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http://www.sci.fi/~fta/aviation.htm
Quote:
Zhuhai Air Show, China 1998
By Easy Tartar, Nov '98
At the Zhuhai '98 Air Show, China again provided a look at several hybrid aircraft such as the Q-5M, J-7M and J-8IIM. All configured for export. There was an introductory display of Xian's "Fighter-Bomber-China-1", or "FBC-1", which is an indigenously produced fighter-bomber design originally designated the "Jian-Hong-7" (JH-7). Today it has evolved as a transition platform aimed at developing a multi-role testbed for precision guided and stand-off weapons, especially anti-ship missiles. It is a tandem-seat aircraft in the mission-class of the European Panavia "Tornado" and the Russian Sukhoi Su-24 "Fencer" with a strong desire to add an air-to-air capability. It has been in development since the late 1980's and finally entered limited service with the PLA Navy in 1994, replacing the old IL-28 torpedo bombers. Since then, it has remained more involved with test and evaluation work then with operational activities. It does provide a good prototype platform to work air-to-surface issues that come to head in the development of the secret Jian-10 (J-10) multi-role fighter being developed in conjunction with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI).
Being designed like the "Tornado" and looking like the "Jaguar" helps to put the Chinese development objectives in place. They were searching for a true air-to-ground and maritime strike aircraft that would have more self-defense air-to-air capability, hence the "JH" fighter-bomber designation. But with only the 1970 and 1980 technology base available to them, the designers could only spawn a "Tornado" and not the desired "Strike Eagle". Hence the FBC-1, from the beginning, was a half step, important, but still not the final solution to the evolving requirements.
The FBC-1 "Flying Leopard" was characterized in Zhuhai Air Show reports as a "multi-mission all-weather supersonic fighter bomber fully independently developed by China." It was designed by the Xi'an Aircraft Design & Research Institute and manufactured by the recently privatized Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation, the new form of the old Xi'an Aircraft Manufacturing Company. The JH-7 could be exportable as the FBC-1, but a final configuration was still far from being finalized and it is still undetermined whether or not the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) or the PLA Navy want to keep it.
The original JH-7 was fitted with a unreliable terrain following radar, probably developed from the RF-4C systems exploited from the Vietnam War. It was designed to carry two YJ-8 anti-ship missiles (ASM) and had good over-water pulse radar modes for ship acquisition. The JH-7 was first revealed on PRC TV during the naval exercise in October 1995. Since then it was reported to have been rejected by PLAAF in favor of their new J-11, the licensed produced Su-27 "Flanker", because the J-11 came with a more advanced weapon system, could carry a larger payload farther and could easily protect itself. The PLAAF was critical about the FBC-1's old technology as well as the two unreliable and underpowered Wopen WS-9 turbofans (license production Rolls-Royce Spey MK202). The FBC-1 did remain as a maritime attack aircraft with PLA Navy and served occasionally as a testbed for the PLAAF. Chinese engineers are still making various improvements on FBC-1. Their efforts include:
1) the integration of a new family of direct fire and stand-off cruise anti-ship missiles (ASM)
2) suitability testing of the JL-10 Radar which is an export version of the Phazotron Zhuk Radar utilized with the J-8IIM
3) development of a new "Blue Sky" low altitude navigation pod that has a Terrain Following Radar (TFR), wide field-of-view forward looking infrared (FLIR), onboard control computer (NPCC), independent environmental control unit (ECU), and power supply (NPPW).
4) upgrading the onboard avionics to include optically guided weapons
5) integration of an air-to-ground helmet mounted sight (HMS) system
6) preliminary suitability testing for an upgraded WS-9 engine or replacement with the AL-31 utilized in the Su-27
7) upgrading the fire control system to include modern INS/GPS improvements and automated terrain following modes
8) integrate the LOEC Helmet Mounted Sight (HMS) for use in off-boresight queuing of the PL-9 air- to-air missile, optical aid in locking up air-to-ground and anti-ship missiles, and as a designator of surface targets and points of reference
The following organization derivation and "name-drill" is important at this time to get an appreciation for the real size of the overall aerospace industry that is presently in place and thriving in the PRC. It is not a dead or dormant industry, it is fully manned with a dozen production lines pumping out airframes, engines, and helicopters and still developing advanced prototypes that are now more and more influenced by western high-tech hybridization.
The organization structure of the China Aviation Industry (CAI) is large and complex. The CAI employs over half a million trained designers, engineers, technicians, and factory workers. The Xi'an organization is imbedded two levels down in the structure of CAI that includes over one-hundred large and medium sized enterprises, more than thirty research institutes, and seven major state laboratories. The products of the CAI include over 15,000 military and civil aircraft in 27 models, 54,000 aero-engines in 25 models, and a massive amount of manufactured airborne subsystems and avionics equipment.
The Xi'an manufacturing facility is found within the large China Aerospace Corporation (CASC) that was set up on 06 June 1993 as a modernized and reformed aerospace high technology design and production enterprise. CASC has its beginning in October 1956 when the "Fifth Research Academy of the Ministry of National Defense" was formed as a cooperative spin-off of the "Seventh Ministry of Machinery Building Industry", the "Ministry of Astronautics Industry", and the "Ministry of Aerospace Industry." CASC evolved into eight large comprehensive academies, six production enterprise groups, eleven subordinate product companies, and four colleges. With this comes a network of over 300 enterprises and institutions distributed over 20 provinces, major cities, autonomous regions, and Hong Kong. This includes a workforce of over 230,000 employees, 30% technicians, engineers, and researchers of which 10,000 are qualified professors and senior research engineers.
After 42 years of production and development, CASC has established what it considers to be a complete systems-of-systems research, design, development, production and testing capability in high technology aviation and space products. There is an aggressive group of modern managers who were trained in decision making and have a rich portfolio of successful program experience. CASC has been reformed and opened up to the outside world through scientific and technological exchanges, cooperative enterprises, and research projects with over 70 countries. It enjoys at this time a remarkable financial backing relationship with the State that in turn provides it with an envious business mechanism for new projects and cooperative programs.
CASC's forte is in strategic and tactical missile systems, not fighter-bomber aircraft. The aviation side of CASC is more directed at technology development then mass production, but satisfying the needs of the State and the profit motive are always there. CASC's work in space systems has accelerated the modernization of the PRC's new national defense strategic missile force structure. It prides itself in cornering the world market in certain space technologies that includes satellite recovery, multiple satellite launches on one vehicle, launching geostationary orbit satellites, and the development of cryogenic propellant rockets. The military inventory has been modernized for civilian use as demonstrated when the Long March launch vehicle family entered the international commercial launch services market. Enjoy the following breakdown of the major components of CASC, the China Aerospace Corporation:
1) China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
2) China Jiangnan Space Industry Company Group
3) China Chang Feng Mechanics & Electronics Technology Academy
4) Sichvan Aerospace Industry Corporation
5) China Haiying Electro-Mechanical Tech Academy
6) China Sanjiang Space Group
7) The 4th Academy at CASC
8) Xi'an Aerospace Corporation
9) Chinese Academy of Space Technology
10) Aerospace Industrial Supply & Marketing Corporation
11) Space Civil & Building Engineer Design & Research Academy
12) Aerospace Automotive Industry Corporation
13) Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology
14) Aerospace Satellite Application Corporation
15) Academy of Space Electronics Technology
16) Space Computer Company Group
17) Aerospace Great Wall Enterprises Group
18) Aerospace Trust and Investment Corporation
19) Harbin Institute of Technology
20) Aerospace International Holdings Ltd.
21) Etc….. smaller institutes, factories, and colleges
The new "corporate structure" of CASC is impressive and demonstrates a complete package of design, management, production, market development, sales, and financing enterprises. It has become an alternative world model for the present merging "up" of high-tech industries. It also demonstrates a remarkable linkage and cooperation with the PRC government that adds to its competitiveness and responsiveness in the world's markets. Having reasonably good products, a sales-active government and military along with readily available financing makes the probability of success very high. The present slowdown in growth can be attributed more to over extended infrastructure development, unrealistically high defense budgets and ruthlessly generous grant funding for institutes, regions, and special economic zones then the general Asian meltdown. The lack of a sensible approach in the funding of military research and development (R&D) and the uncontrolled generous funding provided to exploratory joint ventures has paid off in growing the overall military-industrial complex but it has not brought with it across-the-board technical growth.
China essentially has no significant foreign debt, therefore the slowdown in the economy may create massive unemployment, but its standing on the Asian financial markets will hold or sink in the top ten with Singapore and Japan. The real change coming will see increased government privatization of the aerospace industry; more control over the lucrative funding pots and new projects will have to rely more on externally financed joint ventures.
This new model has been so attractive that the Russian aerospace industry, which has gone the way of mini-mergers into Joint Stock Companies (JSC) is trying to follow the PRC example by further developing into cooperative industry-government-investor Financial Investment Groups (FIG's).
The Xi''an factory is known for its license production of various models of the Russian Tupolev Tu-16 "Badger" medium bomber known as the Hong-6 (H-6) Bomber, the Mikoyan MiG-21 "Fishbed" series known as the Jian-7 (J-7), and the Antonov An-24 "Curl" transport known as the Yun-7 (Y-7). It also produces Wopen version jet engines under license at the Chengdu plant. The RD-3M (Wopen-8) for the H-6 Bomber, the R-11 (Wopen-7) for the F-7 Fighters, and it is the center for the license production of the Rolls-Royce Spey 202 turbofans used with the FBC-1.
Except for Western engines, the present FBC-1 utilizes some hybrid avionics features in its INS/GPS integration and design innovations aimed at higher reliability and better maintainability. The FBC-1 is essentially China's first indigenously designed and produced attack aircraft. Despite its long development, the first public showing was at this year's Zhuhai Show. Its flight demonstration consisted of a simple routine. There was a steep climb after a 900 meter (3000 ft) takeoff run and two subsequent passes over the airport followed by an immediate landing with a 1050 meter (3400 ft) rollout. At the show it was painted white and bore the markings and fuselage banner notice of China's Flight Test Establishment.
The FBC-1 is a big aircraft with a gross weight that exceeds 28,000 kg (62,000 lbs). It is larger then the F-4 Phantom and appears to derive much of its design features from the exploitation of the Phantom (Vietnam War) as did the Shenyang J-8II (F-8II) "Finback B". During the1996 Zhuhai Air Show it was estimated that at least 24 pre-production aircraft existed and they were being tested by units of Naval aviation. Seven initial prototypes and development aircraft were produced at the Xian Aircraft Company. The continued delay in a production decision was blamed on difficulties in the radar that required significant modification, problems with integrating the GPS into the navigation and attack systems, choosing the right anti-ship missile, engine reliability, and political uncertainty over just what role fixed wing aviation will play in the new PRC Navy.
The mainstay anti-ship missile for the FBC-1 is the Ying Ji-2 (YJ-2) with an export designation of C-802K. It is produced by the China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation. The program started in the early 1980's and has always been attached to FBC-1 development. The original Ying Ji-1 (C-801) required more range and the solid-rocket boost motor was replaced with a small turbojet, similar to its western nemesis, the French Exocet. The YJ-2 has earned the NATO designation as a shore-based anti-ship missile, the CSSC-8 "Saccade", with an IOC of 1994. The missile is know to have a 165 kg (364 lbs) warhead and low level range of 130 km (70 nm). The C-802K has been exported to Iran and they are involved in their own license production program for a "Tondar" missile clone. North Korea has also received the missile. There are follow-on advanced versions like the YJ-21 that offers range increases out to 180 km (100 nm) and the YJ-22 that incorporates INS/GPS upgrades thus allowing its range to go up to the 400 km (218 nm) and capable of operating against overland targets.
The PRC has been thinking hard about what platforms would be chosen to support the Navy's offensive and defensive role deep in the Pacific Ocean and along the Chinese coastline. Shore-based, ship-board, and submarine launched long range anti-ship missiles are part of the answer but an airborne platform completes the package. For some time China has been debating whether to buy into a sea-based fixed wing aircraft carrier, such as the Russian "Admiral Kuznetsov" angle deck with its complement of Su-33 fighters, or continue modernizing their bomber force with new or used Tu-22M "Backfire" and/or Tu-160 "Blackjack." The land based FBC-1 represented a force option to this debate and by its existence allows itself to be utilized as a testbed. With reliable anti-ship missiles, such as the C-802 sea-skimmer, and a coastal defense mission, the FBC-1 could be a cost effective solution.
The impact of the acquisition of the Russian Su-27 on the PLAAF has been very positive. 72 aircraft have been acquired to date and up to 200 more will be produced under license. The aircraft is big and carries a large payload for a long distance. Its engines are reliable and can provide an immense burst of extra thrust for combat operations. It is also being upgraded with a modern air-to-surface weapons capability that would allow the PRC to cancel much of the expensive development work now ongoing.
The Russian export organizations and Sukhoi are now trying to market two dedicated anti-ship capable models of the "Flanker" family. The side-by-side Su-32/34 that has been evaluated by the Russian Navy and a special version of the tandem seat Su-30 that has been sold to the Indian Air Force (InAF). In both cases however, a version of the 3M-80 long range anti-ship missile is being considered. The 3M-80EA is an air launched version of the SS-N-22 "Sunburn" submarine and ship launched missile produced by the Raduga Central Design Bureau in Dubna. Since China has already ordered the shipboard version with the two Sovremenny Class destroyers (the $800 million Project 956 in 1997) it is a strong possibility that they might consider the air-launched version for a model of the Su-27 that would go to the PLA Navy. The carrier borne Su-33 (Su-27K) is already modified to carry and utilize the 3M-80EA missile.
BTW the ships will get two quadruple launchers each and 50 x 3M-80 missiles have been procured with the initial buy. The present status has the project in trouble because the Chinese are driving a hard bargin with the Russian ship builders, insisting on a "cash-on-delivery" strategy. They have delt with the Russians before, and the well advertised Su-27 program has had hick-ups in its spares program requiring the Chinese to seek alternative sources with the Ukraine. Note also that at least eight aircraft were destroyed by a typhoon in the fall of 1997. But negotiations still continue for advanced models and products.
The air-launched 3M-80EA would have a larger engagement envelope than the surface launched versions. The average launch area or regard would be 150 km (82 nm) for the ship board version and it would easily go out to 250 km (137 nm) for an air-launched attack from high altitude. The sea-launched variant maintains a low altitude profile (20 meters / 70 ft) while the air-launched version can undertake a lofted mid-course cruise up to 10,000 meters (32,000 ft) then descend for an attack profile.
The FBC-1 is powered by two license-built WS-9 (Rolls-Royce Spey Mk202) turbofan engines with each providing 9,300kg (20,515 lbs) of maximum thrust in afterburner. With the advent of the Su-27, there is another production option to swap to the Liming turbofan that has 14,100 kg (31,085 lbs) of max thrust. This would be another last-ditch consideration to preserve the Chinese nature of the FBC-1.
At Zhuhai, the FBC-1 was not shown to the public on the interior static display line but was parked away from the prying media, under tarps, at the brand new multi-million dollar commercial airport. This facility is the size of San Jose Airport in California but serves only three to four domestic flights per day. Remember the overkill in infrastructure development? As mentioned, the FBC-1 was repainted in a naval paint scheme to honor who was paying the bills for the aircraft.
Wall-mounted display boards in the exhibit halls relate bits and pieces about the FBC-1. The aircraft was designed at Xi'an using computer-aided design (CAD) techniques with input from the Flight Test Establishment. The actual model and make of the CAD system utilized was not discussed. The tandem cockpit arrangement is organized very much like the F-4. Two separate crew stations with a firewall in between, two individually operated canopies, and zero-zero ejection seats. The back-seat is for a dedicated weapons system officer (WSO). Similar to the MiG-23/27, the FBC-1 has a two-barrel 23mm gun mounted on the lower fuselage behind the nose wheel.
The latest design has the navigation and attack system equipped with a combined inertial and GPS navigation system. The command pilot in the front seat has use of a Russian derived helmet mounted sighting (HMS) system that is produced in China by the Luoyang Electro-Optical Equipment Research Institute (LOEC). It is a lightweight bracket-mounted system that uses a single small sighting reticle and a pair of cockpit-mounted IR head tracking sensors. The system offers a ±60° azimuth and ±40° pitch off-boresight engagement capability with the PL-9 air-to-air missile. Helmet weight is 0.2 kg (0.44 lbs), is utilized off of the 27 volt DC (20 watt) bus and provides queuing accuracy up to 0°35'. Development work with the GPS equipped FBC-1 is attempting to have the HMS designate points on ground thus having them stored directly into the aircraft's navigation and attack computer as a usable point of reference for future attack or intelligence retrieval. This implies that there would also be some type of associated mission planning system, but no information was available on this potential.
Since the FBC-1 was shown at Zhuhai and in press photos with Chinese versions of the AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. The PL-2/3/4/5 series was originally derived from the Russian "Atoll" (AA-2) copy of the Sidewinder and in later years the Chinese added modifications based on their own exploitation work. The PL-2 was a pure Atoll AA-2b. The PL-3 was an advanced Atoll AA-2c with larger warhead and modified forward fins.
1) PL-1 radar beam rider missile similar to AA-1 "Alkali"
2) PL-2 IR passive homing missile similar to AA-2b "Atoll B"
3) PL-3 IR missile developed as improved PL-2
4) PL-4 IR missile developed as improved PL-3
5) PL-5 IR missile developed as improved PL-4
6) PL-6 IR missile developed as improved PL-5
7) PL-7 IR dogfight missile based on the French Magic 2
8) PL-8 IR dogfight missile based on the Israeli Python 3
9) PL-9 IR dogfight missile based on the US AIM-9L
The PL-9 was a real gold mine for the PLAAF and is the engineering equivalent to the US AIM-9L exported to Pakistan with the F-16 program. For China, it was its first true high Pk all-aspect IR dogfight missile.
The Su-27 (J-11) acquisition has brought with it the full gambit of Russian advanced air-to-air missiles that includes the R-73/73M (AA-11 "Archer") with its R-74ME advanced variant, the entire R-27 (AA-10 "Alamo") IR/Semi- Active/Active family, and the R-77 (AA-12 "Adder") Active Seeker family.
The FBC-1 HMS is designed to employ the PL-9 which will give it ±60° of off-boresight lock capability. The Russian R-73 missile could extend that to ±75° and the advanced R-74ME will take it out to ±90°. From this we might want to examine the actual cockpit mechanization and switch actions for the pilot.
There are really three options if we look at F-4 era technology: (1) pure Russian mechanization, (2) USAF derivative with heavy emphasis of weapons and mode switches on the throttle quadrant, and (3) USN derivative with heavy emphasis of weapon and mode switches on the control stick column. The big difference is, in USAF, IR missiles are step "selected" by station and when selected are essentially boresight only for the moment. Then a "missile seeker head uncaged" switch action is required to:
1) free the seeker to continue to track an IR source brought to the seeker'sfield of view
2) allow the seeker to slave to the radar antenna look angle that is already locked onto a target off boresight
3) allow the IR seeker to search in a predetermined manner looking for IR targets of opportunity
USN missiles are selected with a weapons mode switch-action on the control stick that combines "radar missile", "IR missile", and "guns" selection with the best appropriate weapon system mode. The selection automatically uncages seeker heads to work with the radar antenna or the pilot's helmet sight. In the Vietnam era, F-4N's and J's with VTAS (visual target acquisition system) helmet sights were employed with Sidewinder AIM-9G and H missiles that could be slaved to the pilot's eye. All of this F-4 technology has to be considered compromised during the Vietnam war.
Finally we have to factor in the continual presence of Israeli experience and joint venture work, which in many ways favors a USN style for the F-4, Kfir, and Lavi class of equipment. Could Israeli helmet sights be considered for the FBC-1? Of course they could, and it might be so. All of this implies that the Chinese are on their way to employing pilot helmet sight systems. With the arrival of the R-73 missile with their Su-27SK, PLAAF pilots will begin to gain valuable experience. Add the introduction of advanced Israeli helmet sights and their Python 4 missile, then we reach western parity.
To add another point, the cockpit simulator for the FC-1, an aircraft jointly produced by China and Pakistan to replace the F-16 (covered in report no. 2), the weapons select switches are on the control stick in USN fashion.
The FBC-1 also utilizes a digital fly-by-wire flight control system whose computers are linked to the aircraft's flight navigation and attack computer. The system was under development for years utilizing prototype Q-5 "Fantan" attack variants of the indigenously produced J-6 (MiG-19) "Farmer". Leading edge slats, rudder-elevon and inboard/outboard elevon integrated servo-actuators are tied digitally to aircraft rate gyros and accelerometers, sensor assemblies and cockpit panels.
The JL-10A Pulse Doppler fire control system appears to be a derivative of the Russian Phazotron "ZHUK" radar with enhanced air-to-ground provisions being offered in the MiG-29SMT. It has High, Medium, and Low PRF waveforms and can deal with all fighter-bomber missions from long range intercept to radar mapping with Doppler Beam Sharpening (DBS) and air-to-surface attack.
There is also an internal electronic countermeasure suite that includes passive warning gear, active jammers and expendable chaff/flare dispensers. No other details were made available whether there would be, but as a test prototype anything of course is possible based on European, Israeli, Russian, or American technology.
Top operating speed is 1,210 kph. (752 mph.) with an unrefueled combat radius of 1,650 km. (1,025 mi.). Maximum fuel weight is 10,050 kg. (22,156 lbs.). The FBC-1 has six hard points for bomb, missile, or sensor pod attachments. Additional hard points for IR guided air-to-air missiles are located on each wing tip with no provisions seen for radar guided beyond visual range (BVR) missiles. Another hardpoint is located at the centerline belly station and is used for extra ordinance or a fuel tank.
Overall Length: 22.325 m (73.24 ft)
Wing Span: 12.705 m (41.68 ft)
Overall Height: 06.575 m (21.57 ft)
Max Takeoff Weight: 28,475 kg (62,776 lbs)
Max Fuel Weight: 10,050 kg (22,156 lbs)
Max External Stores Load: 06,500 kg (14,330 lbs)
Max Operational Speed: 1.7 Mach at altitude
Max Operational Speed: 1,210 kph (662 kts / 752 mph)
Ceiling Clean: 15,600 m (52,000 ft)
Ferry Range Max Fuel: 3,650 km (1996 nm / 2268 mi)
Combat radius: 1,650 km (902 nm / 1025 mi)
Maximum G Load Limit: 7.0 G
Its wing planform features a floating horizontal stabilizer with a chaff and flare dispenser on the lower part of the vertical tail. The present design attempts to guarantee high reliability and maintainability.
While the PLAAF and the PRC Ministry of Defense decide if they will continue with the FBC-1, Xi'an engineers continue to work development projects and use the FBC-1 to flight test them. No export sales are expected now but Rick Fisher, director of Asian Studies at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. Suggests that the PLAAF will provide for an interim anti-ship force of around 72 aircraft. The Blue Sky navigation pod will greatly enhance the operational utility of the FBC-1.
Down the road, the FT-2000, an anti-radiation surface to air missile which was seen in model form at Farnborough 1998, could be adapted for air-to-air use to threaten AWACS aircraft such as the E-3A and E-2C as well as the EA-6B. Otherwise the FBC-1 will have to stand on its flight test merits. Failure to procure an advanced Su-30 or Su-32 would put the ball right back into the FBC-1's court. It is also interesting to note that the aircraft carrier negotiations have concluded with the Russian ship heading for conversion to a floating resort hotel. Not surprising, at Zhuhai everything was for sale.
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09-08-2005, 02:38 AM
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