[mhackl]

All images posted are for the collector’s benefit and may not be reproduced for commercial use without the written consent of On Mark International, Inc. USA © 2007


G3502007 NEW!
Chengdu FC-1 Xiaolong "Fierce Dragon"
The Fighter China-1 (FC-1) Fierce Dragon in China, also known as the Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder is a single-seat multi role fighter aircraft co-developed by Pakistan and China. The first two aircrafts were delivered to the Pakistan Air Force on 12th March 2007.
8" (20.3cm) wingspan w /ordinance

A 1/72nd Scale Diecast model from the World Aircraft Collection series by Gaincorp


Biographical information for this aircraft was found at Wikipedia.com

Overview

The JF-17 is designed to be a low-cost plane which can meet the tactical and strategic needs of the Pakistani Air Force. The JF-17 Thunder aircraft is considered to be a 4th generation fighter jet.

Project
The JF-17 is being built by China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). Initial reports claimed that the aircraft was based on the design of the Mikoyan MiG-33, a proposed single-engined version of the Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum, which was rejected by the Soviet Air Force. However, the FC-1/JF-17 is instead derived from the "Super 7" project, not the Project 33 (not to be confused with the MiG-33) or the failed Chengdu J-9. Indications are that MiG OKB assisted the program by contributing their light fighter design as well as providing additional design & development assistance.
The project is expected to cost about $500 million USD, divided equally between China and Pakistan, while each individual aircraft is expected to have a fly-away cost of $15-20 million USD. The JF-17 Thunder project has been completed in a record period of four years. Pakistan has announced that it will procure 150, but this may easily go up to 300. The JF-17 will replace Pakistan's MiG-21-derived Chengdu F-7, Nanchang A-5 (Q-5) and Mirage III/V currently in service. Other countries which have expressed interest in purchasing the JF-17 are Egypt, Malaysia Bangladesh, Nigeria, Burma, Zimbabwe, Morocco and Algeria.

History

In 1986, China signed an agreement with Grumman to develop an upgrade for the J-7 known as the "Saber II", the replacement of the abandoned "Super 7" upgrade of J-7. The program was canceled in 1990, primarily due to worsening relations with the U.S. following the Tienanmen Square protests of 1989. However, CAC kept the program alive by providing low-level funding from its own resources.
After U.S. sanctions were imposed on Pakistan in 1990, Pakistan also became interested in the project. In June 1999, during the regime of exiled prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan and China made an agreement to restart the program with Pakistan paying about 50% of the development costs. The project became known as JF-17 in Pakistan and FC-1 in China.
The first prototype was rolled out on 2003-05-31, conducted its first taxi trials on 1 July, and made its first flight on 24 August of the same year. Prototype 03 made its first flight in April 2004. On 2006-04-28, Prototype 04 made its first flight with fully operational avionics.
Serial production has begun in June 2006, and the first 16 aircraft will be rolled out in early 2007. Serial production during 2007-2008 will be at an annual 10-15 planes per year, while from 2009+ it will be at 25-30 planes per year.
The President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, declared in his Independence Day speech on 2006-08-14 that the JF-17 will be flying in Pakistani skies by 2007-03-23. The first 2 JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft were delivered to Pakistan Air Force on 2007-03-12, while the remainder of the first batch of 8 aircraft will arrive later in the same year. The JF-17 Thunder aircraft is scheduled to have its first public appearance in Islamabad, on March 23, during fly past of National Day Joint Services Parade.

• When active radar homing air-to-air missiles are used, the number of targets that can be simultaneously engaged are increased to 4.
• The detection range for a typical air target of RC 3 m² is 125+ km; looking downrange is 45+ km; range for sea target is 250+ km.
• Re programmable digital processor with open architecture design.
• Option to incorporate IFF.
• The internally mounted electro-optics is not standard for JF-17, but the radar is compatible with them for their rapid integration upon customer's request.

Helmet Mounted Sight
In comparison to the latest Russian HMS available with +/- 60 degrees of field of view, the Chinese HMS for J-7E/F-7PG still enjoys much greater field of view at +/- 90 degrees.

• The elevation of the latest Russian HMS designed to replace the original ASP-PVD-21 HMS onboard MiG-29 and Flanker family is only +/- 40 degrees, while in contrast, the Chinese HMS for J-7E/F-7PG is already +/- 45 degrees.
• The Chinese HMS for J-7E/F-7PG already had higher reliability than the Russian HMS.
• The Chinese HMS for J-7E/F-7PG are easier and much cheaper to manufacture than its Russian counterparts.

Although the Chinese HMS for J-7E/F-7PG has already enjoyed numerous advantages over the latest Russian HMS developed later, it still might not be the final type of HMS selected for JF-17, because even as the Chinese HMS for J-7E/F-7PG was first revealed in 2002, the Chinese manufacturers such as the 613th Institute had already started the development of newer HMS designed to replace the HMS for J-7E/F-7PG. Improvement included the adaptation of common attachments and power sources so that all night vision goggles and HMS are interchangeable, without the need to replace the entire system. The weight would be further reduced from the 200 grams weight of the Chinese HMS for J-7E/F-7PG, while the performance is further increased (mainly in the increase of elevation angles). While it can not be confirmed the claims by various sources that the more advanced Chinese HMS onboard Chengdu J-10 developed from HMS onboard the J-7E/F-7PG would be selected for JF-17, the aircraft is certainly compatible with the more advanced Chinese HMS onboard Chengdu J-10.

Electronic warfare

It has all the standard electronic warfare systems, such as radar warning receiver, missile approach warning system, etc.

• The computer can store more than 500 existing radar signals for identification, which is around 5 times of that F-7MP/P, and actually already stores more than 250 known radar signal patterns.
• 360-degree field of view for the missile approach warning system with both infrared & ultraviolet spectrum detection.
• Very sensitive to the "afterburn" of missiles.
• The detection range is 60+ km.
• One detection sensor is in the tail and two at the front.
• Moreover, it can provide a certain capacity of tracking and positioning of approaching missiles

Pakistan Air Force JF-17

The first 50 JF-17s entering Pakistan Air Force (PAF) service will only incorporate Chinese avionics and weapon systems. Subsequent upgrades will be made on PAF JF-17s every five years, planned additions include infra-red search & track (IRST), in-flight refueling (IFR) and possibly engine change from the Russian RD-93 to Chinese WS-13.
Beyond the initial 50 PAF JF-17s, the remaining 100-150 may be equipped with European avionics and radars. Pakistan had begun negotiations with British and Italian defence firms over potential avionics and ECM/EW systems for JF-17. In fact, one of the radar options for JF-17 is the Italian Grifo S7.
The first two have now arrived in Pakistan. The program appears to be developing at fast pace, and a more advanced version is said to be already in development with service entry anticipated for the early part of the next decade.

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 pilot
• Length: 14.97 m (49 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 9.46 m (31 ft 0 in)
• Height: 4.77 m (15 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: m² (ft²)
• Empty weight: 6,411 kg (14,134 lb)
• Loaded weight: 10,072 kg (22,205 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 15,474 kg (34,114 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Russian-made RD-93 turbofan (81.3 kN) (Production version to have further improved RD-93B with 10% more thrust. For the long term, TVT or thrust vectoring nozzle to enhance maneuverability will also be an option in the future upon customer's request) , 8,290 kgf (18,277 lbf)

Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 1.8 (1,370 mph) at high altitude

• Range: 3,000 km (1,864 mi)
• Service ceiling: 20,500 m (50,000 ft)
• Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)

Armament
One internal GSh-23-2 twin-barrel 23 mm cannon

• Short (PL-9C/AIM-9M/Magic 2) and beyond-visual-range missiles (SD-10/Aspide), laser guided bombs, other guided munitions and targeting pod can also be carried for precision strike missions

Avionics
Italian FIAR Grifo S-7 on Pakistani-built export versions (The Radar for Pakistan Air Force's JF-17 is not yet decided. However, early PAF JF-17s will most probably be equipped with Chinese radars which the PLAAF will also be using.)

• Global Positioning System
• Head-up display (HUD), infra-red search-and-track (IRST) system (external), night-vision goggle (NVG) capability and Fly-by-Wire (FBW)

[mhackl]

All images posted are for the collector’s benefit and may not be reproduced for commercial use without the written consent of On Mark International, Inc. USA © 2007


G3502007 NEW!
Chengdu FC-1 Xiaolong "Fierce Dragon"
The Fighter China-1 (FC-1) Fierce Dragon in China, also known as the Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder is a single-seat multi role fighter aircraft co-developed by Pakistan and China. The first two aircrafts were delivered to the Pakistan Air Force on 12th March 2007.
8" (20.3cm) wingspan w /ordinance

A 1/72nd Scale Diecast model from the World Aircraft Collection series by Gaincorp

[mhackl]

All images posted are for the collector’s benefit and may not be reproduced for commercial use without the written consent of On Mark International, Inc. USA © 2007


G3502007 NEW!
Chengdu FC-1 Xiaolong "Fierce Dragon"
The Fighter China-1 (FC-1) Fierce Dragon in China, also known as the Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder is a single-seat multi role fighter aircraft co-developed by Pakistan and China. The first two aircrafts were delivered to the Pakistan Air Force on 12th March 2007.
8" (20.3cm) wingspan w /ordinance

A 1/72nd Scale Diecast model from the World Aircraft Collection series by Gaincorp

[mhackl]

All images posted are for the collector’s benefit and may not be reproduced for commercial use without the written consent of On Mark International, Inc. USA © 2007


G3502007 NEW!
Chengdu FC-1 Xiaolong "Fierce Dragon"
The Fighter China-1 (FC-1) Fierce Dragon in China, also known as the Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder is a single-seat multi role fighter aircraft co-developed by Pakistan and China. The first two aircrafts were delivered to the Pakistan Air Force on 12th March 2007.
8" (20.3cm) wingspan w /ordinance

A 1/72nd Scale Diecast model from the World Aircraft Collection series by Gaincorp

[FormerViperDriver]

mhackl,

Great pictures as usual. Thanks.

I wish they had chosen the J-10 instead, though. I'd buy that immediately. The FC-1 just doesn't exite me that much. Still, not too many Chinese aircraft on the diecast market, and your pictures are convincing. Might have to re-assess...

Just one thing: I see this model being referred to as 1/72 in some places (including your post), 1/48 in others. Which is it? I think 1/48 is accurate if the 8" wingspan figure is true.

FVD

[mhackl]

This one is 1/72nd scale. There is also a 1/48th version, but very few of those have made it to the states. They're easy to get confused.
The Pakistani version was also made in the 48th scale series.

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by mhackl

This one is 1/72nd scale. There is also a 1/48th version, but very few of those have made it to the states. They're easy to get confused.
The Pakistani version was also made in the 48th scale series.

OK, thanks for the clarification.

I still think 8" wingspan is big for a 1/72 version...

FVD

[flyXwire]

Thanks for the beautiful pics as usual, mhackl. This one might become an 'impulse' purchase simply because it's an unusual and unique addition to my collection.

[fileasfog]

Xiaolong means little dragon.
Xiao is small
and long is dragon in madarin.

[b-huj]

Originally Posted by fileasfog

Xiaolong means little dragon.
Xiao is small
and long is dragon in madarin.

梟/xiao1/=fierce
小/xiao3/=little
龍/long2/=dragon
in English text you tend to ommit the "intonation" or "accent" sign, therefore the confusion. This plane is NOT called small dragon.
Sure there is a 1/72 version, but I thought only the bigger one had the detailed lights, newer engine intakes, different tailfin profile (refer to attached the so-called 1/72 model on a different post...Sure this one is not the 1/48 version in the pictures, coz it looks much better than that other one?