JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread

[taxiya]

I have a feeling that this is becoming China's equivalent of the Su-35 deal.

Yes to some extent, but not much. The differences are:
Su-35 is good but not much extra good than what China already have. Good to have but alright not to have.
But JF-17 is all different to the potential JF-17 buyers, they have no alternatives (price-performance ratio) than JF-17 and they need something.

So I believe JF-17 has a way higher chance to get real deals than Su-35 to China.

 

[Franklin]

Can we get some clarification on the Sri Lanka deal. According to the Pakistani media Sri Lanka has signed a deal for 8 planes to begin with. But according to the Indian media there never was a deal.

 

[Jeff Head]

W

Can we get some clarification on the Sri Lanka deal. According to the Pakistani media Sri Lanka has signed a deal for 8 planes to begin with. But according to the Indian media there never was a deal.

Well, the latest info I read is from January 7, 2016...yesterday.

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The Government has denied reports that it has struck a deal with Pakistan for the purchase of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, The Hindu newspaper reported.

“The matter did not even come up for discussion during the talks [with the Pakistani government],” Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Defence Secretary, told The Hindu , adding that his government was still considering the purchase of fighter jets.

Terming the reports as “incorrect,” Mahishini Colonne, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded, saying that “if there arises a requirement for Sri Lanka to procure aircraft of this nature, in keeping with the policy of the Government of Sri Lanka to maintain transparency, expressions of interest will be called for, from all concerned.”

According to the reports, Sri Lanka has been under pressure from the Indian government not to go ahead.

How accurate is this report? I do not know.

I simply googled it and found the report coming right out of Colombo in Sri Lanka

 

[vincent]

W

Well, the latest info I read is from January 7, 2016...yesterday.

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How accurate is this report? I do not know.

I simply googled it and found the report coming right out of Colombo in Sri Lanka

I think The Hindu is an Indian paper

 

[siegecrossbow]

It's entirely possible that the Sri Lankan officials are lying to the Indian press to forestall the inevitable.

 

[Hyperwarp]

It's entirely possible that the Sri Lankan officials are lying to the Indian press to forestall the inevitable.

Unlikely. If the deal was going ahead the Indians would be the 1st to find out. The connections between the Military as well as Intelligence agencies go quite deep between SL and IN. The press will find out one way or the other.

The SLAF also claimed that they are not aware of any deals to a

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. SLAF desperately wants to replace its aging Kfir and MiG-27 fleets but even the JF-17 price is reported to be pretty steep. Unless the JF-17 are for free or very very long term payments with low interest, I am not sure how the GoSL can afford it. According to the local rumor-mil, 35 million USD per place I think including some weapons, spares and training.

 

[Zahid]

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David Majumdar's report on JF-17. He mentions the Sri Lankan deal.

Based on Hyperwarp's post, I think Sri Lankans wish to negotiate further. But JF-17 / FC-1 is already prixed so low, that it might actually be counter-productive to delay the deal. It would take years to develop proficiency on a new platform. Who knows when SLAF may be called upon to act? IMV, its either JF-17, or eventual grounding of SLAF fleet.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Unlikely. If the deal was going ahead the Indians would be the 1st to find out. The connections between the Military as well as Intelligence agencies go quite deep between SL and IN. The press will find out one way or the other.

The SLAF also claimed that they are not aware of any deals to a

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

. SLAF desperately wants to replace its aging Kfir and MiG-27 fleets but even the JF-17 price is reported to be pretty steep. Unless the JF-17 are for free or very very long term payments with low interest, I am not sure how the GoSL can afford it. According to the local rumor-mil, 35 million USD per place I think including some weapons, spares and training.

Countries rich enough to afford JF-17s purchase other 4th gen fighters while others can't afford it. That's the conundrum China is facing.

Hopefully things will change with FC-31, where the novelty of a fifth gen airframe will attract rich customers like Saudi Arabia and Algeria.

 

[Blackstone]

Countries rich enough to afford JF-17s purchase other 4th gen fighters while others can't afford it. That's the conundrum China is facing.

Which makes one wonder if JF-17 is more thunder than rain.

Hopefully things will change with FC-31, where the novelty of a fifth gen airframe will attract rich customers like Saudi Arabia and Algeria.

I'm beginning to think FC-31= Ununtrium.

 

[delft]

I would consider an article in a SL paper citing an Indian paper no better than the Indian paper, to be noticed but not to be trusted, unless you have deep insight in the politics of the SL paper.