Ok now confusion has officially spread.
IF WS-13 is only in testing no matter how many successful hours it has flown if it is not ready for exports with FC-1/JF-17 this means no Exports of Aircrafts any time soon no matter how many Countries are Interested, clarified.
A relevant abstract from an article:
Stuck in Sichuan: The Saga
The Pakistan Government had hoped to sign a deal to acquire 150 JF-17/FC-1 fighters in 2007, with 8 aircraft in service by years end . China had reportedly even bought
100 Klimov RD-93 engines from Russia for installing on JF-17s, with an option to contract for another
400 engines.
In January 2007, however, Forecast International reported that Russia had refused permission for the transfer of its RD-93 engines , derived from the RD-33 that equips the MiG-29. According to FI the decision came only a few days after a visit to India by Russias Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov, during which a number of joint defense projects were discussed and agreements were signed . These include the MRTA transport aircraft, and reportedly a 5th generation fighter project, even as the MiG-29OVT/MiG-35 is touted as the likely winner of the multi-billion MRCA fighter contract. January 2007, DID:
The military world has no shortage of irony. The defense industry has its moments too, as Pakistan just discovered. An aircraft whose development was driven by military sanctions from the US and Europe is now derailed by military sanctions [regarding its engines]. This leaves the Pakistani Air Force dependent on an alternative from
America. Meanwhile, the Chinese are left with no export launch customer for a plane they may now have to reluctantly buy themselves, instead of the favoured and more capable J-10 . Somewhere in Delhi, champagne is pouring but first, a bit of background.
Coincidence? Didnt look like it. Replacement with another engine? Unless its a very close copy, that requires re-work of the entire fighter design and takes years. Just ask the Chinese J-10 project team.
As it turned out, however, that wasnt necessary. The arms market also features no shortage of change, and Russia eventually chose not prevent re-export of the RD-93 engines, in an announcement that caught even Indias diplomats by surprise. The RD-93 comes with some disadvantages, including a tendency to leave smoke trails, but tacit re-export approval removed a huge potential roadblock and let the program proceed more or less on schedule.
Pakistan & China’s JF-17 Fighter Program
