JF-17 Thunder is a fourth generation lightweight, single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of China. JF-17 Thunder was developed to meet the PAF requirement for an affordable, modern, multi-role combat aircraft.
The JF-17 Thunder can deploy diverse ordnance, including air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, including anti-ship missiles, and a 23 mm GSh-23-2 twin-barrel auto cannon. Powered by a Guizhou WS-13 or Klimov RD-93 afterburning turbofan, it has a top speed of Mach 1.6. The JF-17 Thunder is the backbone and workhorse of the PAF, complementing the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon at half the cost. The JF-17 Thunder was inducted in the PAF in February 2010.
Get to know JF-17 Thunder
National Origin : Pakistan/China
Role : Multirole Combat Aircraft
Generation : 4th generation
First Flight : First flight 25 August 2003; 17 years ago
Status : In service
No Built : 132
JF-17 Thunder Specification
General Characteristics :
| Crew: | 1 (single-seat JF-17A) or 2 (dual-seat JF-17B) |
| Length: | 14.93 m (49 ft 0 in) |
| Wingspan: | 9.44 m (31 ft 0 in) |
| Height: | 4.77 m (15 ft 8 in) |
| Wing area: | 24.43 m2 (263.0 sq ft) |
| Empty weight: | 6,586 kg (14,520 lb) |
| Max takeoff weight: | 13,500 kg (29,762 lb) |
| Fuel capacity: | 2,330 kg (5,137 lb) |
| Powerplant: | 1 × Klimov RD-93 afterburning turbofan with DEEC, 49.4 kN (11,100 lbf) thrust |
Performance :
| Maximum speed: | 1,910 km/h (1,190 mph, 1,030 kn) |
| Max speed in Mach: | Mach 1.6 |
| Cruise speed: | 1,359 km/h (844 mph, 734 kn) |
| Stall speed: | 150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn) |
| Range: | 2,500 km (1,600 mi, 1,300 nmi) |
| Combat range: | 1,352 km (840 mi, 730 nmi) |
| Ferry range: | 3,500 km (2,200 mi, 1,900 nmi) with 3 external drop tanks |
| Service ceiling: | 16,920 m (55,510 ft) |
| g limits: | +8/-3 |
| Rate of climb: | 300 m/s (59,000 ft/min) |
| Thrust/weight: | 0.95 with RD-93 (with 50% internal fuel and 2 x SRAAMs), 1.10 with WS-13 engine |
Airframe
The air frame is of semi-monocoque structure constructed primarily of aluminum alloys. High strength steel and titanium alloys are partially adopted in some critical areas. The air frame is designed for a service life of 4,000 flight hours or 25 years.
Avionics
The JF-17 has a defensive aids system (DAS) composed of various integrated sub-systems. A radar warning receiver (RWR) provides data such as direction and proximity of enemy radars, and an electronic warfare (EW) suite housed in a fairing at the tip of the tail fin interferes with enemy radars.
Engine
The first two blocks of JF-17 is powered by a single Russian RD-93 turbofan engine, which is a variant of the Klimov RD-33 engine used on the MiG-29 fighter. The engine gives more thrust and significantly lower specific fuel consumption than turbojet engines fitted to older combat aircraft being replaced by the JF-17. The advantages of using a single engine are a reduction in maintenance time and cost when compared to twin-engine fighters.
Weapon
The aircraft is fitted with modern Stores Management System incorporating accurate weapon delivery modes and solutions involving minimum pilot workload. The aircraft is capable of carrying some of the most modern as well as conventional weapons, including:
- 70-100 Km range beyond visual range active missiles
- Highly agile Imaging infrared short range missiles
- Air to sea missiles
- Anti radiation missiles
- Laser guided weapons
- Runway penetration bombs
- General purpose bombs
- Training bombs
- 23 mm double barrel gun
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