In the stricktest sense even a top notch air-supremacy fighter like the f-22A is a defensive weapon!!!

Yap…but added with JADM,it will not be.. Can a S-300 SAM be reprograme and become a SSM fitted with nuclear warhead? A SAM is always a SAM but unlike a fighter plane…. Yr example is horribly wrong!

Xiaolong fighter 04 to take off

The maiden flight of China’s third generation fighter Xiaolong 04 will take place at the end of April 2006, according to China Aviation News. Xiaolong 04 is equipped with complete avionics systems. In addition, its structure has been optimized and appearance adjusted, which gives certain boost to the combat capability.

http://english.people.com.cn/200604/14/eng20060414_258432.html

Can’t wait for FC-1 04 to take off… Ogsh!!! End of the month?? 🙁

But the day,FC-01 04 take off and complete the successful test flight. It will open a new era for the aviation of China!

The sales of J-10 also comfirm WS-10A turbofan engine is now fully matured and able to produce 100% by China itself,or else the Russian will be whinning abt transfering their AL-31 Saturn engines to Pakistan.

IMHO, rags like the AFM (WHOSE PARENT COMPANY OWNS AND OPERATES THIS FORUM) should stick to showing photos from exercises & air shows and not in fanciful speculations as to purchases and “revolutionary effects.”

Third World Air Forces do not need mediocre second-line fighter aircraft, they need social programs and political stability, which are two things that cannot be offered by an FC-1 or any military combat aircraft. The money is better spent of transport helos (ex UH-60, NH-90, Mi-17) and light cargo planes (ex: C-235/295, Y-12, Cessna Caravan).

Exactly….They don’t not need mediocre second-line fighter. Therefore FC-1 with it’s cheap price tag will suit third world nation perfectly to fulfil protecting their airspace need! FC-1 is not a mediocre second-line fighter. It is a affordable advance(Aerodynamic) second-line fighter that will have the same effect same as Mig-21.

I’m not really surprise but I heard there are problems with the financial system and the gap between rich and poor is huge. Unless China address these problems it will derail China from its reform efforts.

It will not…cos once chinese get together their act ,they r unstoppable. Which is what the chinese r doing now.The determination and courage of the Chinese is the answer and not any other thig.

Every country on their way to power bound to have some obstacle and this can be one of them,it will not stop China but slow down the pace abit. Time will tell,10yrs later.I going to dig out this thread and prove u correct my judgement! By then China may already overtake Japan as number 2 already! 😀

1/48 scale model of the FC-1 prototype 01!

Got FC-1 prototype 04?

you are totally wrong China fought a border war with Russia and lost it,

U mean which border clash? If u mean 1969 incident,China beat Russian and still keep the island and land with Chinese engrave momument as prove of authority on the land… It just the western media giving credit to Russia.
Why Russian in the first place want to nuke China at that time? Cos they r humiliated in the first place during that war! Go do some research on strategypage forum with a forumer call ‘Cateye’ who post plenty of proof China beat the Russia in that war! With pictures and account of the incident.. It is a Russian guard who fire the first shot which trigger the bigger clash!

Russia is offering India the Mig-35 with 3D-TVC, AESA radar and a 6000hr airframe life, show me a chinese fighter that can match that now?
I will grant you that chinese avionics are improving rapidly, as is every part of the chinese aerospace industry, but it needs another decade to fully mature and get the technology currently being develope into service. For instance we have seen the compressor stage for the next gen fighter engine, the FC1-04 has advanced aerodynamic features but has yet to fly and is only a mid-sized aircraft. Once these things get brought together in a top line fighter (j-xx) then china will be on par with the rest of the world, although possibly not the US.

China don have the need to offer their best radar cos they r financially well-off.I talking abt avionics only why engine and other crap come out? China is secret abt all its abilities but from all Russia trying to offer China and all being rejected .I can’t help feeling abt the abilities of Russian aivonics! The fact Russia now r more willing to offer advance stuff to China but still get nothing out of it even convinces me more!