CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder Fighter Aircraft

This blog is about the JF-17 Thunder Fighter Aircraft which is jointly made by the PAC and CAC.

JF- 17 Thunder is a lightweight and a multi-role combat aircraft. JF-17 Thunder is invented and designed by CAC and PAC. CAC is the “Chengdu Aircraft Corporation” of China and PAC is “Pakistan Aeronautics Corporation”. JF- 17 is used for aerial reconnaissance, ground attack and for intercepting. Using JF-17 for aerial reconnaissance helps military forces to prevent any unknown missions of their nemeses. JF -17 are installed with weapons that have a high range. These high range weapons help JF-17 become one of the strongest fighter jets in the military feet. If you concentrate on the words “Multi-role combat aircraft”, you will realize that the aircraft has many roles it can perform. This aircraft can be used as an interceptor to prevent any bombers or aircraft secretly trying to enter the territory.

Single – Engine Multirole Combat aircraft:

JF- 17 Thunder is a single-engine aircraft. It uses KLIMOV RD-93 engine which is a low-bypass turbofan engine. KLIMOV RD-93 engine is developed by KLIMOV design bureau in St. Petersburg. The engine characteristics are really impressive and appreciable as it is able to produce high thrust. This low bypass turbofan engine consists of afterburner which gives additional thrust and improves the propulsive efficiency of the aircraft.

KLIMOV RD-93 engine is also criticized as it emits smoke when the throttle is motioned. This emission of smoke makes it easy for the enemy pilot to spot the plane in close combat and dogfight. To improve this problem China is working on the new engine named as WS- 13 Taishen. It is a turbofan engine developed by Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation.

Specifications:

Thrust (Afterburner): 8300 kgf /18,260 lb Thrust: 5040 kgf / 11,090 lb Specific Fuel Consumption: 2.1 kg/kgf/Hr in afterburner, 0.77 military Bypass Ratio: 0.46 Compressor Pressure Ratio: 21 Maximum Turbine Inlet Temperature: 1680 K Service Life, hr: 4000 Length: 4.230m Maximum Diameter: 1.040m Mass: 1055 kg

Weaponry of lightning Bolt Aircraft:

JF-17 has a high payload and can be armed up to 3,629 kg. The weaponry of JF-17 includes air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. JF-17 consists of seven hard points. One hard point is located beneath the fuselage between the main landing gear, two are found under each wing and one is at each wing tip. This aircraft is capable for air defense and ground attack missions. It is installed with a single 23-mm GSh-23 or 30-mm GSh-30 twin-barrel cannon. The maximum payload of the JF-17 has weapons with high range. Its primary weapon

The maximum payload of the JF-17 has weapons with high range. Its primary weapons are Chinese PL-12/SD-10 medium-range air-to-air missiles which have active radar-homing. The aircraft also has short-range Chinese PL-7, PL-8, PL-9 or US AIM-9P, mounted on wingtip rails. The JF-17 multi-role fighter is also capable of carrying laser-guided bombs. Additionally, the aircraft has in-flight refueling capability.

Radar:

JF-17 is installed with one of the best mechanically-steered pulse-Doppler radar named as KLJ-7. This radar is developed by the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology or in short form (NRIET). The KLJ-7 is really effective and can track targets from 75 km to 85 km. This high range allows the radar to track up to 10 targets which definitely makes JF- 17 one of the best fighter jet.

Pakistan and China are still working on JF-17 and are planning to design some new and upgrades blocks of JF-17. They are trying to bring some changes in the aircraft so that it can be ameliorated and can compete with the world’s best fighter jets. Fighter jets are really important in the military fleet as it makes it strong and defensive.

Sources Used: (QUWA.org; JF-17.com; Wikipedia.org; TheDiplomat.com; Defence.pk)

Featured Image Credit: (YouTubeImage.com Photo)