CHENGDU REPORTEDLY ACHIEVES MILESTONE IN JF-17 BLOCK-III DEVELOPMENT

[POPEYE-Sailor]

Reports from Chinese news sources indicate that Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) reached a major milestone in the development of the JF-17 Thunder Block-III – i.e. entering the “preliminary design stage.”

The Block-III is slated as the JF-17’s first major upgrade involving new electronic subsystems, including an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar, a new integrated electronic warfare (EW) system, three-axis fly-by-wire (FBW) digital flight control system and helmet-mounted display and sight (HMD/S).

According to Sina News, CAIG has successfully determined an optimal configuration for the Block-III’s new subsystems, ensuring that it provides markedly improved capabilities.

Reported changes include modifications to the airframe for an AESA radar – potentially Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology’s (NRIET) KLJ-7A – new transmit/receive modules (TRM) (related to the EW system) embedded in the airframe and change in “orientation of the cockpit ventilation pipe.”

CAIG is carrying out the work on a relatively compressed schedule, potentially aligning with the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) plan to have the Block-III enter production in 2019 or 2020.

Currently, the PAF intends to procure 50 Block-IIIs.

Notes & Comments:

Unless another fighter is procured, it seems that the JF-17 Block-III will be the first fighter platform in the PAF to use an AESA radar. In contrast to legacy mechanically-steered radars, AESA radars use hundreds of individual TRMs, each serving as a radar in its own transmit frequency. With many frequencies in use simultaneously with each pulse, it is more difficult for enemy EW systems to jam an AESA radar.

The cost of an AESA radar comes in its increased weight, which can be a result of increased cooling as well as power requirements. It is unclear how CAIG will compensate for this in the Block-III, but with the twin-seat JF-17B, CAIG supplanted the hybrid flight control system (which used mechanical controls for bank and yaw) with a three-axis digital FBW system. This might have reduced weight and helped with creating space for additional fuel (to compensate for the area lost used by the second seat).

Though speculative, a route for the Block-III could be to mirror the approach taken by Mikoyan with the MiG-29KUB, MiG-29M2 and MiG-35 by using the twin-seat JF-17B as the direct basis for the Block-III. The Block-III’s single-seat variant could use the same airframe as the JF-17B, but with the rear-seat replaced with an extension of the fuselage’s spine. This approach could help reduce development lead-time.
https://quwa.org/2018/01/01/chengdu-reportedly-achieves-milestone-in-jf-17-block-iii-development/

 

[Maxpane]

i wish they can share some pics of design

 

[Clutch]

Very interesting articles... lots of information in between the lines regarding the direction bloack-III is taking...

The remaining unresolved issue is the engine replacement with better weight-thrust (power) ... esp with AESA requiring additional power resources..

 

[monitor]

Reports from Chinese news sources indicate that Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) reached a major milestone in the development of the JF-17 Thunder Block-III – i.e. entering the “preliminary design stage.”

The Block-III is slated as the JF-17’s first major upgrade involving new electronic subsystems, including an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar, a new integrated electronic warfare (EW) system, three-axis fly-by-wire (FBW) digital flight control system and helmet-mounted display and sight (HMD/S).

According to Sina News, CAIG has successfully determined an optimal configuration for the Block-III’s new subsystems, ensuring that it provides markedly improved capabilities.

Reported changes include modifications to the airframe for an AESA radar – potentially Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology’s (NRIET) KLJ-7A – new transmit/receive modules (TRM) (related to the EW system) embedded in the airframe and change in “orientation of the cockpit ventilation pipe.”

CAIG is carrying out the work on a relatively compressed schedule, potentially aligning with the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) plan to have the Block-III enter production in 2019 or 2020.

Currently, the PAF intends to procure 50 Block-IIIs.

Notes & Comments:

Unless another fighter is procured, it seems that the JF-17 Block-III will be the first fighter platform in the PAF to use an AESA radar. In contrast to legacy mechanically-steered radars, AESA radars use hundreds of individual TRMs, each serving as a radar in its own transmit frequency. With many frequencies in use simultaneously with each pulse, it is more difficult for enemy EW systems to jam an AESA radar.

The cost of an AESA radar comes in its increased weight, which can be a result of increased cooling as well as power requirements. It is unclear how CAIG will compensate for this in the Block-III, but with the twin-seat JF-17B, CAIG supplanted the hybrid flight control system (which used mechanical controls for bank and yaw) with a three-axis digital FBW system. This might have reduced weight and helped with creating space for additional fuel (to compensate for the area lost used by the second seat).

Though speculative, a route for the Block-III could be to mirror the approach taken by Mikoyan with the MiG-29KUB, MiG-29M2 and MiG-35 by using the twin-seat JF-17B as the direct basis for the Block-III. The Block-III’s single-seat variant could use the same airframe as the JF-17B, but with the rear-seat replaced with an extension of the fuselage’s spine. This approach could help reduce development lead-time.
https://quwa.org/2018/01/01/chengdu-reportedly-achieves-milestone-in-jf-17-block-iii-development/

Very good development indeed .but everything done in cangdu what's contributions PAF making in developing block III? Any increase in loitering time and range as well as weapons load ?

 

[Clutch]

I foresee a lot of foreign orders for block-III... the best sanction free world's most affordable AESA platform.

 

[Maarkhoor]

@MastanKhan @Bilal Khan (Quwa) @Bilal Khan 777

How many planes China inducted?

I have my own "toujeeh" aka excused answer and is that JF 17 and J 10 are quite comparable in terms of performance so Pakistan cancelled J 10 over JF 17 and vise versa China cancelled JF 17 for J 10.

I am correct in my logic ?

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

@MastanKhan @Bilal Khan (Quwa) @Bilal Khan 777

How many planes China inducted?

I have my own "toujeeh" aka excused answer and is that JF 17 and J 10 are quite comparable in terms of performance so Pakistan cancelled J 10 over JF 17 and vise versa China cancelled JF 17 for J 10.

I am correct in my logic ?

The J-10 would have brought more payload and range. The PAF suffered a funding crunch from 2008-2013, which had stopped it from procuring the 36 FC-20 (J-10A) and 18 additional F-16 Block-52+ as originally intended. When things cleared up a bit, it seemed to have opted to push funds to for (1) the JF-17 Block-III and (2) the 5th-gen fighter program aka Project Azm. There were reports of it seeking a plus-one fighter to bridge the gap between the Block-III and 5th-gen fighter (e.g. Su-35), but nothing has come of it. IMO at this stage, if there's enough for an interim fighter, they might want to consider the FC-31.

 

[Bilal Khan 777]

lets see when block III comes.

 

[princefaisal]

The J-10 would have brought more payload and range. The PAF suffered a funding crunch from 2008-2013, which had stopped it from procuring the 36 FC-20 (J-10A) and 18 additional F-16 Block-52+ as originally intended. When things cleared up a bit, it seemed to have opted to push funds to for (1) the JF-17 Block-III and (2) the 5th-gen fighter program aka Project Azm. There were reports of it seeking a plus-one fighter to bridge the gap between the Block-III and 5th-gen fighter (e.g. Su-35), but nothing has come of it. IMO at this stage, if there's enough for an interim fighter, they might want to consider the FC-31.

I think JF-17 has more range than J-10.

 

[Maxpane]

I think JF-17 has more range than J-10.

can you explain sir ?

 

[PakSword]

So JF-17 Bl III will be comparable to which fighter jet?

 

[Ultima Thule]

can you explain sir ?

I think JF-17 has more range than J-10.

JF-17

• Ferry range: 2037;km

J-10

• Ferry range: 1,850 km (1,150 miles)

So JF-17 Bl III will be comparable to which fighter jet?

most probably to Grippen-NG

 

[PakSword]

most probably to Grippen-NG

You sure? Grippen is too advanced.. have more range and can carry more payload..

 

[graphican]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa);

As the silhouette suggests, is block-III a twin engine fighter? The image shows 3 rare-end extrusions hinting towards double engine at the back. ? What are your thoughts?

 

[Ultima Thule]

You sure? Grippen is too advanced.. have more range and can carry more payload..

i am saying that most probably closer to Grippen-NG than another jets in the world, and do we know a avionics/other specification of block-3, currently we can't, so your question about comparability of the jets is useless/baseless