JF-17 / FC-1 / Super-7 Multi-role Fighter Aircraft
NAME: Westernised/Manufacturer name: FC-1, Export name: Super-7
TYPE: Single-seat, single-engine multirole fighter aircraft derived from the
Chengdu J-7 (F-7)
MANUFACTURER: China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC),
Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC), Pakistan's Aviation Integrated
Company (PAIC)
Crew: One
Wingspan: 9.00 m Length: 14 m
Height: 5.10 m
Weight: Empty 6,321 kg; Normal take-off: 9,100 kg; Max take-off 12,700 kg; Max
weapon payload 3,800 kg
Maximum Weapon Load: 3,600 kg
Maximum Speed: Mach 1.6
Range: Ferry range 3,000 km; Operational Radius 1,352 km
Service Ceiling: 16,500 m
+G Limit: 8.5
ENGINE: One RD-93 turbofans, rated 49.4 kN dry or 81.4 kN with afterburning.
WEAPONS: Seven stores stations, one under the fuselage and six under the wing,
up to 3,800 kg. Air-to-air missiles include: AIM-9P, PL-9, Magic-2 short-range
AAMs; AIM-7E, Aspide.
In 1986 China signed a $550 million agreement with Grumman to modernize its J-7
fighter under the so-called "Super-7" upgrade, but this agreement was cancelled
in early 1990, in the wake of the cooling of political relations with the West,
as well as in response to a 40% increase in the cost of the project. As a
substitute for the original Super-7, China is developing the FC-1 (Fighter
China-1) lightweight multipurpose fighter based on the design for the Super-7,
with assistant from the Russians.
Meanwhile, a full-scale mockup of the FC-1 has been completed by CAC. According
to the latest reports, the first prototype of FC-1 is currently under
construction and expected to first fly in early 2003. The first FC-1 will be
fitted with an Israeli Elta-2032 radar for fire-control test, and a Russian
RD-93 turbofan engine. Chengdu has obtained two Elta-2032 systems and four RD-93
engines for initial evaluation and tests.
The FC-1/Super-7 is being developed with a total investment in excess of $150
million, including $75 million from Pakistan, with the rest investment from
CATIC. The FC-1/Super-7 is mainly for export to replace the 120 F-7M/P fighters
currently in service in the Pakistani Air Force, though it is possible that the
Chinese Air Force will use this aircraft as well. Chengdu is co-operating with
and Russia's Mikoyan Aero-Science Production Group (MASPG) in the development of
the FC-1. Israel and several European countries are being considered as
suppliers for the plane's avionics.
According to the latest reports by the Chinese official media, the FC-7/Super-7
has entered initial production in September 2002. The first flight is expected
to take place in 2003.
DESIGN FEATURES
Initially it was anticipated that the FC-1 would be a high-performance, low-cost
fighter plane to replace outdated F-5s and MiG-21s in many third-world air
forces. But with the participation of MASPG, the Russians are using the FC-1 as
a continuation of the MiG-33 (R33) programme developed in the 1980s. Like the
MiG-33, the FC-1 uses the RD-93 turbofans, though the FC-1 features air inlets
on the lateral sides of the fuselage rather than the ventral inlets of the
MiG-33. With Russian technical assistance the redesigned FC-1 has improved climb
out performance and steering capabilities along with a stronger fuselage.
However, the most apparent modifications to the MiG-33 design is the
repositioning of the ventral fins from the engine compartment to the added tail
edgings, providing aerial manoeuvrability that is claimed to match that of the
U.S. F-16. These improvements in performance have affected the programme's
costs, and if the final production order is fewer than 300 aircraft the unit
price will rise from the original $10 million to $15 million.
AVIONICS: Few venders are competing for supplying avionics to the FC-1/Super-7.
Apart from Israeli Elta-2032, Italian FIAR company also revealed its Grifo S-7
fire-control radar on Singapore Asian Aerospace 2002. The Grifo S-7 is specially
designed for the FC-1/Super-7, with 25 working modes and a non-break-down time
of 200 hours. The radar is capable of look-down, shoot-down, as well as for
ground strike, but without multi-targets tracing and attacking capabilities.
According to reports, the PLA Air Force variant of the FC-1 will certainly not
be fitted with Elta-2032, therefore Russian Phazotron Kopyo radar and Italian
Grifo are options available.
To achieve better aerodynamic performance, the FC-1/Super-7 is also equipped
with a digital dual fly-by-wire (FBW).
Source :sinodefence
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Information from second source :
LENGTH 13.95 meters
HEIGHT 5.02 meters
WING SPAN 9.5 meters
MAX T-O WEIGHT 12,500 kilograms
MAX LEVEL SPEED 1031 knots
MAX RANGE 864 nautical miles
SERVICE CEILING 16,000 meters
T-O RUN 500 meters
LANDING RUN 700 meters
Armament 23 mm GSh-23-2 twin-barrel cannon, 6 - PL-7 AAM, 6 - PL-10 AAMs, ASMs,
bombs
In 1986 China signed a $550 million agreement with Grumman to modernize 55 of
its fleet of J-7 fighters under the so-called "Super-7" upgrade, but this
agreement was canceled in early 1990, in the wake of the cooling of political
relations with the West, as well as in response to a 40% increase in the cost of
the project.
As a substitute for the Super-7, China is developing the FC-1 (Fighter China 1)
lightweight multipurpose fighter based on the design for the MiG-33, which was
rejected by the Soviet Air Force. The FC-1 is being developed with a total
investment in excess of $500 million, including support from the China National
Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), mainly for export to
replace the 120 F-7M/P fighters currently in service in the Pakistani Air Force,
though it is possible that the Chinese Air Force will use this aircraft as well.
Chengdu Aircraft Industry Company [CAIC], based in Sichuan Province, is China's
second-largest fighter production base, and the enterprise is cooperating with
Pakistan's Aviation Integrated Company and Russia's Mikoyan Aero-Science
Production Group [MASPG] in the development of the FC-1. Israel and several
European countries are being considered as suppliers for the plane's avionics.
The first flight took place in 1997 with delivery to the Pakistani Air Force
scheduled for 1999.
Initially it was anticipated that the FC-1 would be a high- performance,
low-cost fighter plane to supplement the F-10 air superiority fighters developed
for the Chinese Air Force. But with the participation of MASPG, the Russians are
using the FC-1 as a continuation of the MiG-33 [R33] program developed in the
1980s. Like the MiG-33, the FC-1 uses the "Zhuk" pulse Doppler radar and RD93
turbofans, though the FC-1 features air inlets on the lateral sides of the
fuselage rather than the ventral inlets of the MiG-33. With Russian technical
assitance the redesigned FC-11 has improved climbout performance and steering
capabilities along with a stronger fuselage. However, the most apparent
modifications to the MiG-33 design is the repositioning of the ventral fins from
the engine compartment to the added tail edgings, providing aerial
maneuverability that is claimed to match that of the American F16. These
improvement in performance have affected the program's costs, and if the final
production order if fewer than 300 aircraft the unit price will rise from the
original $10 million to $15 million.
Consequently, the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC)
is trying to persuade the Chinese Air Force to use the FC-1 so as to increase
the production run and reduce the unit cost. But the Chinese military has
resisted, being of the view that equiping the Air Force with two types of
fighter planes with similar performance within the same time period would both
consume limited financial resources and complicate logistical support for
dissimilar aircraft.
The FC-1 was to make it's first flight in 1996, but the project was delayed when
Pakistan sought to upgrade the performance characteristics of the FC-1 to
respond to India's acquisition of Su-30MKIs. After several years of stagnation,
the Pakistani Prime Minister's February 1998 trip to China resulted in an
agreement to continue development of the fighter. Currently Pakistan is
interested in acquiring at least 150 fighters, with the Chinese contemplating
acquiring over 200.
J-9
The J-9 designation was apparently initially applied to an unbuilt aircraft that
was cancelled in development around 1979. The F-9 FANTAN designation was at one
time applied to the Q-5 FANTAN attack aircraft. Should the FC-1 enter PLAAF
service, it might carry the J-9 designation.
Source: FAS
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Sino-Pak, China launches FC-1 fighter production: Jane's Defence
Production of the FC-1 lightweight fighter for China and Pakistan has been
formally launched at China's Chengdu No.132 factory. Islamabad is now expected
to receive its first 12 aircraft for test and evaluation during 2004.
While the debut flight of a prototype aircraft has been delayed slightly from
next month, this milestone is still anticipated around mid-2003, according to
the latest understanding between the partner nations (Jane's Defence Weekly 9
October 2002).
A Chengdu source told JDW that the design standard for the new fighter is
similar to that of other third-generation platforms. The type's flight control
system is less advanced, however, largely as a result of financial constraints,
say other industry sources.
The prototype FC-1 will be powered by a Russian-supplied RD-93 turbofan engine
and carry an Israeli-sourced EL/M-2032 airborne fire-control radar. Sources from
both the Chinese and Italian aviation industries say Pakistan's production
aircraft are more likely to use the Italian FIAR Grifo S-7 radar, which was
designed specifically for the new aircraft.
While FIAR officials decline to release detailed information about the system,
JDW understands that the design features up to 25 air-to-air and air-to-surface
operating modes, and has a search distance of no more than 100km. The Grifo S-7
is also expected to enable the FC-1 to attack more than two targets
simultaneously with active radar-guided air-to-air missiles (AAMs). A full-scale
mock-up of the FC-1 shown at the Airshow China exhibition in Zhuhai late last
year was armed with Chinese SD-10 (PL-12) beyond-visual-range AAMs, which the
Chengdu source said could enable the platform to engage an advanced fighter,
such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
In the ground-attack role, the FC-1 could also be equipped with a
Chinese-produced laser designation pod and new laser-guided bombs developed with
the aid of Russian-supplied technologies, said the source. (Written by Yihong
Chang, JDW Correspondent)
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