China sees JF-17 exports 'within five years'
February 16, 2012
By James Hardy Asia-Pacific Editor - Singapore
China is aiming for major exports of the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC)/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) JF-17 Thunder aircraft over the next five years, the president of the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) told IHS Jane's at the 2012 Singapore Airshow on 14 February.
Ma Zhiping said that China expected to sell up to 300 of the multirole aircraft to "Middle East and African" countries in the next five years. The platform, which China co-builds with Pakistan, is significantly cheaper than Western or Russian alternatives while providing a similar capability.
Ma compared the single-engined JF-17 to the single-engine Lockheed Martin F-16, saying that "for the same capability we can compete on price". The JF-17, costing around USD30 million, is perhaps more comparable to the Boeing F-15 Strike Eagle, which costs about USD100 million per unit.
China has yet to enter a fighter aircraft in an open competition. If it does achieve overseas sales of the JF-17 beyond Pakistan, it will likely achieve them through a direct military sale.
it was reported in November 2011 that the Pakistan Air Force programme team at PAC in Kamra are finalising the design for the Block 2 version of the JF-17. The main features of the next iteration of the aircraft include a new advanced avionics suite and an air-to-air-refuelling capability, as well as the development of a two-seat variant. There is also a new version of the aircraft's China Electronics Technology Corporation (CETC) KG300G electronic warfare suite that expands the coverage of its frequency band.
CATIC also believes it can make substantial sales of the L-15 single-engined light attack fighter, which it also produces and markets as an advanced jet trainer. Ma said that six countries had tested the L-15 and he expected its first export sale this year, perhaps at November's Xuhai Airshow. "We'll have an international contract this year," Ma said.
The L-15 is in the same class as the Korean Aerospace Industries T-50 - also on the export market as a light fighter as the T/A-50 - and the Alenia Aermacchi M-346.
China's burgeoning unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry is also seeking export customers, with CATIC again highlighting the medium-altitude, long-endurance Wing Loong UAV at Singapore. Reportedly cleared for export since 2009, the Predator-class UAV was developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute and is in service with the People's Liberation Army, according to Ma.
Ma added that the UAV, which has an operational ceiling of 5,000 m, range of 200 km and endurance of two hours, had attracted interest from "traditional customers", predominantly African and Middle Eastern countries looking for next-generation capabilities on a budget.
