JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread

SinoSoldier

Colonel
Well the JF17B was went to be the precursor to Block III, as a matter of fact it was pretty much the Block III minus the details, and the order for Block III was to be split 28+22 in A and B form

Only 28 single-seaters will be built? Where did you get this information?
 

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
The EAF will be facing a massive logistics problem if this is true, given the fact that they operate aircraft from at least four different countries: F-16s from the US, MiG-35s from Russia, Rafales from France, and potentially JF-17 Block IIIs from China/Pakistan. However, the Block III will add substantial capability gains to the EAF as it transitions to an AESA-dominated fleet of high-end 4+ generation fighter platforms.

Considering how many different types of fighter aircraft they presently have in service, and considering that many of the older types will be retired in due time to be replaced by some of the new orders (including JF-17s), I think they may see a net reduction of overall fighter types in service.
 

SinoSoldier

Colonel
Considering how many different types of fighter aircraft they presently have in service, and considering that many of the older types will be retired in due time to be replaced by some of the new orders (including JF-17s), I think they may see a net reduction of overall fighter types in service.

The issue isn't with the number of aircraft types but rather the different nations supplying them. Not only do the US, Europe, Russia, and China have their own ecosystem of sensors, datalinks, and compatible weaponry, most of these countries are not even aligned with each other, complicating the issue of compatibility and interoperability.
 

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
The issue isn't with the number of aircraft types but rather the different nations supplying them. Not only do the US, Europe, Russia, and China have their own ecosystem of sensors, datalinks, and compatible weaponry, most of these countries are not even aligned with each other, complicating the issue of compatibility and interoperability.

Would that be not a part of the intention? Nations like Egypt, who are at risk of sanctions from differing suppliers depending on their particular geopolitical stance at certain times, tend to acquire fighters from a range of different sources.
 

SinoSoldier

Colonel
Would that be not a part of the intention? Nations like Egypt, who are at risk of sanctions from differing suppliers depending on their particular geopolitical stance at certain times, tend to acquire fighters from a range of different sources.

I'm sure there are benefits from "diversifying one's portfolio" but the risk of being completely sanctioned by a supplier is quite low, especially if that supplier is Russia or China. On the other hand, having to constantly streamline your force with multiple weapons ecosystems will almost certainly cause chronic budget overruns and delays. This isn't a matter of Egypt getting equipment from one or two suppliers, but rather four, which is very rare.
 

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
I'm sure there are benefits from "diversifying one's portfolio" but the risk of being completely sanctioned by a supplier is quite low, especially if that supplier is Russia or China. On the other hand, having to constantly streamline your force with multiple weapons ecosystems will almost certainly cause chronic budget overruns and delays. This isn't a matter of Egypt getting equipment from one or two suppliers, but rather four, which is very rare.

For Egypt I think it is not that rare; their combat aircraft purchases have always been fairly diverse.

If they do choose to go with JF-17s, I imagine whatever costs of purchasing from multiple different suppliers must be judged to be worth the benefits it confers, whether it is having a more "sanction proof" air force or the lower unit cost of an aircraft like JF-17 (which itself may come with some co-production opportunity).
 

gelgoog

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
Egypt used to buy weapons from the Soviet Union mostly back when Nasser was in power. But with the Camp Davis accords they get USA funds annually which can be used to purchase USA manufactured weapons similarly to Israel. That is likely how they got those F-16s in the first place. However after the "Spring Revolution" they had which put the Muslim Brotherhood in power, I think that might have chilled their relations with the USA a bit. Allegedly they also get funded on occasion by Saudi Arabia to buy weapons. Then there is the fact that they are a known proliferator of weapons technology. They sold Soviet MiGs to the Chinese and the USA in a covert fashion in the past for example. It could simply be that Saudi Arabia is paying for these JF-17s as some kind of indirect handout to Egypt and Pakistan. Pakistan is the only Islamic country with nuclear weapons.
 

BoggedDown

New Member
Registered Member
Egypt used to buy weapons from the Soviet Union mostly back when Nasser was in power. But with the Camp Davis accords they get USA funds annually which can be used to purchase USA manufactured weapons similarly to Israel. That is likely how they got those F-16s in the first place.

Egypt Air Force got similar F16s as Israel but not same in fact much inferior handicapped versions. For example they still do not have BVR. I am not sure they will get BVR missiles with Rafale fighter either. With JF17s they have possibilities to get BVR missiles. That is the ambition with this deal.
 

Franklin

Captain
Egypt does have BVR missile's in the form of the AIM-7 Sparrow but they don't have the longer range AIM-120. Egypt also operates several types of French fighters like the Mirage 2000 and the Dassault rafale that comes with the MICA missile. But the MICA doesn't have the range of the later AIM-120's of 100+ km. Egypt may buy the Meteor missile's in the future.
 

siegecrossbow

General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Egypt does have BVR missile's in the form of the AIM-7 Sparrow but they don't have the longer range AIM-120. Egypt also operates several types of French fighters like the Mirage 2000 and the Dassault rafale that comes with the MICA missile. But the MICA doesn't have the range of the later AIM-120's of 100+ km. Egypt may buy the Meteor missile's in the future.

Sparrows are semi-active, which means that the aircraft needs to continuously illuminate its target during the entire engagement. The range disadvantage is comparatively minor.
 
Top