Don't know if posted before...
1. JF-17s will not have CFTs
(Conformal Fuel Tanks).
2. The present batch of JF-17s has
certain non-Chinese subsystems.
3. Air to Air missile tests for both
WVR and BVR are complete.
4. PAF is impressed with the
performance of SD-10s and confirms
that the missile is comparable to the
AMRAAM-Cs.
5. An improved SD-10s, designated
here as SD-10Bs with improved
range, seeker, new motor and better
seeker has been tested in China on
the FC-1. These missiles are
marginally lighter than the first
generation and are in the same
standard as the best Western BVR
AAMs.
The weight of the SD-10Bs still
remains slightly greater than the
AMRAAM Cs but this is not an issue
anymore because the performance is
equal or superior. The missiles
displayed in Zhuhai were not the new
generation SD-10Bs but the earlier
model.
PAF order for the SD-10Bs will be
fulfilled before PLAAF. Previous
models will be upgraded to the new
SD-10B standard. [Author’s note: this
may suggest that PAF have provided
critical input for the SD-10Bs]
6. PAF will standardize to this
SD-10Bs. First 50 will have PL-9Cs as
standard WVR missiles.
7. A new radar will possibly be used
in the Block II JF-17s and the first
block will be upgraded. These are
likely to be AESA radars with a swash-
plate, similar to the Gripen NG.
8. JF-17 radars are designed to be
fully multirole.
9. Various new guided munitions are
being tested in China. These include
SDBs (Small Diameter Bombs) ideal
for the light fighter class.
10. PAF’s second squadron of JF-17s
is almost ready and flight trials are
earmarked for early next year.
11. China is confirmed (yet again and
without any doubt whatsoever) to
buy the FC-1s. Consequently,
production is being expanded in
Pakistan’s production facilities,
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC),
to meet the demand. These facilities
are located in Kamra.
12. Close cooperation on the J-10B is
taking place. The level of cooperation
has been significantly expanded since
2009. The size of the cooperation is
described as literally a small city-like
facility to accommodate PAF and
Pakistani civilian engineers. Hannan
confirmed that civilian engineers from
PAC are also part of the cooperation
in China.
13. The J-10B will have Chinese radar
and western subsystems will allow it
to be integrated with Erieye and
Chinese AWACS. This is not an
assumption and Eagle Hannan, who is
a telecom engineer himself, confirms
that this is not a technical problem
and reconfirms from PAF. There is no
problem as long as the protocol
messages and handshake procedures
are known. He found out that PAF
has a solution in terms of the
middleware.
14. The middleware will not only be
via a C4I but also direct
communication middleware. Some of
these are being developed in-house
and some are being imported.
15. Whether JF-17s can data link with
Erieye has not been confirmed due to
diplomatic/political reasons.
However, Hannan notes that from his
discussions, it is implicitly obvious
that they definitely can.
16. IFR (In-Flight Refueling) will be
installed in later batches. These will
be fixed IFRs and not retractable.
[Author’s note: radar signature and
aerodynamics penalty paid for
simplicity of construction, cost and
maintenance]. The JF-17s were
designed from the ground-up to have
IFRs installed.
17. Next block of JF-17s will have
IRST (Infra-Red Search & Track)
similar to those installed on the
J-10B.
18. Pakistani ALCM Raad and H2/H4
ASM will be integrated and was a
major reason why Pakistan has
chosen to go with Chinese radars for
Block 2 JF-17s.
19. Advanced composites have been
tested for use on the Block 2 JF-17s.
Present JF-17s also use some
composites. J-10B/FC-20 is designed
from inception from new advanced
composites. FC-20s in PAF service
will form the top tier in the PAF
(above the F-16 Block 52+).
20. PAF denied any collaboration in
Chinese 5th generation fighter
program as this is a capability they
are not familiar with. PAF senior
officials stated that:
We cannot help develop a capability
we don’t know. Like we don’t know
what kind of sensor suite is in F-22
other than what we find from open-
source. Such capability/requirement
generation is not Air Force job but
such technology information is
brought in by other means [Hannan
notes: espionage or intelligence I
think this is what he meant]. We all
know F-22 is stealth but what else it
can do is what we don’t know. JF-17s
are developed because we knew
what we wanted from a 4th
generation fighter as we already had
an experience with capability, either
by existing systems or by our
collaboration with other air forces.
Even US Air force only comes to know
new capabilities when it’s presented
to it. Chinese on the other hand,
have the means to bring such
information and develop on such
information and PAF does not. We'll
see what they bring up.
TR Defence Forum • View topic - JF-17 Information and Developments Thread
well what about composites and AESA mentioned above??
