this official report about news briefing. news about mirage is interesting.

Islamabad, May 9 PPI: Pakistan will begin production of JF-17 fighter
aircraft
this year. The light weight, all weather and multi-role fighter
aircraft is jointly being developed by Pakistan and China. “The small batch
production of JF-17 would begin in second half of this year,” Chairman Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Air Marshal Aurangzeb and Chief Project Director of JF-17 Air Vice Marshal Shahid Latif told newsmen at Kamra on Monday. The first consignment of four aircraft would be delivered to PAC Kamra in December next year. Another batch of four aircraft would be ready by March 2007. Initially Pakistan has committed 150 and China 250 aircraft and production capacity of PAC Kamra would be over 20 aircraft per annum. They said fifty percent of the airframe would initially be manufactured in Pakistan and would progressively be enhanced to hundred percent. Similarly, cooperation with original equipment manufacturers would be expanded over a period of time for co-production of avionics systems. Twenty-two avionics systems would be co-produced at PAC including radar, self-protection jammer, high tech flight control and mission computers. JF-17 is planned to be a replacement of aging fleet of PAF. The aircraft would be capable of carrying short range, beyond visual range, anti-ship as well as anti radiation missiles. There would also be provision of carrying high and low drag bombs, laser guided, runway penetration and cluster bombs. It would be equipped with state-of-the-art avionics package to providean all weather navigation and attack capability. The state of the art on-board
multimode radar would have capability to track multiple targets and its
advanced electronic warfare suite will have self protection and jamming
capabilities. Chairman PAC said JF-17 project would ensure availability
of a contemporary, affordable and sustainable weapon system for the PAF
capable of meeting its operation requirements. “There is also possibility of
payback of financial investment and profitability through aircraft sales to
foreign countries as already a number of countries are showing keen interest in the aircraft,” he added. Replying to a question, he said PAC’s Aircraft
Manufacturing Factory is developing a high speed long range drone known
asComet. It will have a speed of 300 kilometer per hour and a range of 60
kilometer with take off weight of 85 kilograms. He also revealed that
PAC would soon start manufacturing aviation parts for Boeing 747, 767 and
777 aircraft under an arrangement with Boeing company. “The know-how thus gained would also help in establishing JF-17 production line. “PAC has also recently completed avionics upgrade of Mirage aircraft in collaboration with French company Sagem. This modification substantially increased air to air and air to ground precision weapons release capability of the aircraft,” he added.“Similarly, F-16 engines are also upgraded to increase their operating
life and performance characteristics saving US$30 million.” To a question
AirMarshal Aurangzeb said eight more Mushak aircraft are ready for
delivery to Saudi Arabia by end of this month. Another five would be delivered inSeptember this year, completing deal of 20 Mushak.

ok i found out. it is 17 engines but i think they are for prototypes. Airforce signup will need more engines.
http://www.geae.com/aboutgeae/presscenter/military/military_2004205a.html
GE Awarded $105 Million Development Contract from India
February 05, 2004 — LYNN, Massachusetts – February 5, 2004 – India’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has awarded an Engineering Development Contract valued at $105 million to GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) for engines that will be used for Limited Series Production of Tejas, the country’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

so no orders for LCA while impression of 20 was given before through media. how clever use of media. i guess that lightest fighter claim is also a joke as no independent source has verified its weight and composite content.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=9172
No orders have been placed for procurement of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas for the Air Force since the project is in development phase. Air Force has, however, indicated their interest in procuring 20 LCAs in the initial operation clearance configuration.

This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee in a written reply to Shri Pramod Mahajan in Rajya Sabha today.

how accurate is this claim of first AAM with HMS and its relationship with Python 3.

Another Denel subsidiary is guided weapons producer Kentron. “No-one
else in South Africa comes close to the technology of Kentron,” says Arthur
Oates, the company’s New Business Development Manager. He is probably right. Kentron’s V3B Kukri short-range air-to-air missile was the first AAM to be deployed operationally with a helmet-mounted sight. As the arms embargo
tightened, Kentron’s core competences in aerodynamics, guidance/control and on-board systems for aircraft took the company into new business areas

Vikas, Read the first page of the interview with AM Shahzad Aslam. He clearly says that PAF WILL NOT go for a Chinese plane with Chinese avionics. One cannot get more categorical than that at all. AFTER that statement, if PAF says it will go for Chinese avionics, then what does it most logically mean? Aren’t you a proponent of the “most logical” explanation? Heard of Occam’s Razor?

Sameer, one cannot argue with jokers who don’t realize what their country’s aukaat is while talking of “failed” projects of other countries. Those who cannot make a simple crankshaft talk of others…

again selective using of words. How many AVMs do you think in PAF are? he is not JF-17 project chief to decide about is avionics and he is certainly not chief of airforce who said clearly that these systems will reach Western Standards. so whose words carry more weight do you think? and it has been proven later. IF first 50 JF-17 usese J-10 radar than there will be no grifo because better upgrades of that radar will be available by 2010. You are truly devoid of logic. :diablo:

the last para is hogwash. all the russians want is first stab at upgrading their own gear which is a fair expectation. there is no question of india “pledging” to buy only russian stuff not when we are having such a good time with Israel – american quality at a israeli price.

Russia has clearly told India to look after russia interests in Nov 2004. you cannot sell brahmos to third countries while they can sell similar system with different name to other coutries if there is a need. same is the case with -MKI. offcourse russian learned alot from other countries components used in MKI.

here they are referring to english media of India not western as i hardly see compaign against russian products in western mass media. may be in some aviation journals at the most.

“Campaigns, undertaken by western mass media and aimed at discrediting the Mikoyan MiG-29K and the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters in the eyes of the Indian authorities, are very significant in this respect.

:rolleyes:

Yhe “let us get our lads to mention India” attitude continues, I think that I have pointed this out a record 10 times on this very thread already
failed LCA project really?
tsk tsk tsk still bringing up India on their own threads…..

ofcourse India will come up as most of the discussion is with indian members. and nothing wrong by quoting similar example. sens also mentioned LCA.

GE F404/RM12
Airflow 68 kg/s, Bypass ratio 0.28, weight dry 1050 kg, max dry 54 kN, augemented 80,5 kN, diameter 0,88 m, length 4,03 m
RD-33/93
Airflow 77 kg/s, Bypass ratio 0.47, weight bare 1055 kg, max dry 49,4 kN, augemented 81,34 kN, diameter 1,00, length 4,13 m,

when the similar sized much more powerfull GE F414 is out of scope like the similar M88 or EJ200.

When Pakistan is willing to pay the price of GE/Volvo, the JF-17 engine is no longer a problem.

It is not just about money but a political decision. US or EU engine is unlikely to be sent to China for testing and without CAC expertize it will become another failed project like LCA. also for reducing the cost large production order volume is also necessary. so different engine possibility is almost ruled out. i think with today prices 3 RD-93 can be purchase for 1 EU engine and there are ugrades involved interm of MTBO , fuel efficiency and TVC.