Sunday, June 21, 2015

Chinese/Pakistani fighter jet JF-17 makes debut at Paris Airshow

(Paris) The Chinese/Pakistani collaboration fighter aircraft JF-17 showed its face at Paris amid stories that they have finally succeeded in finding a buyer for their fighter jet. Whilst the jet is being promoted as a joint endeavour, the aircraft is virtually Chinese and is simply a modern version of the Chengdu J-7 which itself is a clone of the Mig-21.

During the 90s, the Pakistani government was hit by sanctions for detonating nuclear bombs, one of which stopped the US from handing over approximately 100 F-16s. With the rest of the world closing their doors to Pakistan, they in turn went to China which, facing the same problems with the world for running over protesters in Tiananmen Square with tanks, simply looked at its best plane (the Mig-21) and improved it.

The JF-17 is a light weight fighter aircraft which the Pakistani air force have adapted to their own needs. On paper it is the equivalent to earlier generation F-16s, but a lot cheaper. However, that said, the Chinese military hasn't purchased the plane for its own use. The Pakistanis, on the other hand, have taken to the aircraft with gusto, simply because they now control their own destiny and cannot be held to account by the world for their blood thirsty nature. Which is why they have 54 of the JF-17 in service and another 94 on order. So what do the Pakistanis get for the aid money they receive from the West which they hand over to the Chinese? (Yes, I know the PAF is building them in Pakistan, but only 58% of the plane is build there.) Well, they get an all weather, single engine, modern multi-role aircraft intended for air defense and ground attack missions. It is armed with a single 23-mm GSh-23 or 30-mm GSh-30 twin-barrel cannon. Maximum weapon payload is about 3.7 t. There are five hardpoints and two wingtips for missiles and fuel tanks. The JF-17 has beyond visual range attack capability. It's primary weapons are Chinese PL-12/SD-10 medium-range air-to-air missiles with active radar-homing. Aircraft also carries short-range Chinese PL-7, PL-8, PL-9 or the US AIM-9P, mounted on wingtip rails. The JF-17 multi-role fighter can also carry general purpose of laser-guided bombs.

The Block 2 aircraft (second iteration) were improved by fitting a refuelling probe, improved avionics. The Block 3 is purported to be fitted with an AESA radar.

Well, now that the aircraft is up and running, the Chinese are using the Pakistanis as a front in which to sell their plane to others. Hence the Paris Airshow and the reported sale of the aircraft.