Originally posted by emile
So many Gripen fans
Jezza:
If there is no plan to fit EJ200 on Gripen, how do u know that F414 will be fitted on Gripen?
Of course, if F414 would be fitted on Gripen, that will go ahead of FC-1 so far that the latter will never reach former.
FC-1/JF-17
MULTIROLE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT
The FC-1 (Fighter China-1) Xiaolong, initially known as Super-7, is the single-seat, single-engine, multirole fighter aircraft developed by Chengdu
Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) for export market. Currently three prototypes are flying. A joint venture between CAC and Pakistani Aeronautical
Complex (PAC) will begin initial production of 16 aircraft in 2006. The designation of the aircraft in the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) is Joint
Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder. It is still not clear whether the PLA Air Force will eventually acquire any of this aircraft.
PROGRAMME
In 1986 China signed a US$550 million agreement with Grumman to modernise its J-7 (Chinese copy of the MiG-21 Fishbed) fighter aircraft under the
"Super-7" upgrade project. Western companies from the US and Britain were competing to provide the engine and avionics. The project was cancelled in
early 1990, in the wake of the cooling of political relations with the West, as well as in response to a 40% increase in the cost of the project.
However, Chengdu managed to continue the programme with its own resources and the project was re-branded as FC-1 (Fighter China-1).
Following the 1993 US sanction against China and Pakistan on the transfer of ballistic missile components and technology, problems of acquiring
Western technology has driven Pakistan to seek helps from its Chinese ally. Beijing and Islamabad concluded a joint development and production
agreement in June 1999 to co-develop the FC-1 fighter aircraft. According to the agreement, China Aviation Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) and
Pakistan each contribute 50% of the development costs, which was estimated as about US$150 million. Chengdu was chosen to be the primary contractor,
with Russian Mikoyan Aero-Science Production Group (MASPG) providing assistance in some design work as well as its RD-93 turbofan engine to power the
aircraft.
The first FC-1 rolled out from the assembly line on 31 May 2003, and its 15-minute maiden flight took place on 24 August 2003. So far four prototypes
have been built, with the second for static tests and the rest in flying tests. The initial production of 16 aircraft is expected to start in
mid-2006, and the PAF has a requirement for 150 aircraft under the designation of the JF-17 to replace its Chengdu F-7P fighters in current service.
Pakistani aviation industry will also be involved in the production of some avionics for the aircraft.
The FC-1 is mainly targeting the international market as a potential replacement for the second-generation fighters such as the Northrop F-5 Tiger,
Dassault Mirage III/5, Shenyang J-6, MiG-21/F-7 Fishbed, and Nanchang Q-5 aircraft. CATIC and CAC are trying to persuade the PLAAF to acquire
additional FC-1s to reduce the unit price, but a firm contract has yet been reached. In addition, CATIC/CAC is also trying to promote the aircraft to
other potential customers including Bangladesh, Egypt and Nigeria.
DESIGN
The FC-1/Super-7 was originally defined as a low-cost third-generation air-superiority fighter aircraft to replace the MiG-21/F-7 Fishbed and Northrop
F-5 series in service with many developing countries. With the participation of MASPG, the aircraft was re-branded as a lightweight, high-performance,
multirole attack fighter aircraft featuring fly-by-wire (FBW) flight-control, beyond-vision-range (BVR) combat capability and much improved
aerodynamic performance. These has also steered the unit price of the aircraft up by 50%, from the original US$10 million to US$15 million.
The aircraft has delta wings and a conventional tail, and might be capable of aerial refuel