JF-17 Thunder Of Pakistan Airforce (PAF)

JF-17 Thunder Of Pakistan Airforce (PAF)

The JF-17 can carry a variety of missiles and bombs, including air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, supplemented by a 23/30 mm GSh-23-2 twin-barrel auto cannon. It is powered by a RD-93 afterburning turbofan, and has a top speed of Mach 1.6. The JF-17 is slated to become the "mid-tech" backbone of Pakistan Air Force (Pakistan Air Force), complementing the few "high-tech" surplus F-16s with the J-10Bs order delayed indefinitely. The JF-17 is expected to fill the duties of aerial reconnaissance, ground-attack and interception.

Pakistan Air Force has already started induction, and has plans to induct around 250 units. The JF-17 will replace Pakistan's ageing fleet of A-5C, Mirage-III, Mirage-V, and F-7P/PG by 2015.

Avionics

Aircraft

The software written for the Pakistan Air Force JF-17's avionics totals more than one million lines of instructions, incorporating the concept of open architecture. Rather than using the Ada programming language, which is specially optimized for military applications, the software is written using the popular civilian C++ programming language to better use the large number of civilian software programmers available. The redesigned PT-04 prototype JF-17 had more advanced avionics than its predecessors, which are included on the production version of the Pakistan Air Force jets.

Tactical

The communication systems of Pakistan Air Force comprise two VHF/UHF radios, one of them having capacity for data linking. The data link can be used to exchange data with ground control centers, airborne early warning and control aircraft and other combat aircraft also equipped with compatible data links. Using this ability of data linking it can also communicate with recently inducted state of the art main battle tank Al Khalid Tank in Pakistan army. The ability to data link with other "nodes" such as aircraft and ground stations allows JF-17 to become part of a network, improving the situational awareness of the pilot and other entities in the network. Data linking is an essential part of the main battle systems. Modern warfare is solely based on effective co-ordination between different armed forces. Therefore this system is very useful for today’s battle ground.

Cockpit Of JF-17 Thunder Of Pakistan Airforce (PAF)

The JF-17 has a defensive aids system (DAS) made up of various integrated sub-systems. A radar warning receiver (RWR) gives data such as direction and proximity of enemy radars to the pilot and electronic warfare (EW) suite, housed in a fairing at the tip of the tail fin for greater coverage that interferes with enemy radars. The EW suite is also linked to a Missile Approach Warning (MAW) system to help it defend against radar-guided missiles. The MAW system uses several optical sensors mounted on the airframe (two of which can be seen at the base of the vertical stabilizer) that detect the rocket motors of missiles and gives 360 degree coverage. Data collected by the MAW system, such as direction of inbound missiles and the time to impact, is also shown on the cockpit displays and HUD to warn the pilot. A counter-measures dispensing system releases decoy flares and chaff to help the aircraft evade enemy radars and missiles. The DAS systems will also be enhanced by integration of a self-protection radar jamming pod which will be carried externally on one of the aircraft's hard points.

Propulsion And Fuel System

The JF-17 is powered by a single Russian RD-93 turbofan engine, which is a variant of the RD-33 engine used on the Mig-29 fighter. The engine gives more thrust and significantly lower specific fuel consumption than the turbojet engines fitted to older combat aircraft being replaced by the JF-17. The advantages of using only one engine are that both maintenance time and cost are significantly lower than twin-engine fighters. A thrust-to-weight ratio of 0.99 can be achieved, with full internal fuel tanks and no external payload. The engine's air supply is provided by two bifurcated air inlets. However the RD-93 is known to produce smoke trails.

Weaponry

JF-17 can be armed with up to 3,629 kg (8,000 lb) of air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry, as well as other equipment, mounted externally on the aircraft's seven hard points. One hard point is located under the fuselage between the main landing gear, two are underneath each wing and one at each wing-tip. All 7 hard points communicate via a MIL-STD-1760 data-bus architecture with the Stores Management System, which is stated to be capable of integration with weaponry of any origin. Internal armament comprises one 23 mm GSh-23-2 twin-barrel cannon mounted under the port side air intake, which can be replaced with a 30 mm GSh-30-2 twin-barrel cannon.

Simulator Of JF-17 Thunder Of Pakistan Airforce (PAF)

Active radar homing BVR AAMs can be deployed once integrated with the on-board radar and data-link for mid-course updates. The Chinese PL-12/SD-10 is expected to be the aircraft's primary BVR air-to-air weapon, although this may change if radars of other origin are fitted. Short range infra-red homing missiles currently integrated include the Chinese PL-5E and PL-9C, as well as the AIM-9L. The PAKISTAN AIR FORCE is also seeking to arm the JF-17 with a modern fifth generation close-combat missile such as the IRIS-T or A-darter. These will be integrated with the HMS/D as well as the radar for targeting.

Specifications Of JF-17 Thunder Aircraft Of Pakistan Air Force

Data from Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.

• Crew: 1
• Length: 14.93 m (49 ft)
• Wingspan: 9.45 m (31 ft, including 2 wingtip missiles)
• Height: 4.72 m (15 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 24.4 m² (263 ft²)
• Empty weight: 6,586 kg (14,520 lb)
• Loaded weight: 9,100 kg (20,062 lb)
• Useful load: 3000 kg (6600 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 12,383 kg (27,300 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Klimov RD-93
• Dry thrust: 49.4 kN / 51.2 kN (11,106 lbf / 11,510 lbf)
• Thrust with afterburner: 84.5 kN (19,000 lbf)
• G-limit: +8 g / -3 g
• Internal Fuel Capacity: 2,300 kg (5,130 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.6
• Combat radius: 1,352 km (840 mi)
• Ferry range: 3,482 km (1,880 NM)
• Service ceiling: 16,920 m (55,500 ft)
• Thrust/weight: 0.95 

Armament

• Guns: 1× 23 mm GSh-23-2 twin-barrel cannon (can be replaced with 30 mm GSh-30-2)
• Hardpoints: 7 in total (4× under-wing, 2× wing-tip, 1× under-fuselage; pylon stations number 3, 4 and 5 are wet-plumb capable) with a capacity of 3,629 kg (8,001 lb) for external fuel and ordnance

Missiles

Air-to-air missiles:

• MAA-1 Piranha (Short-range)
• AIM-9L/M (Short-range)
• PL-5EII (Short-range)
• PL-9C (Short-range)
• PL-12 / SD-10 (Beyond visual range)]
• Air-to-surface missiles:
• MAR-1 (Anti-radiation missile)
• C-802A (Anti-ship missiles)
• C-803 (Anti-ship missiles)
• CM-400AKG (Hypersonic Anti-ship missiles)
• Ra'ad ALCM (Nuclear capable Stealth Cruise missile)

Bombs:

Unguided bombs:

• Mk-82 (general purpose bomb)
• Mk-84 (general purpose bomb)
• Matra Durandal (anti-runway bomb)
• CBU-100/Mk-20 Rockeye (anti-armor cluster bomb)

Precision guided munitions (PGM):

• GBU-10 (Laser-guided)
• GBU-12 (Laser-guided)
• LT-2 (Laser-guided)
• H-2 (electro-optically guided)
• H-4 (electro-optically guided)
• LS-6 (satellite-guided glide bombs)
• Satellite-guided bombs

Others:

• Countermeasures (Flares, Chaff)
• Up to 3 external drop tanks (2× under-wing 1,100 liters (240 imp gal; 290 US gal), 1× under-fuselage 800 liters (180 imp gal; 210 US gal)) for extended range/loitering time

Avionics

• DEEC electronic warfare suite
• NRIET KLJ-7 multi-mode fire-control radar
• Night vision goggles (NVG) compatible glass cockpit
• Helmet Mounted Sights/Display (HMS/D)

Externally mounted avionics pods:

• KG-300G self-protection radar jamming pod
• WMD-7 day/night targeting pod

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