FC-1 deliveries to begin in 2006 to PAF

IFR capability, interesting….

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Date Posted: 23-Apr-2004

JANE’S DEFENCE WEEKLY – APRIL 28, 2004

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Sino-Pakistani fighter deliveries to start in 2006
AYESHA SIDDIQA JDW Correspondent
Islamabad
Additional reporting Michael J Gething JDW Aerospace Consultant
London

A joint venture between Chengdu Aircraft Industry in China and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) will begin initial production of 16 Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder fighters – known as the FC-1 Xiaolong in China – in 2006, according to the Chief Project Director (CPD), AVM Shahid Lateef.

First deliveries to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will start mid-2006, AVM Lateef told JDW. Eight aircraft would be delivered to China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, eight to the PAF, four of which would be built entirely in Chengdu and four assembled at PAC’s Kamra facility. The PAF has a requirement for 150 JF-17s.

Currently two prototypes of the FC-1/JF-17 are flying. The first took to the air on 25 August 2003, with the maiden flight of the second prototype on 9 April, both from the Chengdu facility in China. Two Pakistani test pilots flew the initial prototype for the first time on 7 April, beginning regular participation in the flight test programme.

The first two prototypes will explore the aircraft’s operational flight envelope and the operation of its subsystems. A third prototype is planned for systems integration and certification of the avionics suite and weapons fit.

The Chengdu Aircraft Industry and the PAC are in equal partnership and jointly developing and producing the fighter.

The JF-17/FC-1 is described as a multirole attack fighter with delta wings, a conventional tail and a fly-by-wire flight-control system. It is powered by a Russian Klimov RD-93 turbofan engine (derived from the RD-33 engine) and rated at 81.4kN (18,300 lb st) with reheat. There is also an air-to-air refuelling capability.

The avionics suite is of Chinese origin, comprising a smart head-up display, infra-red search-and-track system, night-vision goggle capability and ring-laser gyro inertial navigation system with GPS. An advanced radar is expected to be procured from French, Italian or Russian sources. The weapons system will include a special pod allowing day/night delivery of laser-guided weapons and the latest beyond-visual-range (BVR) and wingtip-mounted air-to-air missiles. There is provision for a twin-barrel 23mm cannon pod under the fuselage.

According to AVM Lateef, the staff requirement for the avionics package was prepared five years ago, is based on Western standards and is regularly updated. The PAF is satisfied with the avionics systems developed by China and these will be installed in the third prototype.

It is planned to establish a co-production facility for the avionics at the Kamra Avionics and Radar Factory. A similar strategy is planned for the BVR missile, which would be a major technological breakthrough for Pakistan.

The PAF has faced problems acquiring technology from abroad in recent years. AVM Lateef’s opinion is that this problem will be solved by this co-development and co-production project. The 150 JF-17s for the PAF will fill the gap created by the service’s inability to procure aircraft off-the-shelf.

With reports that the PLA Air Force plans to acquire about 1,000 of these aircraft, the manufacturers hope it can be built for a quarter of the cost of a modern jet fighter. The JF-17/FC-1 is seen as a potential replacement for the Dassault Mirage III/5, Northrop F-5 series, Shenyang J-6, Chengdu J-7 and Nanchang Q-5 aircraft.

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