China-made planes set to soar onto world market

[Brotherhood]

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China-made planes set to soar onto world market - People's Daily Online July 21, 2010

Chinese planes can make a "significant impact" on the world arms market, said an expert of a leading think tank.

Two JF-17s, co-produced by China and Pakistan, have just made their international debut at an ongoing major international air show.

Gary Li, who analyzes the People's Liberation Army for London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, also told China Daily that the Chinese air force is already "one of the strongest" in the world.

"Currently China is engaged in a very rapid series of aircraft upgrades and diversification," Li said, noting that the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) is currently strong only in terms of size.

Earlier this month, The Diplomat magazine, based in Tokyo and Sydney, as well as London's Jane's Defence Weekly, almost simultaneously published stories expressing concerns over the buildup of the PLAAF, entitled "China air force steps it up" and "Chinese military aircraft: up and coming".

The Diplomat even said China is "building a force that will be without rival in the Asia-Pacific".

Despite such a rapid upgrade, Li said China should work on "technological choke-points" .

A big problem, he said, is China's heavy reliance on Russian-made engines. Most of the country's latest aircraft, including JF-17s, still use engines bought from its northern neighbor.

"How many aircraft can China produce a year if Russia stops selling its engines to Beijing?" Li asked.

"China needs to solve this problem within 10 years if it wishes to continue the overhaul of the PLAAF and the development of the new generation of fighters".

China has been active in the international aircraft market in recent years.

The total value of China's arms exports from 2005-9, according to Sweden's Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, was $2.73 billion, only about 2.3 percent of the world's total.

But Beijing's aircraft sales - worth up to $815 million - are larger than any other of its weapon exports.

Though Chinese aircrafts are not comparable with US or Russian ones, Li said, "Chinese companies offer very attractive packages."

"The US never sells its latest generation of aircraft, or sell critical technologies," he said. In contrast, "China sells packages", not just the aircraft, but also technology and expertise - such as production licenses for domestic assembly, technical assistance and other after-sales support.

Almost all Chinese aircraft exports go to less developed countries, like Egypt, Venezuela and Myanmar. And Pakistan, China's "all-weathered friend", is the biggest recipient of Chinese planes.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) received its first two JF-17 Thunder fighters from China in July 2007. Last year, the PAF started its own assembly line, which saw the first aircraft roll out in November.

In February, the PAF activated its first JF-17 squadron, with 14 aircraft in service and another 24 to be delivered from the initial contract batch. Pakistan's total requirement for this type of single-engine plane is reported to be as high as 250.

Li said the JF-17 is an "excellent aircraft", available at a cheap price (about $15 million each), with a good avionics system and good radar. "It is a successful product of a successful partnership Chinese design really shines."

Significantly, the plane fits into Islamabad's needs, as "countries like Pakistan or Egypt don't need F-22s", Li added.

"If China decides to export its newer aircraft such as the J-11B and J-10, then it will make a significant impact on the world arms market, by offering attractive and cost effective alternatives to Western and Russian planes."

Long March

Also at the show, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology presented China's next-generation heavy-duty launch vehicle, Long March-5, slated to take off in 2014.

The Long March-5 launch vehicle is currently China's largest, designed for transporting heavyweight satellites and space stations. It has entered the test stage.

Source: China Daily

[CardSharp]

Most small national air-forces operate really really old planes or struggle financially to keep a few up-to-date planes flying. I can see the JF-17 doing really well in that market.

Toyota Camry of the fighter aviation world ?

[ao333]

It's a shame the Mitsubishi F-2 couldn't debut. It's still superior to any Chinese plane in service.

[zagahaga]

its right jf 17 might get alot of order i mean you have bangladesh , malysia , african countries south american countries soo yeh it happens they need some thing that is dependabel

[dingyibvs]

It's a shame the Mitsubishi F-2 couldn't debut. It's still superior to any Chinese plane in service.

I thought it's already in service, and it costs like $100 million per, which is also far more than any Chinese plane in service.

[ao333]

I thought it's already in service, and it costs like $100 million per, which is also far more than any Chinese plane in service.

Debut refers to this air show. And it was in service 5 years (2000) before the J-10, yet still significantly superior. Only 1 crash in 10 years and not even 1 pilot had died. In contrast, at least 5 pilot deaths and J-10 destructions have been confirmed by the Chinese government in 5 years, with many more we do not know about.

The deaths of 5 or more pilots already makes the J-10 one of the most expensive planes in the world.

[CardSharp]

Debut referrers to this air show. And it was in service 5 years (2000) before the J-10, yet still significantly superior. Only 1 crash in 10 years and not even 1 pilot had died. In contrast, at least 5 pilot deaths and J-10 destructions have been confirmed by the Chinese government in 5 years, with many more we do not know about.

The 2 planes simply aren't on the same level.

By your logic a Boeing 787 is a better fighter jet than both J-10 and F-2

[chauism]

Debut refers to this air show. And it was in service 5 years (2000) before the J-10, yet still significantly superior. Only 1 crash in 10 years and not even 1 pilot had died. In contrast, at least 5 pilot deaths and J-10 destructions have been confirmed by the Chinese government in 5 years, with many more we do not know about.

The deaths of 5 or more pilots already makes the J-10 one of the most expensive planes in the world.

The only shining point of F-2 is its AESA Radar, other than there is no comparison between those two fighters. Also F-2 main mission objective is anti-ship strike, not air-superiority.

[dingyibvs]

Debut refers to this air show. And it was in service 5 years (2000) before the J-10, yet still significantly superior. Only 1 crash in 10 years and not even 1 pilot had died. In contrast, at least 5 pilot deaths and J-10 destructions have been confirmed by the Chinese government in 5 years, with many more we do not know about.

The deaths of 5 or more pilots already makes the J-10 one of the most expensive planes in the world.

Eh, that's your opinion. When each F-2 is facing 3 J-10's, we'll see which side can win a battle.

[xuxu1457]

It's a shame the Mitsubishi F-2 couldn't debut. It's still superior to any Chinese plane in service.

F-2 is Japanese version of F-16,the kernel is in the hand of Us,its price is equal to F-35:100million$;like the 90 tank's price is 10million$ which can buy 3 M1A2
F-2

F-16

[chauism]

F-2 is Japanese version of F-16,the kernel is in the hand of Us,its price is equal to F-35:100million$;like the 90 tank's price is 10million$ which can buy 3 M1A2

Even though F-2 resemble F-16 it is actually 30% larger, its design is based on purposed F-16 Agile Falcon which never realized rather than F-16 Fighting Falcon itself.

[xuxu1457]

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Mitsubishi F-2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mitsubishi F-2
The Mitsubishi F-2 is a Strike fighter manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Lockheed Martin for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, with a 60/40 split in manufacturing between Japan and the USA. Production started in 1996 and the first aircraft entered service in 2000. By 2008, the first 76 aircraft are expected to be in service, with a total of 94 airframes under contract.
In FY2005, Ministry of Defense changed the category from Support Fighter to Fighter.
Development
Work started in 1980s under the FS-X program, and began in earnest with a memorandum of understanding between Japan and the United States. It would lead to a new fighter based on the General Dynamics (post 1993, Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon, and in particular the F-16 Agile Falcon proposal. Lockheed Martin and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries co-developed and co-produce the aircraft, the company is a major subcontractor to Mitsubishi, some of the early developmental work was actually under General Dynamics, who sold its aircraft division to LM in 1993. It is essentially an execution of the F-16 Agile Falcon proposal: a late-1980s plan for an enlarged F-16 which was passed over by the U.S. in favor of an all-new fighter program (Joint Strike Fighter). The F-2 used the wing design of the F-16 Agile Falcon, but much of the electronics were further updated to 1990s standards. The overall concept of the enlarged F-16 by General Dynamics was intended as a cheap counter to the then emerging threat of Su-27/MiG-29.

In October 1987, Japan selected the F-16 as the basis of its new secondary fighter， to replace the aging Mitsubishi F-1 and supplement its main air superiority fighter, the F-15J as well as the F-4EJ. Also during the 1980s, General Dynamics (who developed the F-16) had proposed its F-16 Agile Falcon to the USAF. While the US would pass over the design concept in favor of all-new types (F-22/JSF) and upgrades to its existing fleet, the enlarged F-16 would find a home in Japan.

The F-2 program was controversial, because the unit cost, which includes development costs, is roughly four times that of a Block 50/52 F-16, which does not include development costs. Inclusion of development costs distorts the incremental unit cost (this happens with most modern military aircraft), though even at the planned procurement levels, the price per aircraft was somewhat high. The initial plan of 141 F-2s would have reduced the unit cost by up to US$ 10 million per unit, not including reduced cost from mass production. As of 2008, 94 aircraft were planned. Also controversial is the amounts claimed to be paid to American side as various licensing fees, although making use of the pre-existing technology was much cheaper than trying to develop it from scratch.

The Japanese may eventually make up to 94, at a cost of roughly US$ 110 million each in 2004 dollars. Much of the F-16 technology used in the F-2 was the subject of some political debate in the U.S. and Japan in the early 1990s. The technology transfers were authorized however, and the project proceeded.

The F-2's maiden flight was on 7 October 1995. Later that year, the Japanese government approved an order for 141 (but that was soon cut to 130), to enter service by 1999; structural problems resulted in service entry being delayed until 2000. Because of issues with cost-efficiency, orders for the aircraft were curtailed to 98 in 2004.

On 31 October 2007, a F-2B fighter jet crashed and exploded in flames during takeoff at Nagoya Airfield in central Japan. The jet was being taken up on a test flight before being delivered to the Japanese Air Force. Both test pilots survived the incident with only minor injuries.

The F-2 has three display screens, including a liquid crystal display from Yokogawa.

Some differences in the F-2 from the F-16A:

a 25% larger wing area
composite materials used to reduce overall weight and radar signature
longer and wider nose to accommodate a phased-array radar
larger tailplane
larger air intake
three-piece cockpit canopy
capabilities for four ASM-1 or ASM-2 anti-ship missiles, four AAMs, and additional fuel tanks
Also, the F-2 is equipped with a drogue parachute, like the version of the F-16 used by Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Turkey, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Venezuela.

General characteristics

Crew: 1 (or 2 for the F-2B)
Length: 15.52 m (50 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 11.13 m (36 ft 6 in)
Height: 4.69 m (15 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 34.84 m² (375 ft²)
Empty weight: 9,527 kg (21,000 lb)
Loaded weight: 15,000 kg (33,000 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 22,100 kg (48,700 lb)
Powerplant: 1× General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan
Dry thrust: 76 kN (17,000 lbf)
Thrust with afterburner: 120-125 kN (29,500 lbf)

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 2.0
Range: 834 km on anti-ship mission (520 miles)
Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,000 ft)
Wing loading: 430 kg/m² at weight of 15,000 kg (88 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.89
Armament


20 mm JM61A1 cannon, plus maximum weapon load of 8,085 kg:
AAMs: AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, Mitsubishi AAM-3, Mitsubishi AAM-4 (from FY2010)
air-to-ground weapons include: ASM-1 and ASM-2 anti-ship missiles, various free-fall bombs with GCS-1 IIR seeker heads, JDAM
others: J/AAQ-2 FLIR