JF-17 thunders through. Engine issue resolved!

Asim Aquil · 05-17-2006, 10:01 AM

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/05/17/1653698.htm

Ladies n gentlemen, China's producing the RD-93!

Quote:

May 16 (THE NATION): The fourth prototype (PT-4) of the JF-17 Thunder aircraft, jointly produced by China and Pakistan, successfully completed its inaugural flight in Chengdu in China on May 10, 2006, proving its credibility to meet the needs of both the countries.

Flights of the earlier prototypes focused on operational flight capabilities; PT-4's trial flight was aimed at testing the aircraft's weapon systems. The test flight lasted 11 minutes and the jet attained a speed of 500 kilometres per hour at an altitude of 1,500 meters.

Chief of Air Staff Pakistan Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mehmood Ahmed, who was the chief guest at the maiden flight ceremony, congratulated the pilots, engineers and technicians of the two countries to make the JF-17 Thunder project successful.

In the front page photographs of the occasion, published in various dailies on May 11, including The Nation, the Air Chief has been shown as sitting in the cockpit of the JF-17 (PT-4) raising two fingers in exuberance in an apparent display of "V" for victory. Perhaps inadvertently, the fingers are facing backwards to the viewer, indicating the western interpretation of "go to hell!" Maybe subconsciously, he is conveying the same message to all those who have been refusing technology to Pakistan under one pretext or another. [Somehow I doubt that was the intention]

The JF-17 team does deserve kudos, compared to the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas project, which is way behind schedule but exorbitantly beyond its budget. The JF-17 Thunder project has been completed in a record period of four years. China National Aviation Corp officially signed the development contract for the FC-1 airplane in 1999. The project initially suffered a setback due to imposition of sanctions in 1999, which hindered acquisition of avionics and weaponry for the aircraft.

The avionics had to be de-linked from airframe development in 2001. According to Defence Talk.com, JF-17 Thunder is a single seat, single engine, All-weather, day-night Air Superiority fighter with limited ground attack capabilities.

The first flight of FC-1/JF-17 Thunder took place in August 2003. Five prototypes are ready by now which is undergoing testing. The production is set to start in June 2006 in China. Pakistan will receive 10 JF-17 Thunder aircraft for training purpose.

Pakistan has placed initial order of 16 aircraft, assembly of which will be shared between Chengdu Aircraft and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) for Pakistan Air Force. Pakistan plans to buy 150 aircraft, of which PAC will locally assemble 134.

The JF-17 thus is a lightweight, all weather, multi-role aircraft having a capability to fly at a speed of Mach 1.6 and a high thrust to weight ratio. The aircraft has the ability to engage targets at all speeds and altitudes within the conventional flying envelope. In the surface attack and interdiction role, the aircraft can strike at long distances. The combat jet has been installed with an advanced flight control system, which is a mix of conventional and fly-by-wire controls, making it highly agile and manoeuvrable.

The aircraft would be capable of carrying short-range, beyond visual range, anti-ship as well as anti-radiation missiles. Additionally, the carriages of high and low drag bombs; laser-guided bombs, runway penetration bombs and cluster bombs would be catered for.

The JF-17 Thunder possesses a third generation airframe. Mid-mounted wings and position of intakes are similar to F/A-18 and helps in reducing signature. Wings are situated quite after the canopy, which gives the JF-17 higher instantaneous turn rate and climb rate. Although, its overall manoeuvrability is 70% that of the F-16 Falcon but its high climb rate makes the aircraft able to challenge early fourth generation fighters.

Detractors have widely reported that the FC-1/JF-17 is a continuation of the failed "MiG-33 [R33]" programme developed in the 1980s. The Russian Company Mikoyan OKB Design Bureau, which designs all MIG series of aircraft, sold the design of the MIG-33 to China and Pakistan.

This confusion led to observations that the "FC-1 features air inlets on the lateral sides of the fuselage rather than the ventral inlets of the MiG-33. The most apparent modification to the MiG-33 design is the repositioning of the ventral fins from the engine compartment..."

These supposed modifications to the mid-90s MiG-33 design actually reflect the fact that the FC-1/JF-17 is an entirely different aircraft with no design relationship to the MiG-33 (MiG-29M).

According to Defence News correspondent, Wendell Minnick, reporting from Taipei, "The JF-17 project came under threat last year when Russia forbade China to put its RD-93 engine into aircraft that might compete against Russian aircraft in the export market. Moscow's engine ban also may have been an attempt to preserve its ties with New Delhi, which buys more arms from Russia than from any other country, and which is looking to buy 126 fighter aircraft for $10 billion." China has worked around that prohibition by producing the Klimov RD-93 turbofan, (an upgraded version of RD-33) under license.

The JF-17 Thunder, whose performance is matched only by F-16s in the Pakistan Air Force's current inventory, would be replacing the aging fleet of Mirage, F-7s and A-5s. The aircraft is being considered as a match for the Indian LCA, which is expected to form the backbone of the Indian Air Force in future. There are, however, some features like advanced and futuristic avionics and cost effectiveness that give the JF-17 an edge over the LCA, which is way behind schedule.

Neo · 05-17-2006, 10:12 AM

Thats good news!
I knew it!

Amaterasu · 05-17-2006, 10:23 AM

meh...you guys are too impatient. you should have waited till the chicomms got hold of the AL 31 technology with all the fancy 3-D thrust vectoring stuff.Serves you right.Live with the smokey RDs

Neo · 05-17-2006, 10:26 AM

We need JF-17 to be operational in time to replace ageing fleet of A-5Q and F-7P's.
PAC will be modifying the platform in future with western avionics. If a better engine comes available, surely it will be looked at.

Amaterasu · 05-17-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo

We need JF-17 to be operational in time to replace ageing fleet of A-5Q and F-7P's.
PAC will be modifying the platform in future with western avionics. If a better engine comes available, surely it will be looked at.

you guys should have looked at france for the engines...I am not sure if china is the right option considering they are still having trouble with their WS10 engine . I can understand the reliability factor but then france has been pretty cosy with you guys too..with the augostas and mirages and atlantiques. I am sure they would have obliged.

Neo · 05-17-2006, 10:38 AM

JF-17 was developped to avoid ****inous sanctions and embargoes from the US and allies, a french engine without full ToT would make the project vulnerable.

Amaterasu · 05-17-2006, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo

JF-17 was developped to avoid ****inous sanctions and embargoes from the US and allies, a french engine without full ToT would make the project vulnerable.

well if the frenchies could give you TOT for an advanced ssk like augosta what makes you think that they won't do so for something as insignificant as an engine?

Neo · 05-17-2006, 11:03 AM

JF-17 started as a JV between China and Pakistan called Super-7 and was adapted FC-1 in later, Russian Mikoyan bureau would provide technical assistence in design and structure and the engine!
At that point there was no need to look for an engine in Europe.

France will not provide an engine to China, Pakistan maybe. China has a requirement of 200 FC-1's but has an outstanding order for 500 RD-93!!
Rest is for PAF and other potential export customers like Egypt and Iran.

Amaterasu · 05-17-2006, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo

JF-17 started as a JV between China and Pakistan called Super-7 and was adapted FC-1 in later, Russian Mikoyan bureau would provide technical assistence in design and structure and the engine!
At that point there was no need to look for an engine in Europe.

France will not provide an engine to China, Pakistan maybe. China has a requirement of 200 FC-1's but has an outstanding order for 500 RD-93!!
Rest is for PAF and other potential export customers like Egypt and Iran.

Thats what i am trying to say.

Asim Aquil · 05-17-2006, 11:12 AM

Lol, the chinese are sneaky. They won't build new RD-93, instead they'd use 200 and sell the rest to Pakistan :D

Lol, ok I know it can't be as simple as that.

Asim Aquil · 05-17-2006, 11:14 AM

Naah the RD-93 is a capable engine. It's meeting the JF-17's requirements.

Trust me there are better chances of TOT From Russia to China and China building the engines than a TOT from France to Pakistan and Pak building them.

This works out better for Pak in many ways.

Amaterasu · 05-17-2006, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asim Aquil

Naah the RD-93 is a capable engine. It's meeting the JF-17's requirements.

Trust me there are better chances of TOT From Russia to China and China building the engines than a TOT from France to Pakistan and Pak building them.

This works out better for Pak in many ways.

whatever floats your boat...i guess

Asim Aquil · 05-17-2006, 11:31 AM

Lol, that phrase gets a whole other meaning in this context.

Amaterasu · 05-17-2006, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asim Aquil

Lol, that phrase gets a whole other meaning in this context.

meh..depends on how you look at it

American_Raider · 05-17-2006, 13:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STIG

meh...you guys are too impatient. you should have waited till the chicomms got hold of the AL 31 technology with all the fancy 3-D thrust vectoring stuff.Serves you right.Live with the smokey RDs

FC-1/JF-17 is a light weight AC with max takeoff weight of 9,000kg. AL-31 is for medium & larger ACs & it's too heavy & too large for FC-1/JF-17. In order to put AL-31 or WS-10 into Fc-1, a larger airframe is required & might just will start all over.

Turbofan Engine is a major problem of China's Aviation industry, China has yet develope a capable turbofan for its airforce, only 3 nations in the world have ability to produce turbofan engines, USA, Russia & da French, China is close with her WS-10 turbofan but not quit in that club yet.

BTW, LCA of India is using GE engine.

05-17-2006, 10:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
Neo Silent lurker *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 04-06-05 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 7,920 Country:	Thats good news! I knew it! __________________ Administrator @ Defence.pk

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
India must accept Pakistan as equal: Musharraf	Ray	Political Discussions	529	11-21-2006 22:33 PM
LCS christened	HKDan	Naval Forces	208	10-26-2006 15:41 PM
The Irony that is the GE F-136 Engine	jgetti	Military Aviation	24	08-31-2006 13:04 PM
DRDO looking for global technical partner to develop Kaveri engine	oneman28	South Asian Defense Topics	66	07-15-2005 06:38 AM
IAF purchasing more and more.	ajaybhutani	South Asian Defense Topics	54	04-20-2005 09:05 AM

05-17-2006, 10:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
Amaterasu Contributor Join Date: 05-16-06 Posts: 718	meh...you guys are too impatient. you should have waited till the chicomms got hold of the AL 31 technology with all the fancy 3-D thrust vectoring stuff.Serves you right.Live with the smokey RDs

05-17-2006, 10:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Neo Silent lurker *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 04-06-05 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 7,920 Country:	We need JF-17 to be operational in time to replace ageing fleet of A-5Q and F-7P's. PAC will be modifying the platform in future with western avionics. If a better engine comes available, surely it will be looked at.

05-17-2006, 10:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
Neo Silent lurker *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 04-06-05 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 7,920 Country:	JF-17 was developped to avoid ****inous sanctions and embargoes from the US and allies, a french engine without full ToT would make the project vulnerable.

05-17-2006, 11:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
Neo Silent lurker *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 04-06-05 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 7,920 Country:	JF-17 started as a JV between China and Pakistan called Super-7 and was adapted FC-1 in later, Russian Mikoyan bureau would provide technical assistence in design and structure and the engine! At that point there was no need to look for an engine in Europe. France will not provide an engine to China, Pakistan maybe. China has a requirement of 200 FC-1's but has an outstanding order for 500 RD-93!! Rest is for PAF and other potential export customers like Egypt and Iran.

05-17-2006, 11:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
Asim Aquil Banished *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 06-11-04 Location: Dubai Posts: 8,135 Country:	Lol, the chinese are sneaky. They won't build new RD-93, instead they'd use 200 and sell the rest to Pakistan :D Lol, ok I know it can't be as simple as that.

05-17-2006, 11:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
Asim Aquil Banished *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 06-11-04 Location: Dubai Posts: 8,135 Country:	Naah the RD-93 is a capable engine. It's meeting the JF-17's requirements. Trust me there are better chances of TOT From Russia to China and China building the engines than a TOT from France to Pakistan and Pak building them. This works out better for Pak in many ways.

05-17-2006, 11:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
Asim Aquil Banished *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 06-11-04 Location: Dubai Posts: 8,135 Country:	Lol, that phrase gets a whole other meaning in this context.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)