA'AD-II is that it was tested only one time and have notable difference in tail design which is in X-configuration this thing alone indicates that Design change was made keeping the future need in mind.

While legacy RA'AD support H-design Tail similar to H-series glide bomb and above all RA'AD-I is under production from decades so logically inventory of RA'AD-I is much bigger and need integration with JF-17 for it use in future, currently only Mirage Jets are capable to carry RA'AD missile system.
 

plawolf

Lieutenant General
Are there any high res images of the BLK3 cockpit area? I am interested to see if any head tracking sensors could be seen.
 

Mohsin77

Senior Member
Registered Member
I'm unsure of the reliability of this source, but its not making any controversial claims. The article is comparing the Block 3 with India's possible purchase of the F-21 Viper

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Translated :

According to "Jane's Defense", the first JF-17 Block3 fighter has been successfully tested at the end of 2019. The Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Air Force claimed that "the new active electronic scanning array (AESA) radar system is expected to be installed on March 3, 2020. On the JF-17 Block 3 fighter". Although we do not know the progress of the project due to the impact of the epidemic, it is a matter of course that the JF-17 Block3 fighter equipped with AESA radar will begin flight testing within 2020.

According to reports, there are currently two radars participating in the competition for JF-17 Block3 AESA. One is the KLJ-7A radar of China Electronics Technology Group (CETC) Nanjing 14 Institute. The radar has a liquid-cooled/air-cooled optional mode; while the other One is the air-cooled LKF601E active phased array radar of Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute (LETRI) of China Aviation Industry Corporation.

It is unclear which radar was selected by the Pakistani military. However, the performance of these two radars is enough to compete with the APG-83 radar on the Indian F-21 fighter.

However, JF-17 Block3 has not been equipped with fixed IRST equipment. Although it can be compensated by mounting IRST pods, it must occupy a weapon hanging point and affect mobility. Therefore, when confronting F-21, it may lose slightly.
 

Mohsin77

Senior Member
Registered Member
Oh snap! An extra 2,200 pounds of thrust?

We're finally at a 1:1 thrust to weight ratio baby !!

Vertical Takeoff In An F-16 Fighter Jet GIF | Gfycat
 

ZeEa5KPul

Colonel
Registered Member
I wonder if China is doing something similar to this upgrade to the RD-93 with the WS-13. It should be feasible since if I recall correctly the WS-13 is based on the RD-93. I read this report about the existence of a "WS-13IPE"

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It would make sense that such a variant would be developed to power the FC/J/31/35 until the WS-19 is ready, analogously to the J-20 with the WS-10C until the WS-15 is ready.
 

Mohsin77

Senior Member
Registered Member
I asked a similar question on the engine thread a while back. Someone answered that the WS-13 is dead, because China is focusing on the WS-19 now. Which does make sense.

Interestingly, I heard a few weeks ago from a close source in the PAF that the Block III would be getting an engine upgrade... I thought he was mistaken (because the WS-13E is dead)... Apparently he wasn't mistaken, and the upgrade was this RD-93MA.... (BTW, he also told me some more good news, but I'm not gonna share it because it's just on the PAF's wish-list right now and it may not happen.)
 
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