Absolutely agree on this - China was meant to purchase as many JF17s as Pakistan was meant to. When China pulled out of the programme from a procurement persepective - it fell on Pakistan to fund the completion of Block I, and pay for Block II / III's itself. There was no sharing of development costs which was part of the original business case for the JF17 !!! This funding of the development programme "soaked" up money that could have been used to perform more units of the JF17 - hence why the procurement of the JF17 felt so glacial for so long.
This has for sure left a sour taste in PAF's mouth as far as future development programmes go and how they will be structured.
Agree - let CATIC / China finance it and develop a mature product - there is no value in being the launch customer for the J-31/35 and paying for its development costs - when that money can be spent on procurements of platforms once the development was complete. This is not a co-development project that will directly benefit Pakistans aerospace industry much. Best decision Pakistan made was to sit on the sidelines for the J-35 programme despite all the PR/pressure/hard-sell by China / CATIC applied to try and get Pakistan as the launch customer and then make Pakistan pay for its development !!!!
I am beyond certain that Pakistan will induct the TFX. Pakistan is starting to incorporate Turkish military technology into its military with a view of having military diversity of course, but also as leverage against some of the more "sharper" Chinese "business" practices over its sales and prices of some it's systems. It is a hedge.
Hi,
The playing field changed---for that reason c hina stuck with the J10---.
The JF17 was what paf needed and that is what it got---.
PAF did a very poor homework on how to make the JF17 happen---. Structurally they did not have any issues---but the power plant and the EW package became a big hurdle---which was overcome with persistence---time was lost---experience was gained---self reliance was gained---.
The major issue was not having a 2 seater right from gitgo---that was a very very bad decision---.
That was a " court martial " type of decision---,
You cannot sell the aircraft if you cannot fly the aircraft---.
But in the end---JF17 fulfilled what the air force needed---. The J10 is filling a niche position---.
The success story of the Jf17 is that it is " ready when called on" and able to deliver as needed---. What more does an air force need---.
Now for its sale---.
Selling a fighter aircraft is a herculean task---specially for a nation like pakistan---.
If the pak govt had been more honest to pakistan in the last 15 years---and kepts its pakistan first priorities straight---things would be different---.
But even then---JF17 is still a success story---.
Every success has its failures---every victory has its moments of despair---. Set backs are a package enroute to success---but to make a " SOB STORY----translated in pakistani as Randi Rona about the JF17---is like negating the hardships & hurdles faced to make this aircraft a success.
Not really true. Initial project is called sabre-7 project. Its is in very early of 1995 where China aviation design is still weak, many inspiration are borrow from Mig-21. Then came the moment when US release more F-16 sales to PAF and the need for Sabre-7 was cancel. Then came 2003 when China aviation design is on another level plus Pakistan was uneasy with US war on terror. The need for self reliance and a reliable military supply was needed.
After much discussion, FC-1 was born. With success of J-10. China is more familiar with modern aircraft design like FBW. That is where radical FC-1 / JF-17 is born out of its own and nothing associate with Mig-21.
Hi,
JF17 has nothing to do with Sabre-7---.
Two totally different projects---.
. Just never had the time to join in and participate.
