JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread

[Zahid]

Heh!

I never doubted that JF-17 would be an export success. All one had to do was wait.

With AESA, and (hopefully) lower radar signature, better ECS, and other improvements, FC-1 / JF-17 would be the real deal. There is an outside chance that EJ-200 might be possible. It is a guess on my part and obviously I have no source, but I think that Saudis might be interested in such a configuration.

 

[Franklin]

Success comes to those who work hard and are not content with just 50%. It's what separates the winners from the losers!

JF-17 serves as a cheap, high bang-for-the-buck aircraft that is decently sophisticated and doesn't contain any overly sensitive technologies, so why not sell it too? 2 birds with 1 stone. I wouldn't call any of this an obsession at all; Rafale sales are an obsession. Sales aren't the lifeline of the aircraft but won't hinder development so why not dedicate a sales team for it? You're not pulling engineers off work to try to sell it. It's not that expensive to set up a sales department and if it sells, it could serve as a confidence booster for future Chinese exports.

Why the obsession about making exports? How about millions and millions of dollars! Not only can Pakistan stand to make a ton of money directly via exports, they can also make future procurement of the JF-17 cheaper due to expanded economy of scale.

I wasn't talking about the motives of the PAC or the CAC but members of discussion boards like this one were the issue of exports have overshadowed almost everything else.

 

[manqiangrexue]

I wasn't talking about the motives of the PAC or the CAC but members of discussion boards like this one were the issue of exports have overshadowed almost everything else.

Prolly cus export news is where most of the info is coming from. It's not like they're sharing info about Block III's design and performance and we're ignoring those to talk about exports.

 

[LonE_WolF]

Breaking News: Deal signed with myanmar for JF-17's. (Dunya News)
tickers on local news channel "dunya news"

 

[manqiangrexue]

Breaking News: Deal signed with myanmar for JF-17's. (Dunya News)
tickers on local news channel "dunya news"

LOL China to Myanmar: "How diplomatically we treat that incident where you killed 4 of our farmers depends on how fast you sign that jet deal."

 

[asif iqbal]

Guys let's wait and see Dunya has reported these type of news before all bogus

But this time other news outlets are also showing the story so let's see and wait on what happens people are jumping up and down on other forums for no reason

As some one stated earlier I am not that excited about export as much as I am about the JF-17 Block II I have been searching all available news and pictures about Block II today as I am very happy !!!!

Yes export is good but not as good as seeing the Block II, that has made my day

If export is secured it would be the iceing on the cake the cake itself was tasted

Lastly this month has been good, first we see armed drone hit a moving target on the ground and now Block II and soon a export order

Imagine they unveil Block III specifications tommorrow LOL

 

[Dizasta1]

Guys let's wait and see Dunya has reported these type of news before all bogus

But this time other news outlets are also showing the story so let's see and wait on what happens people are jumping up and down on other forums for no reason

As some one stated earlier I am not that excited about export as much as I am about the JF-17 Block II I have been searching all available news and pictures about Block II today as I am very happy !!!!

Yes export is good but not as good as seeing the Block II, that has made my day

If export is secured it would be the iceing on the cake the cake itself was tasted

Lastly this month has been good, first we see armed drone hit a moving target on the ground and now Block II and soon a export order

Imagine they unveil Block III specifications tommorrow LOL

So there is confirmation that Block-III would have AESA radar. But the article mentions that Pakistan Air Force would be looking at both Western and Eastern options. Question is, what Western option would Pakistan Air Force select and what is available in the Western market, which would be the correct fit for the JF-17 Thunders?

 

[antiterror13]

Chinese AESA is as good as than Western AESA (for export)

 

[Deino]

Guys ... i would be very careful with such expectations: AESA, stealthy modifications, new engines or whatever ... it all depends on the availability of money andt he political options.
Besides that - as someone mentioned the Saudi interest - many reports are simply politically motivated to receive a better offer from another seller. IMO I don't think that Saudi Arabia is truely interested and even more would pay for the EJ-200. Additionally I don't think that any European country will deliver such a modern engine to China for integration work ....

As such I simply do't think that Pakistan alone could afford to pay the cost for a new Radar and additional structural modifications ... it is a now reliable and cost-effective fighter - as such i is already a success - and everything else depends on so many different factors ....


Just my 2 Cents,
Deino

 

[Zahid]

@Deino

There is some speculation by Saudi defence enthusiasts / posters about need for Saudi National Guard (SANG) having their own air arm and its this chatter and as it relates to JF-17 that I brought it up. I am not one to start rumors, and this is certainly not a rumor, but only an indication of a possibility. Pakistan's economy is emerging slowly and this year it is expected to grow at 5%. Barring any unexpected jolt / instability, Pakistan's economy is expected to clock 6% growth beyond 2016 for the next decade.

PAF's ambitions are limited by money. Seeing that Block-III might make an appearance in 2018, it is not unreasonable to expect incorporation of key technologies in Block-III. I said that there is an outside chance that there may be EJ-200 in future and that is based simply on my feeling that a western AESA, EJ-200, RCS reduction (not stealth), improved ECS, & composites-related structural modifications would interest Saudis enough to consider JF-17 for SANG. As you must know that KSA and Pakistan have excellent relations and that there has always been a good deal of cooperation in defence-related matters. It is not too far-fetched that Pakistan could convince KSA to invest a bit in this program. I need not remind anyone that KSA already operates Typhoons powered by EJ-200.


I would be surprised if no one in Pakistan is seriously considering EJ-200. In my view it would be just the ingredient that truly propels JF-17 to the next level (pun very much intended). Range, TWR, Load-out, every aspect of this plane would receive a boost. I know that it is no small under-taking, but if PAF / PAC has come this far, they might as well go farther, especially with prospects of lucrative exports.

In any case, this is just my view.