JF-17 THUNDER

JF-17 THUNDER AIRCRAFT

 The JF-17 Thunder is an advanced, lightweight, all-weather, day/night multi-role fighter aircraft; developed as a joint venture between Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Kamra, and Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) of China. It possesses excellent air-to-air and air-to-surface combat capabilities. The state-of-the-art avionics, optimally integrated sub-systems, computerized flight controls, and capability to employ the latest weapons provide a decisive advantage to JF-17 over adversaries of the same class. This all-weather, multi-role light combat fighter has remarkably high combat maneuverability at medium and low altitudes. With effective firepower, agility, and combat survivability, the aircraft is likely to emerge as a potent platform for any air force.

Specifications Overview

JF-17 THUNDER
WEAPON PREVIEW

• Crew: 1 (single-seat JF-17A/C) or 2 (dual-seat JF-17B)
• Length: 14.326 m (47 ft 0 in)
• Wingspan: 9.44 m (31 ft 0 in)
• Height: 4.57 m (15 ft 0 in)
• Wing area: 24.43 m2 (263.0 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 7,965 kg (17,560 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 13,500 kg (29,762 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 3,000 L (2,449 kg) internal; 1 x 800 L (180 imp gal) center-line drop tank; 2 x 800 L (180 imp gal) or 1,100 L (240 imp gal) inboard under-wing drop tanks 
• Powerplant: 1 × Klimov RD-93 afterburning turbofan with DEEC, 49.4 kN (11,100 lbf) thrust  dry, 84.4 kN (19,000 lbs) with afterburner

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,910 km/h (1,190 mph, 1,030 kn)
• Maximum speed: Mach 1.6-1.8
• Cruise speed: 1,359 km/h (844 mph, 734 kn)
• Stall speed: 150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn)
• Combat range: 1,200 km (750 mi, 650 nmi) (without refueling)
• Ferry range: 3,482 km (2,164 mi, 1,880 mi)
• Service ceiling: 16,920[282] m (55,510 ft)
• g limits: +8/-3 (limited by the flight control system)
• Rate of climb: 300 m/s (59,000 ft/min)
• Thrust/weight: 1.07 with RD-93

weapon system

• Guns: 1 × 23 mm GSh-23-2 twin-barrel cannon
• Hardpoints: 8 (2 × wingtip, 4 × under-wing, 1 × under-fuselage, 1 × chin) with capacity for dual ejector racks on each under-wing hardpoint.
• Payload: 3,700 kg (8,200 lb) external stores

Missiles:

 Air-to-air missiles:

• PL-5EII — (Infrared-homing short-range missile)
• PL-9C — (Infrared-homing short-range missile)
• PL-10E — (Infrared-homing short-range missile)
• R-Darter — (Radar-homing beyond visual range missile)
• PL-12 (SD-10A) — (Radar-guided beyond visual range missile)
• PL-15E — (Radar-guided beyond visual range missile)
• Air-to-surface missiles:
• CM-102 — (Anti-radiation missile)
• LD-10 — (Anti-radiation missile)
• MAR-1 — (Anti-radiation missile)
• Ra'ad-II — (Subsonic air-launched cruise missile (ALCM))
• HD-1A — (Supersonic land attack/anti-ship cruise missile)

Anti-ship missiles:

• C-601 — (Anti-ship missile)
• C-705KD — (Anti-ship missile)
• C-802AK — (Supersonic anti-ship missile)
• CM-400AKG - (Supersonic anti-ship missile)
• HD-1A — (Supersonic land attack/anti-ship cruise missile)

 Bombs:

 Unguided bombs:

• 250 kg — Pre-fragmented bomb
• Mk-82 — (General-purpose bomb)
• Mk-83 — (General-purpose bomb)
• Mk-84 — (General-purpose bomb)
• HAFR-1/HAFR-2 — (Anti-runway bomb)
• RPB-1 — (Anti-runway bomb)
• Guided bombs:
• GBU-10 — (Laser-guided bomb)
• GBU-12 — (Laser-guided bomb)
• GBU-16 — (Laser-guided bomb)
• LT-2 — (Laser-guided bomb)
• H-2 SOW — (Precision-guided glide bomb)
• H-4 SOW — (Precision-guided glide bomb)
• GB-6 — (Precision-guided stealth glide bomb)
• NORINCO GB-250A — (250 kg Extended Range GPS/INS-Guided Bomb)
• NORINCO GB-500 — (500 kg Laser-Guided Bomb)
• LS-6 — (Extended-range GPS/INS guided bomb)
• GIDS Takbir — (GPS/INS guided bomb)
• GIDS Range Extension Kit — (GPS/INS guided bomb)

Avionics

• KLJ-7A Active electronically scanned array (AESA) Fire-control radar
• 2 x ALR-67 - Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• 4 x S740 - Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS)
• JZ/YD 125 - IFF System
• MIL-STD-1553 — data bus
• Link-17 — Tactical Data Link
• Others:
• Aselsan ASELPOD — Advanced Targeting Pod (Electro-Optical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting System)
• WMD-7 — FLIR Day/Night Targeting Pod
• KG600/KG700 — Airborne Electronic Countermeasure (ECM) / Self-Protection Jamming Pod
• Indra Systems ALQ-500P — ESM/ECM Pod
• Countermeasures — Chaff, Flares
• Martin-Baker PK16LE zero-zero ejection seat
• Up to 3 external drop tanks — 1 x 800 L (180 imp gal) center-line drop tank; 2 x 800 L (180 imp gal) or 1,100 L (240 imp gal) inboard under-wing drop tanks for extended range/loitering time

Production

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) holds 58% work share of JF-17 airframe co-production. A comprehensive infrastructure comprising state-of-the-art machines and required skilled human resources has very quickly been developed at the Complex. The final assembly and flight testing of the aircraft was the first JF-17 co-production activity to start at PAC. The first PAC-produced aircraft was handed over to Pakistan Air Force in November 2009. Since then, aircraft have been produced regularly to meet the required schedule. The co-production of sub-assemblies and structural parts subsequently commenced and has sequentially attained sustained production status. Besides upgrading the production system, PAC has also upgraded its quality, technology, and archive management systems to meet the production and management standards of a 4th generation fighter aircraft.

 Foreign equipment

In 2010, under a new agreement, Pakistan again started negotiations to purchase armaments, avionics, sub-systems from European countries. At the same time, Pakistan started initial discussions with France's Ete Aerospace Company for the purchase of armament and avionics for 50 JF-17s for $1.36 billion. This package included the French-made RC-400 radar, MICA, air-to-air missiles, and other types of armaments and avionics. But India created obstacles in the middle. Because India was negotiating the purchase of a Rafale fighter with France at that time. India pressured France to stop supplying equipment for the JF-17 to Pakistan in finalizing the Rafale fighter deal. India's $5 billion deal was larger than Pakistan's $1.36 billion deal, and France called off talks with Pakistan due to complicity. Pakistan then started buying equipment from Britain, Spain, Italy, and America, excluding France. In continuation of this, Pakistan completed various equipment purchase agreements with the British company Martin Baker, the Spanish company Indra, the Italian company Celex, and the American company Northrop Gramen. Pakistan realized that the US could impose sanctions on them at any time, which could cut off logistical supplies or spare parts supplies for equipment bought from Europe. So they buy all the equipment from Europe-America, which does not need any spare parts, or even if they need it, they can only buy it once. China offered to use Chinese engines in this fighter but Pakistan refused. The fighter later used the Russian RD-93 engine. In addition, the JF-17 Thunder uses the PK-16LE EJEXON seat made by the famous Martin Becker company in Brinet. Martin Becker is the world's most trusted exec seat manufacturer. Their seats have saved the lives of 4,000 pilots so far. From the F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon to many advanced fighters, this series of Ejection seats are used.

Equipment of various countries used in the JF-17 

• British Martin Baker Company PK-16 LE ejection seat.
• Spanish Indra company's ALR-400 radar warning receiver. (Block-1)
• Spanish Indra Company's ALQ-500P Electronic Countermeasure (ECM) (Block-2)
• ALR-67 Radar Warning Receiver (Block-2) by American Northrop Grameen Company
• Turkey's Aselsan Company ASALPOD Targeting Pod'
• Cockpit panel and on-board mission computer manufactured by the Italian Selex ES Company
• Russian Klimov company's RD-93 engine.

In addition, Pakistan has also designed the American weapons purchased for their F-16 fighters suitable for use in the JF-17.

• AIM-9 is a sidewinder aircraft-launched missile
• MK-82, MK-83 and MK-84 bombs
• Rokey MK-20 anti-armor cluster bomb
• GBU-12, GBU-16 and GBU-10 laser-guided bombs

In addition to American weapons, the JF-17 Thunder also uses weapons from other countries, such as:

• Brazil's Mar-1 anti-radiation missile
• France's Matra Durandal anti-runway bomb
• France's M-39 anti-ship cruise missile

However, as an alternative to these armaments, Chinese armaments of the same category are also used. So that there is no problem even if the supply of Western armaments is stopped for some reason.