China, Pak in MoU to develop stealth variant on JF-17 Thunder

[sonicboom]

China, Pak in MoU to develop stealth variant on JF-17 Thunder
Farnborough, Jul 19 (PTI):

China and Pakistan have reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a stealth version of a light-weight fighter aircraft being jointly produced by them to match MiG-21 warplane, a work horse of the Indian Air Force.

JF-17 Thunder, also known as FC-1, being jointly built by Kamra-based Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Chengdu Aerospace Company (CAC) today made its first appearance at an international air show having flown in here after making refueling stops in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

The plane, which has been in development in one form or another since 1991, is a symbol of cooperation between China and Pakistan and the first assembled version brought out by the Kamra plant, delivered in November last year, according to 'Show News,' a special issue of defence journal Aviation Week for the Farnborough Air Show.

"The two (countries) have also reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a stealth variant of the JF-17 Thunder," it said.

The journal said that Pakistan Air Force (PAK) is expected to acquire around 250 JF-17s, but this may be a split of 100 in the JF-17 configuration, being displayed at the air show here, and 150 of the stealth multi-role combat aircraft (MCRA) between 2015 and 2025.

The plane is powered by a Russian-built Klimov RD-93 engine -- a specialised single-engine fighter variant of the Mig 29's RS-33 powerplant. The first prototype of the warplane flew in 2003 and the first two Chinese-made versions were handed over to the PAF in March 2007.

Show organisers said that the two JF-17 fighter planes will not fly as part of the air show. "The aircraft has not completed its full release to service in Pakistan," the journal said, quoting a member of the flight control committee.

"Although that full release is only month away, the PAF is also today in what is for them new territory. Farnborough is their very first event of this kind ever," it said.

China, Pak in MoU to develop stealth variant on JF-17 Thunder

[Araz]

I have seen the plan and the way the plane is going to look.I would say it would look more stealthier, but owuld not be stealth.We need internal bays and these may not be possible with a small plane like thunder.As Soon as the weapons bay opens, your advantage is gone.So i dont know whayt to make of this.Certainly there will be improvements along the line but I doubt theuy will be along the lines of making a stealth plane.
Personally i think we should abandon the fifth generation and go and look at 6th generationplkane.I dont see 5th generation lasting much longer and the thinbg to do is go for the next step.
Araz

[Neo]

valid points Sir. In order to make a stealth version, the airframe (size) will have to increase by 33-40% to make room for internal weapon bay. This means higher take off and landing weight, more powerful engines and a twin crew. I'm not sure if this option is viable. Instead of making it stealth, we should look into the possibilities to make it stealthier by using stealth coating and decrease the RCS to the minimum.

J-XX is already in final stage, that's our best option and hope to go stealth.

[keysersoze]

Guys..." a Plane to match the MIG-21"??? I would not attach too much significance to the article as the guy/girl who wrote it doesn't have a clue....