04.01.2021

Pakistan Air Force received 26 two-seat JF-17B fighters

Sections: Air, Markets and cooperation, Status and prospects

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December 30, 2020 on Pakistani aircraft enterprise Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra in the presence of the chief of staff (commander) of the military air forces of Pakistan, chief Marshal of aviation of the Mujahid Anwar Khan was held the ceremony of transfer of the Pakistan air force 14 built double training-combat fighter JF-17B, marking the completion of the contract for the supply of 26 double JF-17B. At the same time, a ceremony was held to start serial production of a new modification of the JF-17 Thunder Block III single-seat fighter for the Pakistan Air Force.

The ceremony of handing over to the Pakistani Air Force 14 JF-17B two-seat combat training fighters built at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (RAS) (serial numbers 2P73B to 2P86B, tail numbers, respectively, from 20-613 to 20-626). Kamra, 30.12.2020 (c) Pakistan Air Force

Recall that the Pakistani Air Force ordered a total of 26 JF-17B combat training fighters, which are a two-seat version of the JF-17 (FC-1) Thunder joint Pakistani-Chinese production fighter. JF-17B aircraft belong to the Block II series.

The first 12 JF-17B aircraft under this contract were delivered to the Pakistan Air Force in February 2020. At the same time, four of them (Pakistani flight numbers 17-601 and 19-602, 19-603 and 19-604) were manufactured at the enterprise of the Chinese aircraft manufacturer Chengdu Aircraft Industries Company (Group) (CAC, part of the Chinese state corporation AVIC) in Chengdu, and the remaining eight (Pakistani serial numbers 2P65B to 2P72B, flight numbers 19-605 to 19-612) were assembled in 2019 at the Pakistani aircraft manufacturer RAS in Kamra. The public presentation of the first few Pakistani-made JF-17bs took place at the RAS in December 2019.

Now the remaining 14 two-seat JF-17bs built at the RAS in 2020 have been transferred-cars with serial numbers from 2P73B to 2P86B, and with tail numbers, respectively, from 20-613 to 20-626.

The Sparky JF-17B prototype was built by the Chinese SAS in Chengdu and made its first flight there in April 2017, after which it was transferred to the Pakistani Air Force for testing. SAS also built at least two production JF-17bs in 2019 for delivery to Myanmar.

Recall that the JF-17 (FC-1) fighter was created as part of a joint Sino-Pakistani program implemented by the Chinese aircraft manufacturing enterprise Chengdu Aircraft Industries Company(Group) (CAC) in Chengdu and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). Initially, Pakistan received six flight prototypes and eight pre-production JF-17 fighters (in 2006-2008), which were all assembled by the Chinese CAC in Chengdu.

From 2009 to 2019 RACES in Camra collected for the Pakistan air force 42 serial fighter JF-17 Block I and 61 modified fighter JF-17 Block II. Thus, taking into account eight pre-production JF-17s and 26 two-seat JF-17bs delivered during 2020, the Pakistani Air Force received a total of 137 JF-17 aircraft. In general, taking into account all the prototypes and machines manufactured in China and Pakistan for export, 168 JF-17 aircraft have been built to date, including 40 in China and 128 in Pakistan.

Since 2018, the first export contract is being implemented for the supply of 16 JF-17M fighters (Chinese production, assembly on the SAS, including several two-seat ones) Myanmar Air Force.

In 2017, three JF-17 Block II aircraft were ordered by Nigeria, They were manufactured by RAS in Camra in 2019 (serial numbers 2P60, 2P61 and 2P62, Nigerian tail numbers from NAF-720 to NAF-722, respectively), but are still used in Camra for training Nigerian personnel, all three aircraft were demonstrated at a ceremony on December 30, 2020.

On December 15, 2019 [...], flight tests of the prototype of the upgraded JF-17 Block III fighter built by the SAS were launched in Chengdu. Now it is announced the beginning of serial production of the JF-17 Block III at the RAS in Kamra for the Pakistani Air Force. It is reported that the first JF-17 Block III aircraft of the Pakistani assembly will be handed over to the Pakistani Air Force at the end of 2021. It is believed that the JF-17 Block III fighter received a number of improvements, including a new Chinese onboard radar with AFAR KLJ-7A and a wide-angle holographic indicator on the background of the windshield (HUD). The aircraft will carry an expanded range of guided weapons (also Chinese).

From the very beginning, all experimental and production JF-17 (FC-1) aircraft built in both China and Pakistan are normally equipped with Russian RD-93 engines. In 2007 and 2010, Rosoboronexport signed contracts for the supply of a total of 250 RD-93 engines to China (with an option for another 400) with the right to re-export them to Pakistan. JF-17 Block III aircraft must be equipped with an upgraded RD-93MA engine html "target=" _blank "rel=" nofollow " >development> JSC "UEC-Klimov". It is believed that the RD-93MA engine has a thrust in afterburner mode about 1000 kg higher than that of the RD-93 (9300 kg and 8300 kg).

To date, five combat squadrons of the Pakistan Air Force are equipped with JF-17 fighters: Block I series aircraft - the 16th and 26th squadrons (both stationed at Peshawar Air Base), and Block II series aircraft - the 2nd and 14th squadrons (Minas Air Base/Kamra) and the 7th Squadron (Masroor Air Base). In addition, JF-17 aircraft are also used in the Combat Commanders School (CCS) combat application center.) Pakistan Air Force at Mushaf air base. "Sparky" JF-17B distributed among all these parts.

It should be noted that in November 2020, citing Pakistani government sources, it was reported that 40% of JF-17 fighters at two Pakistani air bases are not allowed to fly for various reasons, mainly related to the strength of the airframe. It is claimed that defects in the fuselage and cracks were found at the junction of the wing with the fuselage and in the lower skin of the nose fairing, in places most affected by overloads and pressure. It was also reported that the JF-17's electric cockpit light reset system has problems, the same applies to the JF-17B two-seat aircraft. This is a potential danger, as it makes ejecting the pilot if necessary either difficult or almost impossible.