The entire assembly line is dependent on Chinese supplies of raw material and systems, not to mention Russian engines. Even once production stabilizes, many key systems will continue to be sourced from China. Pakistan simply does not have the economic wherewithal to make every tiny screw inhouse. So, FC-1 is hardly a juche fighter which can be made locally in quantity, if supplies are cut off.
it is somewhere between a overhaul facility and a full-scale manufacturing plant. this airplane is mostly traditional metal, the idea was to shift most manufacturing to PAK once chinese suppliers are doe.
And cheap? How cheap is cheap exactly…any fighter like the FC-1/JF-17 is not really cheap, especially factoring in operating costs. Plus, missiles will run out, aviation fuel won’t be available.
cheaper than F-16 and J-10;
Plus, you were using quality in a relative context, comparing vis a vis the neighbouring air arm, and quite frankly, the IAF would not buy into your views, they would procure something more capable.
my “Quality ” is always narrowly defined as “per requirement”.
schedule cost quality.
if you can get 2 right you are a success.
Only if the PAF is phenomenally lucky. The Indian’s will definitely go for the PAFs AWACs, their limited number of tankers, and all the supporting assets the cheap little fighter requires to sustain a defense against the more expensive, heavier fighters.
Yes but at what cost? this is where PAF can complicate their opponent’s planning. back in the days, Soviet Union can always over power those Nordic Neutrals’s military forces. but the costs is what made them think twice. at least that ‘s the idea.
The J-11 is doubtful, thanks to its Russian antecedents, and the J-10, well that would have been better, at least if the PRC was willing to fund it. The FC-1 is simply not good enough to actually give the IAF pause or buy the PAF breathing space.
J-11B now is 100% MIC. including engines. actually it has less reliance on Russians vs J10, as J-10 still relies on Russian AL-31FN in current version)
FC-1 was always meant to be quantity side of the hi-low mix, something that can dog fight and shoot BVRs.
If they feel like splurging actually they can make it into a poor man’s Gripen.
By which time, the fight would have ended. Pilots and maintenance personnel can’t retrain for a new type within hours or days, at least not to the level that they are proficient with it. The PRC stayed out of the ’71 conflict, and ’99 one. They’ll sit out any other one as well. They even refused participation in the Gwadar port project.
with chinese pilots and crews? just a wild guess.
rumor has it that in ’99 PRC opened up their radar stations up there as a early warning net for PAF.
pure rumor ofcourse.
Gwadar port will have a chinese operator now.
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