The military authorities wanted to keep secret for their main force fighters at that time.

where’s your source?

do iranian F14s have maritine strike (ie, AshM) ability? thought they were only geared for air defence.

Nope I believe they don’t. I think their F-4s are for that? I’m a bit curious to why Argentina would consider one, I don’t think they used anything from Russia or China.. but i guess it should automatically mean they won’t consider it either.

the F-50 is what the Ching Kuo should’ve been. an aircraft powered by a real military class single engine..

it’d be interesting to see Mexico acquire some Chinese aircraft, especially after they have recently been open to acquiring Russian models.

If the PAC line is going to be better than the one that is set up at CAC, it will only be because CAC is putting a half-assed effort into it. Since CAC hasn’t set up a production line for JF-17 yet, it’s a huge assumption to think that PAC will have a better line than CAC. Remember that China has been importing precision tools from the West for years, so that it can meet the standards for export parts to Boeing and Airbus. Sukhoi admitted that J-11s are built at better workmanship and quality than the ones from Knaapo. Let’s just say, SAC generally doesn’t build things at the level of CAC. J-7 and especially J-10 are both said to have much better lines than J-11. JF-17 will most likely inherit some of the experienced workers from old J-7 lines. I think I will just leave it as that, you can make your own judgement.

exactly, not that Chinese ones are bad.. but Pakistani variants of Chinese aircraft end up being slightly superior. and they have every reason to be as they face a huge quantity disadvantage with its neighbor.

It is obvious that China owns the rights if they could export it. But if they think they are ahead then good for them. I politely disagree. We shouldn’t be talking about India anyways. It simply doesn’t have much of aviation industry. It can’t even sell in own neighborhood.

China had always been able to export in spite foreign embargoes. Something that Sweden and Brazil never had to worry about. The reason that China could export under this circumstance is that aircraft like the J-6, J-7 and Q-5 are made entirely in China.

The K-8 is exported to Egypt, Burma, Sir Lanka, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Namibia, etc. even though its original engine was under embargo. It would have been a greater success if there wasn’t an embargo.

China will always be able to export because:

1) it has a tradition of exporting aircraft, even during embargoes and self-inflicted chaos like the Cultural Revolution; so a brand tradition is created,

2) it has major political weight, especially in South Asia, and Africa where Chinese aircraft and other arms are sought after by local states to cement ties with China,

3) its products are cheap and affordable so that the vast majority of the developing world could afford them.

Now, the JH-7 and J-8II might not have exported but that is because the J-7 is still on the sales list. Once the FC-1 comes out, it will replace the J-7 and is pretty much guaranteed a traditional list of buyers. The same with the L-15 once it replaces the K-8.

But the fact remains, China has a very wide range of aircraft for sales. Who said the JH-7A won’t sold in the future? Or the F-8II for that matter? It all comes down to price and needs. But as long as it is available, there is a chance that it might be bought.

I think its unfair to bring in the Swedish industry and compare it to their Chinese equivelent simply because they have different markets. Nigeria, Iran and Zimbabwe are unlikely to purchase the Gripen either politically or on economical grounds.. but likewise its unlikely Chinese aircraft could compete in areas where the Gripens have fought in, such as Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, etc. Although if the Erieye thing for Pakistan proves true, it might change that.

it does not matter. an aircraft has to be multifunction in all aspects like good both in close in combat and bvr at all altitudes along with rapid response time from the start.
only Gripen meets this criteria and now FC-1.

no it does matter because you are taking out of context the discussion I was having with some one else, please leave mind your own business.

Will China implode?
Will the US implode?
We live in interesting times do we not?

that pretty much is it. Both Singapore and China have shown that a state with thats virtually one party rule will be able to flourish as long as it is capitalistic and people are obtaining wealth.. as quite frankly.. people tend to put aside their philosophies when they get richer..

but as far as implosion goes.. China has a risk of domestic instability as the income gap between the coastal cities and inner provinces continue to further social unrest.. to the point that even the government acknowledges the problem .. while the US, should it continue to be lead by neoconservative leaning politicians (who are in both parties), run the risk of overspending and refusing to do either deeper cuts in programs or raise taxes to meet the deficits..while underestimating the problems of it neoconservative foreign policies.