Air Commodore Khalid Mahmood, Deputy Chief Project Director for pakistan's JF-17 [FC-1] induction programme, was quoted on this at the recently held Zhuhai Air Show in China.
Air Commodore says in the report that a lot of interest was shown in the the JF-17 in Farnborough but not one country came forward for negotiations enticed by the "cheap" price.
China's own Air Force has NOT agreed to fly the aircraft in its service, its "cheap" price-point notwithstanding.
The latest issue of 'Aviation Week & Space Technology' magazine has an article that explores the role and importance of the FC-1 for the Pakistan Air Force [PAF] & export potentials, if possible. China has developed this aircraft, for all practical purposes, to help maintain PAF's fleet strength with a low-tech, inexpensive, all-metal-bodied solution as replacement to its existing fleet, that the country can afford - act as a pressure point on India's Western flank. NOTE: China's own Air Force has not agreed to fly the aircraft in its service, its cheap price-point notwithstanding.
"Others aim to use the JF-17 to replace their second-and third-generation fighters, says Khalid, adding that the JF-17's capabilities put it between third and fourth generations."
The FC-1 made its maiden flight in 2003. For perspective, baseline models of some aircrafts considered fourth-generation, include the F-15 [maiden flight early 70s], the F-16 [early 70s vintage], MiG-29 [maiden flight late 70s] - all took to the air three decades earlier, in the previous millennium. Technology upgrades imparted to them, since, have upgraded their designation to 4++ generation.
People might buy cheap fish though.
People might buy cheap fish though.
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