these are two articles from the Dubai Air Show - 2011. we here at PDF have knowledge of most of the information. what is clearly illustrated is the delay in the JFT production deadlines due to non-availability of soverign funds.....
Dubai 11: JF-17 Thunder We Have Lift Off!
Posted on: November 16th, 2011.
It is likely that in years to come, the Pakistan Air Force will look back at Dubai Air Show 2011 and look upon it as the event that kick started the JF-17s international marketing campaign. While it may have flown 5,000 miles to Farnborough in July 2010 it did not participate in the flying display and its presence comprised a bit-part in the static display. Then three jets flew 3,000 miles across China to the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2011 and enchanted the mainly Chinese audience during their first public flying display. However, if you want global interest, China probably isnt the place to go. In June 2011, it did its bit for Pak-Turkish relations at Izmir-Cigli during the Turkish Air Forces 100th Anniversary, but not much else.
At Dubai Air Show 2011 that all changed. There was plenty of interest from potential customers, military professionals and the international media. The Pakistan Air Force (PAK) sent along their chief of the air staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, for the first three days to support the efforts of the PAC Kamra Chairman, AVM Farhat Hussain Khan and the JF-17 Thunder Chief Project Director, Air Vice Marshal Javaid Ahmed. China sent along senior personnel from AVIC, the Chief Designer Mr Yang Wei and the CATIC Chairman, Mr Ma Zhiping. Without doubt, the JF-17 Thunder was the star of the show it had a great location in the static display and flew every afternoon.
To date, 38 of the 42 JF-17 Block 1s have been assembled locally at PAC Kamras Aircraft Manufacturing Facility with the last example expected to be delivered in April by which time, 26 Sqn at Peshawar and 16 Sqn at Minhas will have been joined by a third operational squadron. During mid-2012, manufacturing of a second batch of 50 Block 2 standard aircraft will begin.
According to the PAF CAS their enhancements over the Bock 1s will include smarter avionics, better weapons, air to air refueling, enhanced data-link and development of a dual-seat.
Further into the future it is likely the aircraft will use a newer Chinese engine, known as the Taihang, in a bid to stem any reliance on the thirsty Russian Klimov RD-93.
The JF-17 is being touted as a suitable replacement for the MiG-21, F-7, Mirage and F-5 and there are at least five countries showing serious interest. One of these is Egypt and the Egyptian Air Force CAS, Major General Abdul Aziz was seen by the author being shown around the cockpit displays of the jet in the static display. He told me: We are very interested and have even sent a pilot to China, to train on the simulator.
Other countries believed to be interested include, Sudan and Algeria but surprisingly the Bangladesh Air Force is not. When I spoke to BAF CAS, Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman at the IQPC Fighter Conference the previous week he told me he preferred the J-10 although he had also been studying the Su-30, MiG-29SMT and Gripen as an A-5 Fantan replacement.
The Pakistan Air Force Chief believes there is a market between 350-500 JF-17s, including the PLAAF. However the PLAAF is currently focusing on the introduction of the Hongdu L-15 (JJ-10) into service.
A JF-17, flown either by the display pilots, Wg Cdr Ronald or Wg Cdr Rashid put on an energetic performance during its 8 minute display, during which they pulled 8G. Two K-8Ps and two Super Mushshak were also present with each aircraft flying the flag for Pakistan in the afternoon displays too. Alan Warnes
JF-17 at Dubai
Posted on: November 29th, 2011
AFOs Alan Warnes spent time with the Pakistan Air Force delegation at the Dubai Show in November 2011, as they embarked upon their first real international JF-17 marketing campaign.
WHILE YOU might expect one of the mega-rich high-profile international companies like Boeing, Airbus or even Lockheed Martin to steal the plaudits at the Dubai Airshow, this was not to be their year. The stars were undoubtedly the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), showing off three brand new JF-17s, two K-8Ps, a pair of Super Mushshaks and the latest acquisition to their fleet the Saab 2000 Erieye. The PAF Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, was also present for the first three days, throwing his weight behind the JF-17 marketing effort, as were the PAC Chairman, Air Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan and JF-17 Chief Project Director, AVM Javaid Ahmed. They were being supported by enthusiastic representatives from Chinas AVIC Company, including the JF-17 designer Mr. Yang Wei, who is also responsible for the J-10B and newly unveiled J-20. CATIC President Mr. Ma Zhiping was there too, talking to representatives of air forces interested in the new Sino-Pak fighter as he is the man who can provide the financing.
International Marketing
Undoubtedly this was the JF-17s finest hour in the international arena. While the JF-17s international marketing campaign may have kicked off at Farnborough International Air Show in July 2010, the two aircraft stayed firmly rooted to the ground and so didnt have the high profile presence it deserved. The Chinese aerospace show at Zhuhai, some four months later, may have seen the jet put through its paces in front of a massive Chinese crowd, but its first international flying display went largely unnoticed around the rest of the world. The Paris Air Show in June this year, should have elevated the JF-17s marketing efforts into a new level but, unfortunately, the killing of Osama bin Laden just weeks before, meant the PAF was preoccupied with domestic issues, explaining how US aircraft defied their air defenses. Therefore, the visit to Paris was cancelled. Three JF-17s, along with two F-16As, were dispatched to Izmir-Cigli Air Show to celebrate the Turkish Air Forces 100th Anniversary in early June, but this was more a show of solidarity and friendship with its age-old friend than any bid to sell the aircraft. So, finally, in November 2011, the JF-17 Thunder got to the chance to showcase its capabilities to a truly international audience.
The aircraft on static display was the 22nd to roll off the PAC Kamra production line, and was surrounded by some its armory.
Tasked with the privilege of flying the JF-17s in the flying display was Wg Cdr Ronald, a Flight Commander from 26 Squadron. Wg Cdr Ronald flew the JF-17 four times during the flying display; he is a former F-16 pilot, supported by Wg Cdr Rashid (Flight Commander from 16 Squadron) who flew on Tuesday 15th. Both wore their new Thunder Solo Display patch proudly on their flying suits having seen so many other display pilots at Izmir in June wearing their own official insignias.
The eight-minute solo display saw the Thunder being put through its paces, with the pilot pulling an impressive 8G during some of the maneuvers that included a vertical roll.
Wg Cdr Ronald, who flew the display four times, is a former F-16 pilot who has been with JF-17s for a year-and-a-half. His unit, 26 Squadron at Peshawar, is tasked with training pilots. When compared to the F-16, Wg Cdr Ronald says the JF-17 does not lose speed in the turn as the F-16 does. According to an F-16 engineer I spoke to, this is attributed to the curved Leading Edge Roots in front of the wings.
It must have been tough at times for both the pilots after the news filtered back to Dubai on the third day of the show that one of their colleagues, Sqn Ldr Hussain, had been killed while flying a Thunder in Pakistan. The JF-17 community is relatively young but very close and Sqn Ldr Hussain was a senior member who had served with 26 Squadron before being posted to 16 Squadron earlier this year.
On Display
Of the three JF-17s, looking very smart in their 16 Squadron Black Panther markings on the tail and fuel tanks, two were used for the flying display, one acting as a spare (11-128) for the other (11-134); while the other example (11-130) resided in the static display, with a plethora of new weapons that are operational on the jet, including the SD-10 Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile, PL-5EII medium range air to air missile, WD-7 targeting pod, LT-2 1,000lb (454kg) laser guided bomb, C-802 anti-shipping missile and LS-6 Extended Range 1,000lb (454kg) bomb converted from a dumb bomb into a smart guided missile courtesy of a guidance kit which boosts its range to around 40 miles (60kms).
To date, 38 of the 42 JF-17 Block 1s have been delivered with the last due to be handed over by March/April 2012.
Production of the first of 50 Block 2s will commence almost immediately and run up to December 2015. This latest, more capable batch will, according to Air Marshal Rao, boast aircraft with more air-to-air capability, enhanced avionics, air to air refueling and a two-seat version. The Block 3s are expected to begin rolling off the production line from 2016 onwards and will undoubtedly be enhanced further, possibly with new data-link systems, weapons and a Chinese engine.
Mr. Ma Zhiping is the President of CATIC, Chinas main aircraft export agency. He will get the financing to enable developing countries to buy the Thunder as long as it is all made in China.
JF-17 Pioneers
The PAF decided that deliveries of the JF-17 would commence before development of the aircraft was completed. This led to eight Small Batch Production (SBP) aircraft being delivered in 2007/08 to the Tactical Evaluation Flight headed by Wg Cdr Ahsen Rafiq (now a Gp Captain working with JF-17 CPD and present at Dubai). The units task was to qualify all the pilots, test engineers and teams as well as evaluate the jets, test avionics, check the aircrafts performances and formulate all the working manuals.
Eventually, in February 2010, the TEF evolved into 26 Squadron, headed by Wg Cdr Khalid Mahmood, who handed over to Wg Cdr Ahsen ul Haq in July 2011. Wg Cdr Ahsen was the first Pakistani pilot to fly the JF-17, in April 2004. Wg Cdr Hakim, who has more flying hours than anyone else on the JF-17, has been the CO of the second unit, 16 Squadron at Minhas, since it stood up in February 2011.
While all the pilots are now being trained at 26 Squadron, the new aircraft are being accepted by 16 Squadron at Minhas as they come straight off the co-located PAC Kamra production line. A third squadron is expected to stand up in January 2012.
The CATIC perspective
Mr. Ma Zhiping, the CATIC President, spoke exclusively to the author about the export chances of the JF-17: The JF-17 Thunder will replace older generation aircraft like the A-5, Mirage III/V, MiG-21 and F-5. We understand the big competition from Europe, Russia and USA to sell aircraft, but we want to join the high-tech fighter club even though they keep refusing new members!
The JF-17 is a high performance fighter that has been flying with the PAF for three years now. Some countries have sent pilots to China to test aircraft. I view the JF-17 as an F-16 for developing countries. More than five countries are interested and it is gaining momentum all the time. I expect our first overseas contract to be signed next year. I know that Egypt is interested but it is complicated. The new Government cannot be seen to be investing money into their Air Force; it must focus on investing into civil life.
I have had discussions with an African MOD official discussing JF-17. But this country does not have any fighters now. They need to have certain technologies in place and the appropriate training, so what I have suggested is they should acquire a first generation fighter perhaps F-7 with K-8s and then gradually build their air force towards a second generation aircraft.
Some African air forces are very young and it might not have enough pilots. We can provide a solution with organizing training courses for more pilots if they have Chinese aircraft. I can provide good financing, this is the CATIC policy. We can co-operate with banks but the customer must buy Chinese.
We can also promise that we will stay during times of conflict and can provide a good example. At PNS Mehran (near Karachi) in April insurgents attacked the airfield and blew up some P-3 Orions, right next to the Z-9 hangars where our people were working. However unlike the US, who pulled out the five American engineers there, we didnt pull any of our workers out. We even flew a Z-9 in the planned morning mission!
Finally, regarding J-10 (Pakistan version is FC-20). The aircraft is performing very well with the PLAAF but we cannot sign any contracts with foreign countries because we do not yet have an export license for the Russian engine. We must have a joint AVIC-CATIC strategy before we can do that.
AFD
