Two JF-17 Thunders commissioned into PAF
By Mayed Ali
LAHORE: Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood commissioned two JF-17 Thunders into the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in a ceremony at Kamra on Monday.
These two Thunders had arrived at Kamra on March 2. They were moved to Pakistan in a cargo plane as against usual procedure of flying home. These two aircrafts were assembled at Kamra.
It was learnt the aircrafts were suppose to rumble the skies of Pakistan on Monday. However, the weather conditions were not conducive for the flight. These aircrafts will now fly on the first clear day. Before their first public flight on March 23, these aircrafts will keep flying for evaluation and test purposes. These aircrafts will stay at Kamra for the same purpose.
The PAF anticipates acquiring around 10-12 aircrafts by the end of this year. These aircrafts will arrive in intervals. The next batch of two aircrafts is expected within three months. After the arrival, these aircrafts will be put at the disposal of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra (PAC) for tests, trial and probable upgradation and changes to meet the requirements of the PAF. Moreover, these aircrafts will be worked on by the PAC vis-Ã -vis specifications for diverse use, that is, for maritime operations, for air-to-air missions and for air-to-land missions.
Originally posted by coolant:No worries coolant. Thank youfor the pics.
Sorry , Typo should be [b] Formally
JF-17 is PAF coding, FC-1 is called by the Chinese Manufacturer, itÂ’s the same thing.Originally posted by tankee1981:I have heard that the Pakstanis are interested in the FC-1. I wonder if FC-1 and JF-17 are the same or different planes altogether.
Initial batch is made in China, the following will be made in Pakistan.Originally posted by soulwinner:Why PAF is buying PRC made plane? with RSAF do the same???
Cos PRC produced cheap goods in military sector just like how it flood the world with its cheap commodities. No other countries can offer such a deal. Just like some low end market also got its demand and u need to cater to that!Originally posted by soulwinner:Why PAF is buying PRC made plane? with RSAF do the same???
3 MFDs + 1 HUD, actually quite a modern looking cockpit. According to Chinese, it provides very good situation awareness and MMI, but then again, what do they have to compare it to? It uses two mission computers and 2 main 1553B databus. As for EW suite, it has your typical RWR with a set of stored signals (probably China's experience with R-77 seeker helps PAF the most here), 3 MAWs providing 360 degree coverage, ECM that prioritizes threats and concentrates jamming on the most dangerous one, and a CFD system that can use the data from RWR and MAW to calculate the most threatening incoming missile and fire at that one. It does have support for FLIR/IRST, but it's not built in.The Jf-17 is the 1st deployed fighter with DSI air intake though JSF is the 1st such fighter with DSI but F-35 is yet to be fielded. The premium BVR AAM for JF-17 is SD-10 Active Radar homing AAM, Pakistan imported hundreds of this missile alongside US made AIM-120C5.
As for radar, the original competition is between Chinese No 607 Lab and lab 14 ( Nanjing Radar Institute). Although the first two delivered to JF-17 are both using lab 607 radar. Later on, PAF will probably open up the competition to Western companies.
Actually there r indication JF-17 cockpit is more capable than J-10 cos China tech advancement is very fast. J-10 is believe to be formalise and officially enter service in 2003 while JF-17 cockpit interface and setup is believe to be standardise and induct in 2006 which has a massive gap of 3 yrs for China.Originally posted by tankee1981:The JF-17 sounds pretty good. Looks like PRC is advancing fast in military aerospace industry. One can only guess what the more advanced J-10 can do.