Pakistan F-7PG the little plane that could

[Irfan Baloch]

The F-7BG variant Bangladesh inducted has various improvements over the previous PG version, including MFDs and the ability to carry BVR. Some Bangali's have even hinted at CFTs but yet to find a picture.
.

yea they are the best Mig-21 clones. they can even take on the Mig-29s if not the Su-27 family
@BDforever @asad71

 

[Hamza913]

I believe most of the F-7s in Pakistani arsenal has been made after 90s, hence the air frame has considerable life left. Is there any thought of any mid life upgrade program?

All of them are likely to be replaced by 2020, so I doubt there will be any major upgrades.

F7Ps are being phased out. The F7PGs shall stay on and will take new armament and modifications to stay relevant.

They will die too after 2020.

Instead of WASTING any time or FUNDs on F7 series (both P&PG)............ spend them on Thunder program and increase the production to replace this ''BABA G'' As soon As Possible................. Its getting tough to maintain and fly this air craft............ there is ABSOLUTELY no need to spend any thing on it................... Its risking lives of our Pilots ......I hate to admit the fact that this JUNK will stay in our air force even after 2020 along with ROSE Mirages


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@Windjammer @MaarKhoor

Look at this......................

They will be gone by 2020, don't worry.

 

[Tipu7]

yea they are the best Mig-21 clones. they can even take on the Mig-29s if not the Su-27 family
@BDforever @asad71

Better than Thunder ?

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

JF17 production rate is 10-12 planes per year

How many planes we need to retire

192 F-7
140 Mirage


So how does the math work

2016 : 14 new planes
2017 : 14 new planes
2018 : 14 new planes
2019 : 14 new planes

** Past 5 years product range has been any where from 2 planes per year to 7 planes per year
------------------------------------------------------------
New planes added : 26 planes over 4 years
------------------------------------------------------------

Which really points to a rethink or increase in production capabilities to 50 plane per year

Or May be we need to have a modernization stream if we are not buying a 4.5 Generation plane

• When we did the F16 MLU, in 2-3 years we did a Technology Boost up of the F16 planes, with Turkish partners etc the gain felt by the airforce was gratifying

So options are
a) Buy 100-150 plane contract (Gripen , Hornet , F15 SE , F16 , Sukhoi, Typhoon)
b) Increase production of JF17 Block 2, Block 3 (50 Planes per year)
c) Modernize 100 F-7 , with DIGITAL upgrade, while keeping existing production rates of
Thunder so , engine , better radars mature for Thunder


A bird in hand will be worth 20 F35 that will never come

A Digital Upgrade of Avionics / Radar will open door to Lethal Chinese Missiles for F-7
And we can easily add the EW suit as pod or Recon Pod

With Upgrade to the Radar & Digital Cockpit the F-7 platform which we have abundance of planes could be carrying some wonderful Missile options

While also allowing JF17 thunder program to grow at it's natural pace

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Better than Thunder ?

I am ill informed to make that comparison. but let me tell you
Bangladeshi pilots in this Mig-21 derivative on steriod can give any plane a run for its money.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

JF17 production rate is 10-12 planes per year

How many planes we need to retire

192 F-7
140 Mirage


So how does the math work

2016 : 14 new planes
2017 : 14 new planes
2018 : 14 new planes
2019 : 14 new planes

** Past 5 years product range has been any where from 2 planes per year to 7 planes per year
------------------------------------------------------------
New planes added : 26 planes over 4 years
------------------------------------------------------------

Which really points to a rethink or increase in production capabilities to 50 plane per year

16 units per years ... With production increasing to 26 per year from 2016.

 

[asad71]

yea they are the best Mig-21 clones. they can even take on the Mig-29s if not the Su-27 family
@BDforever @asad71

Yes, they say F-7 PG and BG versions are the best option in the interim before J-10s are available in numbers.

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Doesnt that look like MiG-21? albeit with better electronic systems.

well spotted indeed it is a Mig-21 derivative

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

yea they are the best Mig-21 clones. they can even take on the Mig-29s if not the Su-27 family
@BDforever @asad71

It's just a better version of F-7.. Same metal structure,frame,payload,fuel capacity etc...

The only upgrade is to its avionics like HUD,KLJ6 radar (capable of firing short range BVR missiles like Pl-2 etc)..Even with an upgrade it couldn't be armed with missiles like SD-10 .. But the LS with a range of less than 60km.

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Yes, they say F-7 PG and BG versions are the best option in the interim before J-10s are available in numbers.

I have seen some BD airforce videos involving Mig-21.. they pull some amazing stunts ..

but eye candy acrobats aside both PAF and BD F-7s have some impressive customizations in their own right. actually BG version is given more points over PG .. unless our F7s have something which is not public knowledge.

It's just a better version of F-7.. Same metal structure,frame,payload,fuel capacity etc...

The only upgrade is to its avionics like HUD,KLJ6 radar (capable of firing short range BVR missiles like Pl-2 etc)..Even with an upgrade it couldn't be armed with missiles like SD-10 .. But the LS with a range of less than 60km.

yes the role is very narrow and restricted and thats what it was made for.
it has seen its time. light to medium jets will always have their own niche in the modern air warfare ..

 

[Tipu7]

I have seen some BD airforce videos involving Mig-21.. they pull some amazing stunts ..

but eye candy acrobats aside both PAF and BD F-7s have some impressive customizations in their own right. actually BG version is given more points over PG .. unless our F7s have something which is not public knowledge.


yes the role is very narrow and restricted and thats what it was made for.
it has seen its time. light to medium jets will always have their own niche in the modern air warfare ..

Yes, they say F-7 PG and BG versions are the best option in the interim before J-10s are available in numbers.

Gotta admit
This is most cool F7/Mig21 I have ever seen .......................

JF17 production rate is 10-12 planes per year

How many planes we need to retire

192 F-7
140 Mirage


So how does the math work

2016 : 14 new planes
2017 : 14 new planes
2018 : 14 new planes
2019 : 14 new planes

** Past 5 years product range has been any where from 2 planes per year to 7 planes per year
------------------------------------------------------------
New planes added : 26 planes over 4 years
------------------------------------------------------------

Which really points to a rethink or increase in production capabilities to 50 plane per year

Or May be we need to have a modernization stream if we are not buying a 4.5 Generation plane

• When we did the F16 MLU, in 2-3 years we did a Technology Boost up of the F16 planes, with Turkish partners etc the gain felt by the airforce was gratifying

So options are
a) Buy 100-150 plane contract (Gripen , Hornet , F15 SE , F16 , Sukhoi, Typhoon)
b) Increase production of JF17 Block 2, Block 3 (50 Planes per year)
c) Modernize 100 F-7 , with DIGITAL upgrade, while keeping existing production rates of
Thunder so , engine , better radars mature for Thunder


A bird in hand will be worth 20 F35 that will never come

A Digital Upgrade of Avionics / Radar will open door to Lethal Chinese Missiles for F-7
And we can easily add the EW suit as pod or Recon Pod

NO NEED FOR THAT. NOT AT ALL. GET RID OF THEM ASAP..................

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

An MLU of the F-7 , platform (Digitization & Radar) may be we could finish in 2-3 Years, 100 planes all parts from China no restriction, and we may also have access to EW suit / Recon POD , and new missiles

Infact 50 F-7 can be flown to China for MLU/ 50 Planes done in Pakistan

New Radar will enable some new good for plane

If Sweden can revamp their plane with Digital upgrade , and call it Gripen Next Gen, not sure why the same could not be done to F-7 by Pakistan , and just specialize the F-7 as interceptor role

• We will not order 100 Sukhoi,
  
• We will not be ordering 120 F16 C/D
• We will not be ordering F15 Silent Eagle
• We will not be getting any Typhoon

And our JF17 production has been stuck at 5 to 7 planes realistic figures when you look at year by year basis and to assume it will suddenly become 50 planes a year , might be too difficult to imagine

In order to fully retire Mirage / F7 , we really need the production boost to 50 planes a year

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Gotta admit
This is most cool F7/Mig21 I have ever seen .......................

View attachment 297415


NO NEED FOR THAT. NOT AT ALL. GET RID OF THEM ASAP..................

we can get some data on this if there is any information released on PAF F-7 PG vs JF-17s

although JF-17s are told to do much against PAF F-16s but you have to me mindful that there is some biased reporting too

 

[Shabi1]

What is the airframe life on F-7PGs, any one have an idea when MLU is due. That is probably the point where they decide to simply overhaul them or give them an upgrade. F-7Ps are done, will likely be kept in storage once airframes reach overhaul condition..

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

I have seen some BD airforce videos involving Mig-21.. they pull some amazing stunts ..

but eye candy acrobats aside both PAF and BD F-7s have some impressive customizations in their own right. actually BG version is given more points over PG .. unless our F7s have something which is not public knowledge.


yes the role is very narrow and restricted and thats what it was made for.
it has seen its time. light to medium jets will always have their own niche in the modern air warfare ..

Bangladesh bought them as stop gap interceptors .. Priced between 8-10 million per unit...

By all standards its ab obsolete platform much like PGs,Bisons or any other 3rd gen fighter...

Some people here are talking about upgrading F-7s... They forget that it's airframe/body has limitations ... It's nose for example can't house a bigger more capable radar.. It's combat radius,payload,radar etc etc can't be increased and so on...