JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread
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JF-17 III: MAJOR CHANGES AHEAD ON JF-17 BLOCK-3
By Bilal Khan
Previous articles on Quwa discussed why the JF-17 is a significant advancement for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Not only is the JF-17 an that is poised to form the backbone of the PAF fighter fleet, but it is immune to sanctions, and it is in terms of being able to freely decide on how to equip and develop it. With this article, it would be a good idea to have a clearer understanding of exactly what the PAF has in store for the JF-17 in the coming years in terms of its upgrade and development path. By the end of this piece, there should be little doubt in the seriousness of the PAF in as far as its commitment to the JF-17 is concerned.
The first upgrade to the JF-17 is at this time coming through the Block-2. The first JF-17 Block-2 made its maiden flight in February 2015, and it is the current production type rolling out of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra. The Block-2 is at heart an iterative update, so it would not be right to assume that it includes significant improvements or changes over the Block-1 currently in service.
Arguably, the most significant change in the Block-2 is the , and this will enable the JF-17 to refuel in-flight with the support of the PAF’s IL-78 tankers. The Block-2 also, but there are no specific details. There are rumours about a KLJ-7V2 pulse-Doppler radar with increased range, but this has not been confirmed by the PAF or PAC. If one were to simply refer , it would seem that the Block-2’s goal is to increase the JF-17’s flight-time (via in-flight refuelling and improved oxygen systems) and mission usefulness (in-flight refuelling can free up hard-points that would otherwise be used for external fuel-tanks). The 51st to 100th JF-17s will be Block-2.
The first major jump is in reality the JF-17 Block-3, which is currently in development. There are no known airframe updates or changes in the Block-3, but in terms of electronics, it is essentially confirmed that the JF-17 Block-3 will house an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Helmet Mounted Display and Sight (HMD/S) system, and possibly an additional hard-point suitable for specialized targeting and tracking pods. This article will breakdown each of these aspects, but if taken together (alongside a suitably upgraded avionics and ECM/EW suite), the Block-3 is positioned to be a significant upgrade.
Full article at
By Bilal Khan
Previous articles on Quwa discussed why the JF-17 is a significant advancement for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Not only is the JF-17 an that is poised to form the backbone of the PAF fighter fleet, but it is immune to sanctions, and it is in terms of being able to freely decide on how to equip and develop it. With this article, it would be a good idea to have a clearer understanding of exactly what the PAF has in store for the JF-17 in the coming years in terms of its upgrade and development path. By the end of this piece, there should be little doubt in the seriousness of the PAF in as far as its commitment to the JF-17 is concerned.
The first upgrade to the JF-17 is at this time coming through the Block-2. The first JF-17 Block-2 made its maiden flight in February 2015, and it is the current production type rolling out of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra. The Block-2 is at heart an iterative update, so it would not be right to assume that it includes significant improvements or changes over the Block-1 currently in service.
Arguably, the most significant change in the Block-2 is the , and this will enable the JF-17 to refuel in-flight with the support of the PAF’s IL-78 tankers. The Block-2 also, but there are no specific details. There are rumours about a KLJ-7V2 pulse-Doppler radar with increased range, but this has not been confirmed by the PAF or PAC. If one were to simply refer , it would seem that the Block-2’s goal is to increase the JF-17’s flight-time (via in-flight refuelling and improved oxygen systems) and mission usefulness (in-flight refuelling can free up hard-points that would otherwise be used for external fuel-tanks). The 51st to 100th JF-17s will be Block-2.
The first major jump is in reality the JF-17 Block-3, which is currently in development. There are no known airframe updates or changes in the Block-3, but in terms of electronics, it is essentially confirmed that the JF-17 Block-3 will house an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Helmet Mounted Display and Sight (HMD/S) system, and possibly an additional hard-point suitable for specialized targeting and tracking pods. This article will breakdown each of these aspects, but if taken together (alongside a suitably upgraded avionics and ECM/EW suite), the Block-3 is positioned to be a significant upgrade.
Full article at
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Think Block III will be bit far off just yet but anything we don't see on the Block II we can say will end up on Block III like self protection jamming pods and day/night targeting pods
External changes ? Very highly doubt it
Having said that they might be getting details finalised on Block III as Block II production is faster than we have seen for Block I
External changes ? Very highly doubt it
Having said that they might be getting details finalised on Block III as Block II production is faster than we have seen for Block I
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
In all honestly yes but in reality no
JF-17 started as a basic project but as time went on it grew into what we see today which is actually beyond the scope to what it was planned
I mean things like ASEA , HMD and missles like CM-400 which are planned for Block III
Block III will really put the JF-17 project on a platform similar to the F16 C/D Block 52+ in terms of avionics, electronics and targetting and PAF already operates this F16 so we have a good comparison, in addition JF-17 will be used in a anti shipping role which currently PAF does not F16 for they use Mirages
Adding in jamming pods, self protection pods, day / night targeting pods as well as ASEA and helmet mounted display will really be a new league of fighter
I mean the PAF pilots will need a lot of time in training and tactics to master AESA radar system you can't just add that radar into a fighter and off you go this will open a whole new area of combat to get most out of the Radar
HMD coupled with a new short range missile will make the prolific PAF dog fighters into even more lethal killing machines it means a lot more information for pilot to process but brings more capability
So overall I would say JF-17 is a fine class A project for PAF and PAC and they are doing just fine
JF-17 started as a basic project but as time went on it grew into what we see today which is actually beyond the scope to what it was planned
I mean things like ASEA , HMD and missles like CM-400 which are planned for Block III
Block III will really put the JF-17 project on a platform similar to the F16 C/D Block 52+ in terms of avionics, electronics and targetting and PAF already operates this F16 so we have a good comparison, in addition JF-17 will be used in a anti shipping role which currently PAF does not F16 for they use Mirages
Adding in jamming pods, self protection pods, day / night targeting pods as well as ASEA and helmet mounted display will really be a new league of fighter
I mean the PAF pilots will need a lot of time in training and tactics to master AESA radar system you can't just add that radar into a fighter and off you go this will open a whole new area of combat to get most out of the Radar
HMD coupled with a new short range missile will make the prolific PAF dog fighters into even more lethal killing machines it means a lot more information for pilot to process but brings more capability
So overall I would say JF-17 is a fine class A project for PAF and PAC and they are doing just fine
Just to add little info & to straight the record
- KG-300 self protection Jamming pod is operational and part of 'Daily Operational Configuration'
- WMD-7 Targeting pod is also Integrated & operational
C-802 & CM-400 both are also operational
I agree as per previous reports the blk-I was lacking the standards of Avionics Integration as compare to F-16 blk-52+, therefore Pilot workload was comparatively more in JF-17 blk-I than F-16 blk-52+, Pakistan & China tried to address the issue in blk-II but the degree of their success in this matter is known publicly so can't say how close the standard of Avionics integration they have achieved in blk-II, next batch is termed as blk-II because of this reason not just because of increase Radar range or IFR probe.
As far as 'Available Weapon package' with these two jets is concern, JF-17 is ahead of what is available to PAF with F-16 blk-52+ and this is actual reason why PAF adore JF-17 too much ...
only AESA & HMD are missing in JF-17 blk-I & II which most probably will be addressed in blk-III configuration ....
- KG-300 self protection Jamming pod is operational and part of 'Daily Operational Configuration'
- WMD-7 Targeting pod is also Integrated & operational
C-802 & CM-400 both are also operational
I agree as per previous reports the blk-I was lacking the standards of Avionics Integration as compare to F-16 blk-52+, therefore Pilot workload was comparatively more in JF-17 blk-I than F-16 blk-52+, Pakistan & China tried to address the issue in blk-II but the degree of their success in this matter is known publicly so can't say how close the standard of Avionics integration they have achieved in blk-II, next batch is termed as blk-II because of this reason not just because of increase Radar range or IFR probe.
As far as 'Available Weapon package' with these two jets is concern, JF-17 is ahead of what is available to PAF with F-16 blk-52+ and this is actual reason why PAF adore JF-17 too much ...
only AESA & HMD are missing in JF-17 blk-I & II which most probably will be addressed in blk-III configuration ....
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Yes I remember reading this article but have we ever seen any photos of CM-400 or any weapons targeting pods or jamming pods on any aircraft or serial aircraft ? ! I don't think we have, only on the ground and at air shows
Not doubting the Air CDRE no, but I would like to see evidence of this which so far we have not seen
But you are correct it may well be that these weapons are for Block II as time goes on we may see them appear on aircraft flying soon
Not doubting the Air CDRE no, but I would like to see evidence of this which so far we have not seen
But you are correct it may well be that these weapons are for Block II as time goes on we may see them appear on aircraft flying soon
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
I knew where I had it in the back of mind about targeting pods on block III it was from this
Check documetry at 11:25 he talks about Block III introducing targeting pods not block II
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Excellent and best news !!
Just to be clear PAF Masroor operates the No. 2 Sqaudron called Minhas not to be confused with PAF base at Kamra near attock which is also called Minhas
This makes
CCS
Minhas
Black Spiders
Black Panthers
But CCS is a tactics development school who most likely don't have a full sqaudron
But this is interesting at C-802 is now active with a naval unit and ZDK-03 is also there
I wonder of Pakistan can buy more tankers from Ukraine or Russia and station two refuelling tankers at Masroor to give 6 in total
This will give the unit a refuelling and AWACS integration which will greatly expand the operating envelope of the fighter
Either way top class stuff
Just to be clear PAF Masroor operates the No. 2 Sqaudron called Minhas not to be confused with PAF base at Kamra near attock which is also called Minhas
This makes
CCS
Minhas
Black Spiders
Black Panthers
But CCS is a tactics development school who most likely don't have a full sqaudron
But this is interesting at C-802 is now active with a naval unit and ZDK-03 is also there
I wonder of Pakistan can buy more tankers from Ukraine or Russia and station two refuelling tankers at Masroor to give 6 in total
This will give the unit a refuelling and AWACS integration which will greatly expand the operating envelope of the fighter
Either way top class stuff