JF-17 Thunder Multirole Fighter [Thread 2]

[BATMAN]

Pakistan has started mass production of the JF-17 Thunder in January 2008 and more than17 JF-17 are with PAF.

This explains the operational squarden with PAF.
I hope by the end of next year PAF will have its first 40 a/c
I believe 6 will be produced in Pakistan by the end of this year.
Next year 8-10 in Pakistan and 10-15 in China.

 

[Tempest II]

More details on the KLJ-7 Radar

View attachment 6ad58753f9d0ba81805e7069c4890615.jpg

 

[Dazzler]

@ Tempest

I have seen the same KLJ-7 info banners with at least THREE different backgrounds. This is the third one. But i can say one thing for sure. It is a VERY effective radar set.

 

[Tempest II]

@ Tempest

I have seen the same KLJ-7 info banners with at least THREE different backgrounds. This is the third one. But i can say one thing for sure. It is a VERY effective radar set.

I am impressed too. I have never belived the 75km given by Janes - it just did not make sense. I have seen two brochures before but they did not have much details. Checking the range give and assuming an receiver 600mm and comparing to the Zhuk-M (680mm) they seem very similar. However, from the weight, the KLJ-7 seems to be half the weight. In fact it is lighter than the PS-05/A said to be 165kg. The Naval Institute guide to world ... - Google Books

 

[Dazzler]

This just represents the radical advancements Chinese have made in military aviation industry. I mean back in 2004 an article was published in AFM in which jf-17 project director (back then) Shahid Latif mentioned that Grifo S-7 was being developed but had certain anomalies and had to be fixed. As a temporary solution the Chinese offered their best (export version i suppose?) radar for the jf-17 which was roughly comparable to APG-65 on board the F-18 but the design as well performance was rather primitive therefore PAF rejected it. Only after four years, we see a versatile KLJ-7 on board the jf-17. An amazing feeling indeed.

 

[Dazzler]

Tempest plz check your PM !!

 

[fatman17]

A chinese AESA radar, well that would be interesting. Also article suggests Chinese and Pakistani avionics and weapons system for the JF-17 where as i remember reading Sir Murad's post a while ago in which he clearly wrote who says JF-17 has all chinese avionics? Now certainly confusing for an average reader.

everything is not 100% accurate in that article!

 

[Arsalan]

there has been no news of any deals for engine, avionics and radar fromany foreign supplier for the Block II JF17s. with the pace with which we are producing the aircraafts, i guss PAF will get into block two by the end of next year.this means thee is not lot of time as the systems will have to be evaluated before eing finalized and there is no news of any such activity. does this mean that the next block will be comming with same pack of systems??

regards!

 

[SBD-3]

there has been no news of any deals for engine, avionics and radar fromany foreign supplier for the Block II JF17s. with the pace with which we are producing the aircraafts, i guss PAF will get into block two by the end of next year.this means thee is not lot of time as the systems will have to be evaluated before eing finalized and there is no news of any such activity. does this mean that the next block will be comming with same pack of systems??

regards!

if every thing stays on track we are going for french Avios on Thunder 2

 

[mean_bird]

there has been no news of any deals for engine, avionics and radar fromany foreign supplier for the Block II JF17s.

You probably won't hear any news until the equipment has been selected. There are slim chances of an engine change at this stage, atleast for the second or even third batch, but the avionics package might be selected whether an enhanced Chinese or western, depending on funds. I read somewhere a while ago, that french and italian radars will be sent to PAF for trials. Moreover, if you are selecting a whole package ( Mission computer + radar + missiles + EW etc), the integration is minimal.

Also the date for the second batch would be around mid-end 2011 so we might hear something by mid next year.

 

[Adios Amigo]

there has been no news of any deals for engine, avionics and radar fromany foreign supplier for the Block II JF17s. with the pace with which we are producing the aircraafts, i guss PAF will get into block two by the end of next year.this means thee is not lot of time as the systems will have to be evaluated before eing finalized and there is no news of any such activity. does this mean that the next block will be comming with same pack of systems??

regards!

nice point arsalan. I was thinking my self that by the end of 2011 we will be having block I complited if not earlier. and we cannot take gaps between the blocks as we need replacements. That leaves us with a maximum of two years for development of blockII. I guess if that is the case the development work would have already started we do know that there will be a changed engine and avionics etc in the next block, but will it have some design changes also???

 

[Dazzler]

In the light of Sir Murad's post, we have already recieved some equipment that will not be disclosed (for obvious reasons) and integration of radar and avionics is in progress even in the current batch. Sir Murad, plz correct me if i am wrong.

 

[hj786]

There are slim chances of an engine change at this stage, atleast for the second or even third batch

100 Countries Expected To Attend IDEAS2008 - Defense News

There also may be movement on a deal for a Western engine to power the Air Force's next future multirole combat aircraft, the JF-17 Thunder.

The current Russian-made Kilmov RD-93 is deemed unsatisfactory and will only power the first 50 aircraft. It is believed the Snecma M-52-P2 that powered the Dassault Mirage 2000 series of fighters is the Western engine in question.

I also think an engine change is unlikely and an upgraded RD-93 will be used, but I wouldn't rule it out.

 

[Arsalan]

100 Countries Expected To Attend IDEAS2008 - Defense News


I also think an engine change is unlikely and an upgraded RD-93 will be used, but I wouldn't rule it out.

well at the moment it seem to be the case. we might not be going for an engine replacement but it will be better to get it done before block III if required. after having a 100 aircraft flying and operational PAF will be in a better tposiion to resccess the engine performance and propose necessary changes. more over after having this number of planes, we can buy some time for a new engine integration apart of some 2 - 3 years before the block III will be starting!

but as the intiall reports said, i gues the plane will be requiring a new engine if it wants a leap to new standards, the avionic and radar alone will not do the job!

regards!

 

[SSGPA1]

but as the intiall reports said, i gues the plane will be requiring a new engine if it wants a leap to new standards, the avionic and radar alone will not do the job!

PAF will need new engines as JF-17 will form the backbone of PAF. ACM Rao said recently:

Referring to the induction of the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft co-produced with China, Suleman said the PAF plans to eventually induct up to 250 planes, making it the backbone of its inventory.

However, there was still a requirement for a more advanced fighter aircraft, as the PAF prepares to counter the future edge the IAF may acquire once it completes the planned purchase of 126 MMRCAs, the air chief maintained.

Pakistan Air Force to induct four midair refuellers next year | Sindh Today - Online News