Originally posted by Stealth Spy
The FC-1 has gone into redesign and the redesigned FC-1 (as seen in the models displayed at the
recent chinese air show) flight is expected
only in the next 2 years.
The pictures are from last year. exactly may 2005. This is not recent if you consider the actaul time frame of a project. Also this would have to be
based on a aplane which would have been already planned to make a model of it and wouldn't have just made a model without having the plane
finalised
And no. It was originally expected to fly in late 2005 but was delayed into 2006. The revised FC-1 was formulated in 2004 while the model of the plane
was released after the design had already started. The expected entrance of the FC-1 into low level production is under 2 years time and they have
already started hiring people for the job.
This thread about this resent news and nothing is about what was rumoured before hand. With the 01 and 03 they only flew a hour for flight testing
without any testing later because most of the FC-1 testing was done using simulators which did not require it to actually fly. But it was first
powered by a RD-33 instead of the RD-93 which it has now so the computer simulations proved more accurate than actual flying.
The new prototype 04 will already have been in testing on simulators because its flight goal was at the end of 2005 and only postponed because of a
techical matter. So from these dates when can figure out that the 04 has already been though a lot of testing on simlutors and the 16 pre-production
fighters are expected half way though 2006.
The JF-17 Thundaar (a.k.a Paki FC-1) will not have Chinese avionics, but will have low/medium grade western avionics.
Doesn't look western to me
. This is the revised number 04 With a different cockpit confriguration and is the more expensive version of the
FC-1 being produced. See from the items below its the all chinese version with technologies supposly coming from the J-8H like the new phased array
radar KLJ-7?. Or even wait for a ESA radar Kopyo is vering for this along with some other compaines. so different versions will consist of different
systems.
When people said futuristic avonics it didn't mean the picture of the plastic FC-1 cockpit before that cockpit has the barely everything you need
with a few gauges missing. The JF-17 was to have 3 MFDs while the FC-1 was to have only have 2 like the picture below. But this has all changed since
these where not permanent plans nor any of the avoincs a permanent thing. These were implemented when the FC-1 was only suppose to counter the LCA now
it has new threats and the pakistanis want more out of their fighter.
external image
Ok now looking back at the FC-1 program it was only being designed at the first stage to be a cheap light BVR capable platform with only limited
capability. this was inclusive of the Grifo with only limited detection range and some very cheap Avonics with limited capabilty and no HMD. Thats
prototypes 01-03 with nhumber 01 and 03 being the ones which did the test flights and 02 doing ground testing. It was only basic stuff included and
was only being designed as a space filler for ageing J-6s some older J-7s and the mirage III. This was designed as a competitor towards the LCA and
was being agreed on in 1992. This has now dragged on into the 21th century and new threats have emerged
But now with the MRCA tender getting more advanced and more upgraded than the oringal proposed Mig-29s and Mirage 2k-5 the pakistanis and possiblity
the chinese military want more than jsut a simple BVR but a all together more capable platform. It seems the J-10 has become more expensive than
previously expected because of increase complexity it seems like it has been decided to get some FC-1s to swell the ranks and act as a replacment for
older J-7C~E and maybe some older J-8s.
Anyway with the FC-1 there is going to be a definate improvment on speed weight and overall efficeny and performance. With DSI you get composities and
with composties you get benifits like less weight and a lower RCS figure. Less weight will also decrease your take off weight and your engine
performance. And the only thing that can be moldef into that distinctive bump is composties which the chinese have been developing as substutes for
titaium on the J-11s she is building and also from the J-10 program and commerical aircraft she is building like airbus and beoing parts which are
made of compostie material. So if the FC-1 04 is making more use of compostie materials i wouldn't be surprised because the trend is heading towards
that way.
Because the FC-1 timeline has now overlapped with the J-10 deployment it has now come into the J-10 technologies and avoincs gear developed for the
J-10 can and will be used for the FC-1. Both of these are from Chengdu industries and that measn both of them have access to the same technologies.
Also the FC-1 is now going to have a HMD incorpated and i think the PL-8 is being intergrated for high off-boresight shots
And about the prototype stages it was to be
Prototype-01 For Flight Performance Verification
Prototype-02 Ground and Load Testing (Static Ground Testing)
Prototype-03 For Flight Performance Verification
Prototype-04
Weapons Integration And Avionics Testing
Only during the start of prototype 04 was it going to be fitted with its avonics and the prototype beforehand did not have avoincs fitted on during
its test flight but only basic ones to test the airframe and aircraft stabbility while number 02 was only used as static ground testing.
While pakistani has not confirmed any orders of the Grifo S7 it has a moderatly good range of 100km supposely for a F-16 target. well below the MKI
radars but respectable for a fighter of its size and the size of the radar. But the KLJ-7 is to have comparable range to the Grifo radar it will be
cheaper and have a backed up warranty with china. There was also talk of pakistan getting british avoincs (article posted by you) I cant remember if
you said AESA or the article. So im not to sure about this. Anything lower than this range and it wouldn't be acceptble for a BVR platform
considering the chinese SD-10 has a range of 70KM. anything less would not be sufficent and there are a number of radars which can furfill its
needs
So remember that the FC-1/JF-17 will not be the same plane in different airforces because from the on set it was being marketed as a export fighter
and not a permanent fighter with certain capabilities. Thats why there are iinconsisitancies with the pricing. Going from 10~17million a piece
[edit on 17-2-2006 by chinawhite]
