FC-1 development after 9-11

[ali]

Subject: (Pakistan) Air Force To Get New 'Super Seven' Plane Next Year


Air Force To Get New 'Super Seven' Plane Next Year

SAP20011014000038 Islamabad Khabrain in Urdu 14 Oct 01 pp 1,5
[Report by Syed Aizaz Hussain Shah: "Pak-China joint venture plane Super Seven to be commissioned next year."]

Islamabad: The "Super Seven" jet fighter being developed in collaboration between Pakistan and China will be inducted into the Pakistan Air Force [PAF] by next year.

According to reliable sources, these planes are alternatives for F-16 fighters for Pakistan. They said the Pakistan Government has sent a special team of aviation experts and aeronautical engineers, who are working on the special Super Seven Project, to China for developing the plane. The sources also said Pakistan Air Force chief Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir is playing an important role for the early production of the plane.

The daily Khabrain tried to contact the official PAF spokesman but in his absence, Wing Commander Aamir informed that the plane is expected to be commissioned by the middle of next year.

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Can anyone please comment on this if this is true?

[osman]

I have my doubt on this, we still havent seen a prototype not to speak of test flying. Although we all long to see a real S7 or FC1 in action but we have to wait more years for anything like that to hapen.

[Aziz]

How can this be so when the final selections on radar/avionics, engines and armaments have not even been made.

Aziz

[Sultan]

Just because the public havent learnt of any details of the final radar and avionics selection and havent seen a prototype fly doesnt mean that these events have not occured. We all are well aware of PAK militarys secrecy policy when it comes to weapon developments and acquisition.

[Gaf]

If you look at the coverage at the development of the Alkhalid, you will realise that its development has been quite high profile and well advertised over the number of years.

This has not been so, in the case of the S7. You have to ask, why.

It can't be secrecy, as that would have applied to the Alkhalid also?

I would be extremely suprised if the S7 flys next year, even more suprised that it will be commissioned anytime soon.

Take in point the LCA, its only recenly flown... but the weapon systems/sensors are nowhere near completion..

I must confess that i am worried about the prospect of having a russian engine in a PAF fighter aircraft, in particular to the issue of spare parts availability...

[Mohammed Ali]

Thinking that all development work and testing has been done on FC-1 is childish. First of all, we are going to be using Western radar and avionics. Since there have been no reportson this front so far from any country, i find it hard to believe. But even if there is reason to be secretive, its not possible to test any weapon selections and other parameters without flying the plane. All these things will start once the prototype is afloat, probably next year (a big probably). Then it will take about an year or so atleast till limited scale production can start. So dont expect FC-1 to be in squadron service before 2005.

Also, almost always, production aircraft are different from prototypes as refinements are put in place in the original design.

[Rauf]

Yes, it is true, the FC-1 avionics are selected and Pak has told the suppliers not to announce it, the clause in contract states that these handful suppliers to Pak of military goods will be bared from future purchases if they violated the contract. They can kiss any future dealings with PA/PN/PAF. The line of suppliers was so long, that Pak had no difficulty pulling this one off.

I bought it, didn't you?

Since announcing it would mean that world will find out about it and the some shaky western countries industries participating in deal might be able to tell their shareholders that they have just received a $$$ million deal :).
Plus, Pak gov't also dictated that they can not convey to their shareholders that they have no reason to panic over nose dived economy and not to sell and cut loses and even worsen the stock price :), eventually leading to chapter 11/7 :).

I quit searching for these type of companies a long long ago, and also stopped holding my breath that I will find a company(ies) like that :).

If you do know of one plz plz plz do let me know.

Now which wise, smart, energetic countries industries are the one who will follow this model to make a sale in these days and not announce it?

My 2 coppers worth.

[Boota Masih]

I would say it is how one inteprets the word "commissioned" used by the newspaper in quoting the Airforce source. My guess is that it implies the first test flight rather than it becoming operational. It is confirmed that prototypes are currently under construction which could be flight tested in 2002. Depending on how it performs in testing it could take another few years for it to become operational. One thing about the S-7 is that it is based on off the shelf, tested technologies so if the airframe performs satisfactorily, the testing program could be relatively short. S-7 is loosely based on a concept developed by MIG MAPO that could have been called the MIG 33. Although it was extensively wind tunnel tested, no prototypes were built as due to financial constraints Russian Airforce dropped its requirement in this class of fighters. The fact that PAC/CATIC purchased the R&D done by MIG MAPO on Mig 33 to use on S-7, will also reduce the time before it goes operational.

[H Khan]

I am very hopefull now about Super-7 and Mirage 2000 as the new aircrafts in PAF's inventory.

[Behjat]

salaam,

Since it seems less and less likely that the US f-16's are not to be returned to Pakistan and our balance of payment situation is improving, my impression is that within a year from now, PAF will announce some good news about a frontline fighter. I would like for it to be the M2K or Grippen but we'll have to wait for the announcement. I wouldn't be surprised if negotiations are underway already.

[Malek]

maybe this would help to clear some consepts a bit.

[Sultan]

great pic but it looks fake to me.............

[SyedA]

What I would like to know is if PAC will shop in US for any of the systems for FC-1 like engine, HUD or anything else?

[lakhania]

Originally posted by Malek
maybe this would help to clear some consepts a bit.

Its completely fake... Just look closly..... There is no pilot in the plane :D

[Gaf]

I wonder if the cockpit will change from the last photo release?

[Rauf]

Question for RMS Azim,
Has sweeden showed up for Grippen briefing, Kind Sir ?

If yes, any info ?

my 2 coppers worth.

[Malek]

The last I heard was two days ago when I was talking to a top rank official about future accusition for the airforce, who i cant obviously disclose, now call me a fake but he said s-7 is currently conducting high speed taxi trials !!!!
..."it starts at one end of the runway and stops right before the runway ends",were his exact words. Maybe next time he could get pics for us(I hope).

[H Khan]

Yes, high speed taxi trials are the preface before the first flight. But there is no fixed time after these trials are done than the aircraft can fly.

I remember that when F-16 did its first high speed taxi trial it took off unintentionally.