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| JF-17 |
The Chengdu works of Avic’s combat aircraft subsidiary is developing a
two-seat version of the JF-17 Thunder fighter in cooperation with the
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, say Chinese industry executives.
The two-seater will be adaptable for conversion training and combat
roles, they say, though as a fighter it will not perform as well as the
single-seat version. The JF-17 is being built in a joint program with
Pakistan for the Pakistan Air Force. The program, which began,
unusually, without a conversion trainer, will deliver about 100 JF-17s
to Pakistan, the executives say.
Development of the two-seater has not advanced to a point at which
Avic International, the export division of Avic, could sign a contract
for delivery, the executives say, adding that they were unsure when the
aircraft would be available. The single-seat version was designed with
development of a two-seater in mind, they say.
Attempts at exporting the JF-17 would be greatly helped by an
order, and therefore endorsement, from the Chinese air force, but the
service is still evaluating the JF-17. It began doing so three or four
years ago, the executives say, adding that the air force was not even
telling them exactly what it wanted.
The JF-17, also called FC-1 Xiaolong, is a relatively small fighter
with a normal takeoff weight of 9.1 tons (20,100 lb.) and a single
Russian engine, the 19,200 lb.-thrust Klimov RD-93, a derivative of the
MiG-29’s RD-33. A key selling point of the JF-17 is that it is much
cheaper than Western aircraft such as the Saab Gripen, says Avic
International.
http://www.aviationweek.com/
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