FC1/JF17
– designed by the Chengdu Aircraft factory in collaboration with Pakistan
Aeronautical Complex is truly the 4th generation successor to the legendary
Mig21 Fishbed. It's most potent weapon is not it's payload which is no less
lethal but it's simplicity, same as the original Mig21. Although PAC Kamra has
not been yet able to mass produce the aircraft, due to it's teething
technological challenges, nevertheless the aircraft is essentially a top notch
performer.
It
costs one third of any 4.5th generation
aircraft, has a BVR capability, along with a semi Fly by wire system. It comes
with a decent payload and ferry range. The only drawback in the system is the
RD93 engine which is procured from a third party agency of Russia, a
traditional ally of India, which incidentally is Pakistan’s main threat.
The JF17 blk 2
will also feature air to air refueling, and added munition systems like the
PL12 AAM (derived AAM version from the Aspide) and the CM400AKG anti shipping
munition. By the rate of production, it seems like PAC still doesn't have
complete capability to manufacture the air-frame, radar, mission
computer and is currently assembling the CKD kit from china. Soon PAC kamra
will acquire the capability to manufacture the fuselage, wing spars and wing
skins, build it's own air frame and avionics with transfer of
technology from Chengdu Aircraft Company.
The
Pakistani approach towards a low cost replacement for it's obsolete fleet of F7
(Mig21 clones), mirage 3/5, and A5 Fantan's was to get it's hand on the best
possible solution and then develop it through field testing instead of getting
into red tape of operational clearances. PAC is treated as a part off PAF, and
thus JF17 projects success was directly an outcome of PAF's engagement. JF17
remains as a case study of what aircraft project can achieve when being
overseen directly by the end users.
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