RagnaRoll » Fighter Jets

Jan

JF17-Pakistan’s Satisfaction

Posted by admin | Posted in Fighter Jets | Posted on 11-01-2009

The PAC JF-17 Thunder , also known as the Chengdu FC-1 Fierce Dragon in China, is a single-seat, multi-role fighter aircraft jointly developed by China and Pakistan. The “JF” and “FC” designations stand for “Joint Fighter” and “Fighter China” respectively. The first two aircraft were delivered to the Pakistan Air Force on 12 March 2007. The JF-17/FC-1 is designed to be a cost effective aircraft which can meet the tactical and strategic needs of air forces of developing countries. On 22 Jan 2008, Pakistan started serial production of the aircraft at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.

The JF-17 is being built by China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Coperation (CAC) and it is also made by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex . The project is expected to cost about US$500 million, divided equally between China and Pakistan, which is supported by China Aerospace Technology Import & Export Cooperation for Chinese side, while each individual aircraft is expected to have a fly-away cost of US$8-15 million. The JF-17 Thunder initial development project was completed in a period of four years. However, later improvements to the project has taken up more time. Pakistan has announced that it will procure 150, but this may easily go up to 300. The JF-17 will replace Pakistan’s MiG-21-derived Chengdu F-7, Nanchang A-5 (Q-5) and Mirage III/V currently in service.

JF17 FACT FILE:

Comparable flights to JF17 are

1.LCA- Tejas

2.F-16

3.MIG 29-A

Best comparable fighter to JF17 is Tejas and F-16.

Comparison:

Type: Tejas / LCA

HAL Tejas LCA fighter jet by 2008-2010: Defence Minister

Country: India
Function: fighter
Crew: 1
Engines: 1 (83.4 kN GTRE GTX-35VS augmented turbofan)
Wing Span: 8.20 m
Length: 13.20 m
Empty Weight: 5500 kg
Ceiling: 16400 m
Range: 850 km
Armament: GSh-23 twin-barrel 23mm cannon (220 rounds);
7 hardpoints, max external load over 4000 kg
G limit :8.5
Unit cost: 21 million USD

Type : F16C/D block 50+
Crew :1
Length :15.03m
Height : 5.1m
Span :10.0m
Max Speed :Mach 2.05
Max Weight :17010kg
Ceiling :16750m
Range :1000km
Armament :1 cannon, 2 Sidewinders, ext load 4500 kg.
Engines: P&W F100-PW-220
Control Systems :Triplex DFCS with one Analog Backup on MIL STD 1553B Bus

Type : JF-17
Crew :One
Wingspan : 9.00 m
Height : 5.10 m
Length : 14 m
Weight : Empty 6,321 kg, Normal take-off 9,100 kg, Max take-off 12,700 kg, Max weapon payload 3,800 kg
Max. Weapon Load : 4,000 kg
Max. Speed : Mach 1.6
Range : Ferry range 3,000 km; Operational Radius 1,355 km
Service Ceiling :16,500 m
G Limit : 8.5

There may be changes in configuration for LCA and JF17 when they enter service..

Ultimate Verdict:

LCA and JF17 will stand on same Level until operated by a clever pilot.

(43) Comments

Jan

SU 30MKI-ANSWER TO PAK CRITICS

Posted by admin | Posted in Fighter Jets | Posted on 10-01-2009

The Su-30MK is a two-seat multirole fighter and air superiority aircraft. It is derived from the Su-27 Flanker family, and is comparable with the American F-15. According to the Sukhoi Design Bureau, the Su-30 can perform all tasks of the Su-24 and Su-27, while having around twice the combat range and 2.5 times the combat effectiveness.

Su-30MK

BACKGROUND:

While the original Su-27 had good range, it still did not have enough range for certain air-defense tasks required by the PVO, and so prototypes were built of Su-27s featuring a retractable inflight refueling probe, similar to that fitted on the Su-27K / Su-33. The probe was offset to the left side of the nose, and to accommodate it the IRST was offset to the right. One single-seat prototype was built and designated “Su-27P”, and one twin-seat prototype was built and designated “Su-27PU”.

An Su-27UB dressed up as a demonstrator for the Su-30MK was displayed at the Paris Air Salon in 1993. It featured twelve stores attachments, including wingtip AAM launch rails, three pylons under each wing, a pylon under each engine nacelle, and two pylons in tandem in the “tunnel” between the engines. It was advertised as being able to carry 8 tonnes (8.8 tons) of external stores. Along with conventional dumb high-explosive and fuel-air explosive bombs, cluster munitions, and unguided rocket pods, it was to be able to carry:

Electro-optic guided munitions, such as the Kh-29T long-range air-to-surface missile (ASM); the Kh-59T short-range ASM; and the KAB-500Kr or KAB-1500Kr glide bombs.
The Kh-31P ramjet-powered antiradar missile, and potentially the Kh-31A antiship variant.
Laser-guided munitions, such as the Kh-29L ASM and the KAB-1500L glide bomb, with the aircraft carrying a targeting pod to guide these weapons.
Typical warloads would be four Kh-29, Kh-31, or KAB-500 class munitions; or a single KAB-1500 class munition.

A much more optimized Su-30MK demonstrator, rebuilt from the first production Su-27PU / Su-30, was displayed in 1994. Although Western observers shrugged it all off as an attempt to sell “old wine in new bottles”, the aircraft has proven to be a success.

India & SU 30MKI:

The Indian Air Force ordered 40 Su-30’s in 1996, which they though was cheaper than the Mirage-2000-5. The Su-30 was designed and optimised for an air defence role, and had to be modified to meet India’s requirements. The Indian Su-30 “MKI” version had to have further updated avionics, including a much improved radar and a high proportion of non-Russian kit; canard fins; and thrust-vectored engines. The deal also included the Russian Akash air-to-air missile.

The full-specification Su-30MKI did not even exist at the time the deal was cut, and so the 40 aircraft were delivered in what amounted to “blocks” of increasing capability, with early aircraft to be upgraded to full specification later. The initial block was punctually delivered in 1997 and consisted of eight “Su-30K” machines, which were basically similar to the Russian Su-27PU / Su-30.

Instead of moving through successively improved blocks of machines, the IAF wanted to go straight from deliveries the Su-30K configuration to deliveries of the full Su-30MKI configuration. Since the full configuration wasn’t ready at that time, in the fall of 1998 India ordered another ten Su-30Ks, similar or identical to the original batch of eight, with the new batch delivered in 1999. This new batch was in addition to the original order for 40 machines, bringing the total to 50.

The first preproduction Su-30MKI performed its initial flight on 26 November 2000, with three more preproduction machines completed in 2001, with all four used in test, trials, and evaluation. A fifth preproduction machine was built but only used for ground tests. The first full production Su-30MKI performed its initial flight in late 2001, and the first batch of ten was delivered by An-124 in the summer of 2002. Deliveries were completed in December 2004.Hindustani Aeronautics (HAL) is also contracted to build 140 aircraft in India between 2003 and 2017, under a licensed production agreement. The first indigenously assembled aircraft was delivered in November 2004.

FEW SNAPS OF SU 30MKI:

SU 30MKI COMPARABLES:

An analysis of air force inventories in the majority of countries in the Asia-Pacific region indicates that local fighter forces mostly consist of obsolete U.S.-made F-5 and F-4 aircraft. Only a few air forces are armed with relatively new versions of the F-16 and F/A-18 fighters. An analysis of air force inventories in the majority of countries in the Asia-Pacific region indicates that local fighter forces mostly consist of obsolete U.S.-made F-5 and F-4 aircraft. Only a few air forces are armed with relatively new versions of the F-16 and F/A-18 fighters. Purchases by India of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters, which have significantly enhanced combat capabilities of the Indian Air Force, and previous sales of the Su-27 and Su-30 fighters to China and Vietnam may determine further development of air forces in the Asia-Pacific region and help maintain the balance of power.

The famed Su-37 and F-16 side by side at an airshow in Berlin.
The Su-30MKI gets all advanced features of the Su-37 and much more.

The basic tactical and technical characteristics determining the capabilities of any aircraft include its flight performance and avionics and armament characteristics. Their analysis makes it possible to compare aircraft and assess the level of their technical perfection.

Notably, in terms of quantity and types of weapons, the Russian fighter considerably outclasses the F-16C Block 50 and F-16C Block 60 aircraft. Only the F-18E/F is close to the Su-30MKI in this respect.

F-18 and Su-27 seen together in flight

In terms of target designation angles, maneuverability, etc., the R-73E close-range air-to-air missile in service with the Su-30MKI significantly outperforms similar foreign missiles and is rightly considered the world’s best in its class. The high energy and ballistic parameters of the Su-30MKI’s long-range air-to-air missiles, combined with the capability of its radar, allow it to deliver preventive strikes against aerial targets, including its potential rivals.

The Su-30MKI can operate over short ranges and also fulfill autonomous long-range missions. Unlike the F-16 and F-18 aircraft, the Su-30MKI’s short-range operation will not reveal all its capabilities, yet its advantages here are still obvious. Hopefully, the above assessment will allow potential customers to evaluate the combat capabilities of the Russian fighter and its main rivals on the Asia-Pacific aircraft market.