The FC-1 (Fighter China-1) ‘Xiaolong’ is the single-seat, single-engine, multirole fighter aircraft developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) for export market. Currently three prototypes are flying. A joint venture between CAC and Pakistani Aeronautical Complex (PAC) will begin initial production of 16 aircraft in 2006. The designation of the aircraft in the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) is Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder. The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) has yet confirmed whether it would order any FC-1 fighter.
In 1986 China signed a US$550 million agreement with Grumman to modernise its J-7 (Chinese copy of the MiG-21 Fishbed) fighter under the "Super-7" upgrade project. Western companies from the US and Britain were competing to provide the engine and avionics. The project was cancelled in early 1990, in the wake of the cooling of political relations with the West, as well as in response to a 40% increase in the cost of the project. However, Chengdu managed to continue the programme with its own resources and the project was re-branded as FC-1 (Fighter China-1).
Following the 1993 US sanction against China and Pakistan on the transfer of ballistic missile components and technology, difficulties in acquiring Western technology has driven Pakistan to seek helps from its Chinese ally. Beijing and Islamabad concluded a joint development and production agreement in June 1999 to co-develop the FC-1 fighter aircraft. According to the agreement, China Aviation Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) and Pakistan each contribute 50% of the development costs, which was estimated as about US$150 million. Chengdu was chosen to be the primary contractor, with Russian Mikoyan Aero-Science Production Group (MASPG) providing assistance in some design work as well as its RD-93 turbofan engine to power the aircraft.
The first FC-1 prototype (serial number ‘01’) rolled out at CAC on 31 May 2003. The aircraft completed a taxi run at Chengdu’s test airfield on 1 July. The 15-minute maiden flight of the aircraft took place on 25 August. The aircraft made first official debut on 3 September. Prototype #01 is for flight performance testing only with no avionics fitted. Two mock PL-5E air-to-air missiles are carried on the wingtip stations.
Prototype #02
The second FC-1 prototype (serial number ‘02’) was built for static stress test.
Prototype #03
The third FC-1 prototype (serial number ‘03’) first flew on 9 April 2004. This prototype is generally similar to prototype #01 with some minor modification in aerodynamic design. Later the aircraft was reportedly test flown by two Pakistani Air Force pilots.
Prototype #04
The fourth prototype (serial number ‘04’) was scheduled to fly in late 2005, but this was delayed due to some modifications on the aircraft’s aerodynamic design, including a new diffuser supersonic inlet (DSI) similar to those of the U.S. F-35 fighter for better performance. This aircraft first flew in April 2006 with full avionics suite.
The initial production of 16 aircraft was expected to start in mid-2006 but this may have been delayed. The Pakistani Air Force (PAF) has a requirement for 150 aircraft under the designation JF-17 to replace its Chengdu F-7P fighters in current service. Pakistani aviation industry will also be involved in the production of some parts for the aircraft including the wings and fin. CAC is also actively marketing the aircraft to other third-world countries as a low-cost replacement for Northrop F-5 Tiger, Dassault Mirage III/5, Shenyang J-6, MiG-21/F-7 Fishbed, and Nanchang Q-5. Potential customers include Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt and Nigeria.
The FC-1 is fairly flexible in terms of avionics and weapon configurations. The JF-17 in PAF service will be fitted with an Italian Grifo S-7 fire-control radar. The radar has 25 working modes and a non-break-down time of 200 hours, and is capable of “look-down, shoot-down”, as well as for ground strike abilities. Other candidates for the fire-control radar include Thales RC400, GEC Marconi Blue Hawk, Russian Phazotron Kopyo, and Chinese indigenous KLJ-10.
The FC-1’s avionics architecture will be supported by two mission computers based on around Multi-Bus System (MIL-STD-1553B). The heart of the system is a 32-bit Weapon and Mission management Computer (WMMC) which performs mission computations, flight management, reconfiguration / redundancy management and in-flight system self-test.
The Aircraft will be equipped with advanced multi-track, multi-mode, pulse Doppler radar for air-to-air, air-to-surface attack capabilities. Accurate navigation and guidance is realized through hybrid technology using Ring Laser Gyros (RLG) based Inertial Navigation System (INS) and Global Positioning System (GPS). Independent Data link with two Independent Wide-Band Radios will take care of communication even during intense EW environment. EW suite comprises of Self Production Jammer (SPJ), Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS), Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), Chaff & Flare Dispenser (CFD). Laser Designator and Targeting Pod (LDTP) is for target illumination and detection with day/ night capabilities.
The ‘glass’ cockpit uses Smart Multifunction Color Display (SMFCD) and Smart Heads-Up Display (SHUD) with built in symbol generation capability to optimize integrated architecture. ICP and HOTAS arrangement. Identification of Friend and foe (IFF) implements Secure mode for EW environment. Target verification is with onboard IFF interrogator for BVR missile firing.
The aircraft has 7 stores stations, including one under the fuselage, 4 under the wings, and 2 wingtip mounted, with up to 3,700kg weapon payload.
The aircraft is callable of ‘beyond-visual-range’ (BVR) attack capability with the PL-12/SD-10 active radar-homing medium-range air-to-air missile (MRAAM) developed by China Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute (LETRI, also known as 607 Institute). The aircraft also carries two short-range AAMs on its wingtip-mounted launch rails. The options include U.S. AIM-9P and Chinese PL-7, PL-8, and PL-9.
The aircraft can carry a special pod allowing day/night delivery of laser-guided weapons. In addition, it can also carry unguided weapons such as iron bomb and unguided rocket launchers.
The FC-1/JF-17 is powered by one Russian-made RD-93 turbofan rated 49.4kN dry or 81.4kN with afterburning. China has reportedly imported five RD-93s from Russia to power the prototypes, but agreement of further purchase and re-export of the engine in together with the fighter aircraft has yet been reached. China may seek to power the aircraft with an indigenously-developed powerplant.
