The PAC/Chengdu JF-17 Thunder has not just worked wonders for the tactical needs of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), it has jump started the country’s aerospace industry. When building an aircraft, it is not only about creating the infrastructure – that’s the easy part. Educating and training a work force in the necessary skills is even more important.
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra has been building the JF-17 at its AMF (Aircraft Manufacturing Company) since 2007. Over ten years later, more than 100 have now been delivered.
Five operational squadrons are flying the JF-17 – Nos. 2, 14, 16, 26 and 28, with No 2 Squadron taking on the anti-shipping role courtesy of its new Chinese built C802AK missile. The JF-17 Combat Commanders’ School, which could be described as running national ‘Top Gun’ courses, started its first class in July 2015. Another operational squadron will stand up next year. Today the JF-17 Block 3 is waiting for a decision on the new AESA (Airborne Electronically Scanned Array) radar and production is expected to start next year.
The first two-seat JF-17B version arrived in Pakistan earlier this year and is now being evaluated by the JF-17 test and evaluation unit at PAF Base Minhas. There are thought to be three initial two-seaters, one for AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) and two for the Pakistan Air Force. A second is expected to arrive in Pakistan next year. The inclusion of a two-seater in the testing and development programme, will speed up the integration of more weapons according to CATIC (China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation). This isn’t necessarily for the Pakistan Air Force but for an export customer, neither PAF or CATIC have ever officially acknowledged.
A two-seater serving the PAF will allow pilots to move from any of the PAF’s fighters or even straight from the PAF Academy, without having first go to the F-16. This is the procedure currently underway because the PAF wants its pilots to fly a high performance jet before getting into the JF-17.
With the PAF know-how and the Chinese technological wizardry helping to shape the Thunder, it is heading into tactical capabilities that pioneers of the jet could only have dreamt of. As such, the export market is likely to be play a bigger part in the JF-17’s success. To get there, it will need the continued drive and vision of both Pakistan and China - great allies who trust each other implicitly.
https://asianmilitaryreview.com/2018/12/show-daily-news-from-ideas-2018-day-3/
AESA RADAR WILL EXTEND BLOCK 3 JF-17 CAPABILITY
With over 100 Block JF-17s built, attention is now being switched to the production of the more capable Block 3 jets. After starting production in 2008, PAC Kamra manufactures 58 percent of the JF-17 Thunder, while Chengdu Aircraft Corporation builds the remainder. The JF-17 Thunder started life as the Super-7 in the late-80s, but sanctions by the US and its allies delayed development of the aircraft for over a decade. That was until the decision was made by the late Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir in 2000 to decouple the development of the avionics from production of the airframe.
With contracts for 50 Block 1 and 50 plus 12 Block 2s signed and almost delivered, attention is now being switched to a contract for 50 Block 3s. With production of the Block 3 being delayed until 2019, while the PAF searched for a new AESA radar, PAC opted to manufacture an 14 additional Block 2s this year to ensure production does not halt at the PAC’s Aircraft Manufacturing Factory.
A decision on a new AESA radar for the Block 3s is expected to be made by the end of the year. There are now two Chinese contenders: one is the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology KLJ-7A being marketed by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC). The second one, which was displayed at Zhuhai Air Show, China, in November by Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute (LETRI) is a new air-cooling AESA known as the LKF601E. CATIC has thrown its weight behind this option and claim that not only is it the first air-cooled radar, but replacing the JF-17’s original KLJ-7 is simply a case of taking out the old system and inserting the new one. Both radars are being evaluated by the PAF.
Another improvement over the Block 1 and 2s is an air-to-air refuelling system. Trials and qualifications of a new Chinese inflight refuelling system, saw the first aircraft, Block 2 No. 29 being fitted in mid-2017.
Block 3 enhancements will include new avionics, better electronic warfare systems, increased payload and more sophisticated weapons. It will be the ultimate JF-17 and with an AESA radar, will have the capability to employ longer range weapons and track multiple aircraft.
https://asianmilitaryreview.com/2018/12/show-daily-news-from-ideas-2018-day-2/
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