JF-17 related news. | World Defense

JF-17 related news.

Khafee

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CHENGDU REPORTEDLY ACHIEVES MILESTONE IN JF-17 BLOCK-III DEVELOPMENT
by Bilal Khan
Jan 01, 2018
JF-17B-04-692x360.png

JF-17B


Reports from Chinese news sources indicate that Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) reached a major milestone in the development of the JF-17 Thunder Block-III – i.e. entering the “preliminary design stage.”

The Block-III is slated as the JF-17’s first major upgrade involving new electronic subsystems, including an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar, a new integrated electronic warfare (EW) system, three-axis fly-by-wire (FBW) digital flight control system and helmet-mounted display and sight (HMD/S).

According to Sina News, CAIG has successfully determined an optimal configuration for the Block-III’s new subsystems, ensuring that it provides markedly improved capabilities.

Reported changes include modifications to the airframe for an AESA radar – potentially Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology’s (NRIET) KLJ-7A – new transmit/receive modules (TRM) (related to the EW system) embedded in the airframe and change in “orientation of the cockpit ventilation pipe.”

CAIG is carrying out the work on a relatively compressed schedule, potentially aligning with the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) plan to have the Block-III enter production in 2019 or 2020.

Currently, the PAF intends to procure 50 Block-IIIs.

Notes & Comments:

Unless another fighter is procured, it seems that the JF-17 Block-III will be the first fighter platform in the PAF to use an AESA radar. In contrast to legacy mechanically-steered radars, AESA radars use hundreds of individual TRMs, each serving as a radar in its own transmit frequency. With many frequencies in use simultaneously with each pulse, it is more difficult for enemy EW systems to jam an AESA radar.

The cost of an AESA radar comes in its increased weight, which can be a result of increased cooling as well as power requirements. It is unclear how CAIG will compensate for this in the Block-III, but with the twin-seat JF-17B, CAIG supplanted the hybrid flight control system (which used mechanical controls for bank and yaw) with a three-axis digital FBW system. This might have reduced weight and helped with creating space for additional fuel (to compensate for the area lost used by the second seat).

Though speculative, a route for the Block-III could be to mirror the approach taken by Mikoyan with the MiG-29KUB, MiG-29M2 and MiG-35 by using the twin-seat JF-17B as the direct basis for the Block-III. The Block-III’s single-seat variant could use the same airframe as the JF-17B, but with the rear-seat replaced with an extension of the fuselage’s spine. This approach could help reduce development lead-time.

https://quwa.org/2018/01/01/chengdu-reportedly-achieves-milestone-in-jf-17-block-iii-development/
 

BATMAN

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including an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar, a new integrated electronic warfare (EW) system, three-axis fly-by-wire (FBW) digital flight control system and helmet-mounted display and sight (HMD/S).

All of these systems constitute a 4+ generation fighter.
I'm most impressed by the integrated EW system, rest of every thing was expected in blk III
 

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All of these systems constitute a 4+ generation fighter.
I'm most impressed by the integrated EW system, rest of every thing was expected in blk III
Blk3 is turning out to be quiet a beast.
 

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Rumors I heard..... there's no IRST on blk III.

IRST is a passive system and when coupled with HOBS AAM (whether WVR or BVR), can prove to be deadly. IRST should have been included in Block III. Radar can be prone to jamming and EW but IRST wont get affected. Modern IRST systems can search, track, lock on and engage targets. The aircraft doesn't even need to switch on its radar for engagement in hostile environment.
 

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IRST is a passive system and when coupled with HOBS AAM (whether WVR or BVR), can prove to be deadly. IRST should have been included in Block III. Radar can be prone to jamming and EW but IRST wont get affected. Modern IRST systems can search, track, lock on and engage targets. The aircraft doesn't even need to switch on its radar for engagement in hostile environment.

That's clear but I trust its not missing because of technical reasons but due to operational reasons.
 

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How do you folks rate III in comparison to the f-16? will it outperform if not already?
 

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How do you folks rate III in comparison to the f-16? will it outperform if not already?

In terms of flight performance Pakistani pilots put jF-17 equivalent with F-16.
BlkIII is expected to have AESA radar as a major upgrade, along side HMS.
F-16 has higher payload and ferry range. jF17 BlkII already have IFR to compensate the ferry range /loiter time.
F-16 on the other hand is expensive and is limited in flexibility of upgrades. Basically, F-16 is a black box for its customers.
jF-17 has low RCS, it's low weight, modern ECM, modular in design, low cost, easy to fly, easy to service, easy integration.
 
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