Many countries express interest in JF-17 Thunder

[Edevelop]

Numerous countries are interested in obtaining a fighter jet jointly developed by Pakistan and China, said a senior officer of the Pakistan air force.

"We've been receiving inquiries and expressions of interest on the JF-17 Thunder from many countries in the Middle East, Africa and even as far as South America," Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, told China Daily on Thursday.

The JF-17 Thunder - or the FC-1 Fierce Dragon as it's known in China - is a third-generation multipurpose combat jet co-developed by Aviation Industry Corp of China and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, the leading aviation company in Pakistan, which is in charge of manufacturing and maintaining the Pakistan Air Force's aircraft.

Some of the inquiries were "very serious", he said.

"During my trips to many countries, almost everyone I've met asked me about the plane and many countries said they want to join the project," Khan said.

The JF-17 is an "extremely capable aircraft" and its maneuverability and avionics are excellent, he added.

Air Vice-Marshal Javaid Ahmed, chief director of the JF-17 project, echoed that view.

"The JF-17 is one of our top lightweight fighters, comparable to any advanced aircraft in the Pakistan Air Force."

Khan said the JF-17 project is a living example of the positive cooperation between the Pakistani and Chinese aviation industries, and that the achievements the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex has made over the past 40 years should be largely attributed to its cooperation with the Chinese aviation industry.

The complex has already produced more than 40 JF-17s, he noted, adding that the cooperation project between China and Pakistan on the aircraft is still under way with technicians from both nations focusing on the upgrading of weapons and avionics.

In addition, Khan said that the Pakistan Air Force has also been eyeing other Chinese military planes and may take part in the development of other aircraft in the future.

His remarks came one day after six JF-17 Thunder fighter jets escorted the Boeing 747 that transported Premier Li Keqiang when it entered Pakistani airspace. Li started his two-day visit to Islamabad on Wednesday.

After China Central Television broadcast footage of the JF-17s escorting Li's plane and of the premier waving to Pakistani pilots, many Chinese netizens said in online comments that the selection of the JF-17 Thunder symbolizes the two nations' close relationship in the defense sector.

"It's a great honor for us that our JF-17s were selected to welcome Chinese Premier Li Keqiang," Wing Commander Ronald Afzal, who leads the Pakistan Air Force's 16th Squadron, which is equipped with JF-17s, told China Daily in a phone interview. He led and took part in the escort operation, which lasted 17 minutes.

"We handpicked the best pilots in my squadron and started intensive training on escort formation at high altitudes and fly-past operations at high speeds as well as at very low altitudes - about 500 feet (152 meters) - one week ago when we were informed that the squadron would escort Li's aircraft," Afzal said.

"My fellow pilots were very proud and excited that we were given this opportunity to escort the Chinese premier and present to him the best image of our air force," he added.

Their pride is also shared by the aircraft's Chinese developers.

"As the developers, we feel pretty privileged to see our planes undertake such an honorable mission and believe that the Pakistan Air Force chose the JF-17 to welcome our premier partly because it has a lot of Chinese elements," said Yang Wei, the chief designer of the aircraft at the Aviation Industry Corp of China.

Yang's team will join hands with their Pakistani counterparts to develop future versions of the JF-17, gradually providing the aircraft with partial stealth and aerial refueling capabilities, he said.

Many countries express interest in JF-17 Thunder - People's Daily Online

 

[Safriz]

engine......engine......engine...

No engine...


Until the day there is a chinese engine in jf.17-
These will remain enquiries only.

 

[Edevelop]

Some things to note !

"We've been receiving inquiries and expressions of interest on the JF-17 Thunder from many countries in the Middle East, Africa and even as far as South America," Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, told China Daily on Thursday

In addition, Khan said that the Pakistan Air Force has also been eyeing other Chinese military planes and may take part in the development of other aircraft in the future.

The complex has already produced more than 40 JF-17s, he noted, adding that the cooperation project between China and Pakistan on the aircraft is still under way with technicians from both nations focusing on the upgrading of weapons and avionics.

Yang's team will join hands with their Pakistani counterparts to develop future versions of the JF-17, gradually providing the aircraft with partial stealth and aerial refueling capabilities, he said.

 

[jhungary]

A lot of expression of interest, but no customer..........

Apart from the Engine, Chinese and Pakistani isn't really selling them in the international market.

With this price range 20-25 millions, there are still a few aircraft with better rep to choose from, Mirage 2000 (23 millions), Su-27 (29-30 millions) or Mig-29 (28 millions)

 

[Luftwaffe]

A lot of expression of interest, but no customer..........

Apart from the Engine, Chinese and Pakistani isn't really selling them in the international market.

With this price range 20-25 millions, there are still a few aircraft with better rep to choose from, Mirage 2000 (23 millions), Su-27 (29-30 millions) or Mig-29 (28 millions)

It has been repeated many a times once WS Series Engine is cleared and certified for mass scale manufacturing then would it be cleared for exports in the international market.

The prices are not correct neither have you included the total cost for infrastructure and life time support including spares, the most expensive of them all is Mirage 2000 which would require upgrades just like brazil had purchased and upgraded, all 3 types that you mentioned in the price would be second hand. I do not believe any nation would want a basic variant second hand above a decade to 2 decades airframe eventually upgrades would be required so the price should be around 45m for Flanker and 35m for Fulcrum.

 

[jhungary]

It has been repeated many a times once WS Series Engine is cleared and certified for mass scale manufacturing then would it be cleared for exports in the international market.

The prices are not correct neither have you included the total cost for infrastructure and life time support including spares, the most expensive of them all is Mirage 2000 which would require upgrades just like brazil had purchased and upgraded, all 3 types that you mentioned in the price would be second hand. I do not believe any nation would want a basic variant second hand above a decade to 2 decades airframe eventually upgrades would be required so the price should be around 45m for Flanker and 35m for Fulcrum.

Well, I am sick today caught cold from yesterday, so I am not going to reply you in detail.

But regarding the Mig-29, you are wrong, (well, you are right with that figure but that's for naval version of Mig-29, ie Mig-29K)

according to this, the reported price of the Mig-29 at 1999 is 11 millions, and the upgrade per planes to UPG or SMT standard is 15.5 millions per piece in 2008. Totalling 25-27 millions with training and spares

How much does a MiG-29K, MiG-29SMT and a MiG-29B really Cost?

The sale for the newly made Mig-29K is 33.3 millions a piece with upgrade and parts.

 

[Trisonics]

engine......engine......engine...

No engine...


Until the day there is a chinese engine in jf.17-
These will remain enquiries only.

Contrary to your thinking, JF-17 being single engined and nobody not knowing how reliable the Chinese engine is will only further delay interests of this jet. Whatever people may say and whatever the needs of the Chinese, not having this plane in their own AF after design and development will raise eyebrows. PAF may be the only AF using JF17 for a while. My opinion ..you dont have to agree.

 

[Pakistanisage]

I think we still have to resolve the Engine availability issue ( RD-93 ), before mass sales of JF-17 to foreign countries.

 

[That Guy]

Contrary to your thinking, JF-17 being single engined and nobody not knowing how reliable the Chinese engine is will only further delay interests of this jet. Whatever people may say and whatever the needs of the Chinese, not having this plane in their own AF after design and development will raise eyebrows. PAF may be the only AF using JF17 for a while. My opinion ..you dont have to agree.

Well, if the deal with Sri Lanka actually goes through, sales may pick up. The fighter has nowhere to go but up, simply because it can't go below zero sales, which is where it is at right now.

I think we still have to resolve the Engine availability issue ( RD-93 ), before mass sales of JF-17 to foreign countries.

There have been rumors that Pakistan is trying to get Russia to directly sell the engines to Pakistan, instead of through China. Though, if the Chinese WS engine comes through by 2014, the RD-93 engine may not even be needed.

 

[Pakistanisage]

Well, if the deal with Sri Lanka actually goes through, sales may pick up. The fighter has nowhere to go but up, simply because it can't go below zero sales, which is where it is at right now.



There have been rumors that Pakistan is trying to get Russia to directly sell the engines to Pakistan, instead of through China. Though, if the Chinese WS engine comes through by 2014, the RD-93 engine may not even be needed.

Yes, we are all waiting for the WS-13 engine to be operational so it can be used on JF-17, but you have to understand the Psychology of a buyer. For Pakistan it is a different story since we are Co-Developers of the JF-17 Thunder program, we will be more receptive to try any innovation.

But other Buyers who are thinking of investing hundreds of millions of Dollars in a new fighter want an engine that is mature and time tested. Till we develop the track record and history with WS-13 Engine to show to a buyer that it is a reliable Engine, we may be stuck with RD-93 for a while.

Personally, I am more keen to see JF-17 use WS-13 and hopefully this Chinese Engine can resolve couple of problems we have with RD-93 which are as follows:

1. RD-93 has a problem leaving black smoke from exhaust which is a sign of unburnt fuel.

2. RD-93 is somewhat under-powered engine for JF-17, leaving it with the Thrust to Weight Ratio of 1:1, at best. PAC is trying to resolve this issue in Block 2 by reducing the Weight factor thru higher use of Carbon fibre composites and by hopefully having a more powerful engine WS-13.

 

[Peregrine]

Dont Pakistan and China already have their hands full with ongoing manufacturing of JF-17s on emergency basis for Pakistan only? I really doubt that even if they get any customers they are in any position to cater to them. So the reference of engines for foreign exports seem quite meaningless at this stage.

 

[That Guy]

Dont Pakistan and China already have their hands full with ongoing manufacturing of JF-17s on emergency basis for Pakistan only? I really doubt that even if they get any customers they are in any position to cater to them. So the reference of engines for foreign exports seem quite meaningless at this stage.

Any deal with a foreign buyer will either be small numbers, delayed purchase or finally, an initial purchase with a partner program to have a factory in the buyer's country. Originally, Egypt was interested in partnering with the project and having local production, but God knows if that will ever happen.

 

[assassin123]

what about AL 31 engine in jf till china finishes the development of theirs?

 

[Pinnacle]

what about AL 31 engine in jf till china finishes the development of theirs?

AL-31 is too heavy to use it in jft. it is for j-10 and other heavy planes..

 

[OrionHunter]

engine......engine......engine...

No engine...


Until the day there is a chinese engine in jf.17-
These will remain enquiries only.

As of 2010, with the FC-1 in direct competition with the MiG-29 in the international market, Russian aircraft manufacturers have raised concerns regarding the re-export of the FC-1's RD-93 engines. The FC-1 is competing against the MiG-29 in an Egyptian tender for 32 fighter aircraft. Mikhail Pogosyan, head of the MiG and Sukhoi design bureaus, has recommended to the Russian defence export agency Rosoboronexport that sales of RD-93 engines to China be blocked to prevent the JF-17 from competing with the MiG-29 on the international market.

If at any time, Russia stops export of these engines for whatever reason, then what would happen? The entire export program will fall like a house of cards with associated legal issues.