Pakistan’s JF-17 air force combat aircraft

original set of military Digest 2011.2

Recently, a few photos of J-10B fighter’s radar array in Chinese websites exposed. Users analysis think that the pictures shows the J-10B’s radar is a passive phased array radar (PESA). PESA radar usually the middle of a row or rows of IFF antenna. The Active Phased Array Radar (AESA) has not yet seen the middle of this line is a flat surface without protrusion, so some users believe that the yellow radar map the surface of the black dots array for the IFF actual antenna, which fire control radar is to determine whether to adopt active phased array main indicator of high-tech.

Ordinary radar beam scanning by the radar antenna rotation is achieved, also known as mechanical scanning radar.

The power phased array radar is a way to control changes in the radar beam point scanning, this approach is known as electronic scanning. Phased array radar, radar though not as dependent as other rotating antenna to make the radar beam rotation, but it is their own “trick”, that is using the “phase shifter” to turn the radar beam. Phased array radar antenna is a large number of radiators (small antenna) array consisting of (square, triangle, etc.), radiator varies from several hundred to as many as several thousand, even thousands, of each radiator are connected to the back of a controllable phase shifter, each phase shifter controlled by the computer. When the search for long-range phased array radar target, although do not see the antenna rotation, but tens of thousands of radiators controlled by computer focus fired in one direction, deflection, even thousands of meters away on the intercontinental missile and several thousands of meters satellite, can not escape its “eyes.” If the goal is to deal with more recent of these emitters and can share the responsibility, produce multiple beams, some search, some track, and some guidance. It is this radar abandon the general principle of the radar antenna, it gave it a different name — phased array radar, that “the phase to control the antenna array” means.

Phased array radar is divided into active (active) and passive (passive) categories. In fact, active andpassive phased array radar antenna array the same, the main difference between the two is the transmit / receive element number. Passive phased array radar is only one central transmitter and a receiver, transmitter, high frequency energy generated by the computer automatically assigned to each radiator array, the target reflected signal amplified by the receiver uniform (unlike ordinary radar not very different). Active Phased Array Radar for each radiator is equipped with a transmitter / receiver module, each component can generate their own, receiving electromagnetic waves, and therefore bandwidth, signal processing and redundancy degree of the design than the passive phased array radar has a larger advantage. Because of this, it makes the active phased array radar, expensive and engineering more difficult. But the active phased array radar has unique advantages in functionality, a great passive phased array radar replaces the trend.

Active Phased Array Radar biggest difficulty lies in transmit / receive components manufacturing, relatively speaking, passive phased array radar is much less technical difficulty. Passive phased array radar in power, efficiency, beam control and reliability, as active phased array radar, but the functionality is obviously better than the ordinary mechanical scanning radar, after all, a good compromise. Therefore developed a practical active phased array radar, before completely passive phased array radar as a transitional product. Moreover, even if the active phased array radar, developed after the passive phased array radar, phased array radar as a family of low-end products, still has great practical value.

The mainstream of the world have installed a new fighter AESA phased array radar, the installation of new radar to have greater combat aircraft upgrade. Let us look at the world’s major aircraft phased array radar it.

F-35′s APG-81 AESA radar front smaller and only has 1,200 transmit / receive modules, the other, APG-77 power (said to 16.4KW) to be much larger than the APG-81, so. F-22A aerial target radar detection range for the F-35 is far more than about 1 / 3. APG 81 has the advantage of a work on the model, its mapping synthetic aperture radar (SAR) / ground moving target indication (GMTI) / moving target indicator capability at sea-surface / air-sea mode and more than performance on APG a 77. APG-81 An important feature is to have the same time mapping synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and ground moving target indicator (GMTI) capacity, although its detection range against air targets far less than the F-22A, but a 81 APG target detection capability of the air is far stronger than the F / A 18 series and a series of F-16 fighter jets airborne pulse Doppler radar.

APG-81 in the work mode of the advantage is not absolute, it was reported: The United States is being upgraded by replacing radar radar modules and software approach, working on F-22A’s APG-77 radar performance upgrades, and soon after upgrade After the APG-77 radar performance under various operating modes will be more powerful, relatively speaking, APG-81 radar upgrade the performance space is very small, the first F-35 nose radome of the size of already small, and the APG -81 radar and EOTS system also share the already crowded head space, followed by the APG 81 radar by a power supply and cooling system of its limitations, so. Hard on the APG-81 radar further hardware upgrade.

In addition, F-35′s APG-81 radar, both in cost and weight of the F-22 is one half of their working life and is expected to reach 8,000 hours of life consistent with the aircraft, that is not in the whole life cycle replacement of the radar. In these areas, APG-81 radar obvious advantages, but the replacement of some of the radar module 77 after the APG a radar will significantly reduce weight and cost, work life expectancy.

the recent news from Pakistan said China will” emergency “provision of 50 aircraft to Pakistan JF-17 combat aircraft type These aircraft will be raised to the standard batch of JF-17BLOCK2, the combat capability of JF-17BLOCK1 than existing with a larger increase. JF-17BLOCK2 will be active PAF JF-17′s standard equipment.

information from the point of view, JF-17BLOCK2 will continue to use our on-board avionics systems and weapons, and continue to to increase the depth and breadth of the operational performance of the aircraft, and the PAF is also introduced the formation of ZDK-03 early warning aircraft, air combat more rigorous and complete system to enhance the autonomy of PAF combat capability.

JF-17 and China ZDK-03 form a complete operational system

; in the JF-17BLOCK2 the message, the outside world for the first time that the SD-10B active radar guided air to air missiles there, the Palestinian side that the SD-10B’s performance can be introduced with AIM-120 air to air missile compared, and in weight than the existing SD-10 to lighter, open air show information from the point of view, SD-10 air to air missiles of the maximum range of over 70 km, 50 km effective range, and the AIM-120A similar, the latter a maximum range of over 80 km, 55 km effective range, but the SD-10 should be greater than the size and weight of the AIM-120A, so that the JF-17 light fighter, the mount the SD- 10, larger impact on flight performance, in particular, mounted on the outer wing pylons, you need to reach launchers to adjust the focus of the new century, the introduction of F-16C/D-BLOCK52 PAF fighter aircraft from the United States, its top equipped with the AIM-120C5, the last century, taking into account the 90 Navy AIM-54 “Phoenix” retired long-range air to air missiles, and its follow-up of advanced air to air missile-AAAM program was terminated, the U.S. Navy long-range air strike capability targets dropped significantly, as a supplementary means of a quick U.S. Navy AIM-120 required to intercept distance of more than 40 miles (60 km) of aerial targets, this is the AIM-120C5, compared with the prototype missile, the missile is increased the weight of the missile engines, from 45 kg to 50 kg, while improving the grain of the surface, so that more regular and full combustion, increasing the time and the specific impulse fuel, so that the AIM-120C5 missile interceptor increases range from prototype about 10%, while increasing the seeker signal / data processing capability, increasing the number of warhead fragments, improve on the three generations of fighter jets destroy twin capability, the improved AIM-120C5 and AIM-120C7 continue to increase the rocket engine, its effective range has been further improved, from Pakistan’s point of view of information sources the performance of SD-10B may be in line toward the AIM-120C5, on the basis of improving the range and reduce the volume and weight, to improve the load adaptability, I believe that it is very important is the possibility of SD-10B is also being developed taking into account China’s demand for arms stealth fighter, stealth fighters to reduce the RCS, airborne weapons are generally placed above the tank shells, bombs in order to narrow mounted inside the tank weapons as much as possible, so it is necessary to reduce the air to air missile system, AIM-120C than the AIM-120A on the reduction of the tip, to improve the F-22′s bomb bay to mount the number, SD-10B may also be the ideas, with the range of increase, but also to keep up with the precision guidance system, SD-10B is said to adopt a surprisingly active / passive composite guidance system, and we are familiar with the different sources of interference when the guidance system, this master / reactive compound is to use passive guidance system to receive the other airborne radar signal, and then start using the former terminal guidance radar data to improve target detection, both work to improve the detection range of the seeker and anti-jamming ability, be pointed out SD-10B is not planning to use that air to air missile guidance system, AIM-120 is also used to have such a plan, but the technical difficulty of this seeker great need to address the broadband active / passive antenna and composite guidance radome, data fusion, and other key technologies, so I for SD-10B is equipped with reservations about such a guidance system, but we seem to speculate about the range of air to air missile development.

SD-10 JF-17 is the main combat arms

improved performance air to air missiles inevitably require the performance of airborne fire control radar to increase as, for air to air missile which provides target data required for the calculation of attack area, JF-17BLOCK2 with SD-10B-air missiles, which means that the aircraft should be equipped with China’s airborne radar, this is because an aircraft using certain weapons-related programs need to reside in the mission computer, or fire control computer, and these procedures are based on the preparation of the missile launch envelope, and missile launch envelope is the core of national secret airborne weapons, related to the work of the missile terminal guidance radar tracking distance and angle and the maximum tracking speed, time, energy work on a missile, engine thrust and working time, definitely not exposed, so JF -17BLOCK2 the mission computer can be sure that our products are basically, as I said before the airborne radar to the target, it will smooth the data and make forecasts, then the data to the mission computer for processing, by the latter to complete the manipulation of the aircraft command, missile attack area, the calculation of radar scanning parameters clearly will involve airborne radar parameters, these parameters are also confidential, so I thus believe that the JF-17BLOCK2 still used in China’s aviation electronic systems. Indeed JF-17BLOL01 quite advanced avionics systems, has more than existing third-generation combat aircraft, the third-generation combat aircraft avionics with the federated system, the system is the use of associated data bus, the system is the core mission computer, the task computer responsible for the detection system to obtain information, and then submitted to a unified display and control computer display, and JF-17 avionics system to control the computer as the core arms management, the most prominent feature is a combination of two computer tasks and control functions were , which reduces the complexity of the system, simplify the structure, reducing weight, improving the overall reliability of the avionics system. but also for future upgrades to lay a solid foundation.

JF-17 with the new generation avionics system and glass cockpit

in Pakistan for the description of the aircraft radar, there is a word Readers may be surprised; “will be rotating disk with active phased array radar,” in many people’s impression of airborne phased array radar antenna should be fixed and why the JF-17BLOCK2 the AESA with this thing? I thought it might be to expand the scope of the radar scan, phased array radar has a drawback, as the scanning range increases, the reduction of radar Kongjing projection area, resulting in lower gain antenna and beam increases, thereby reducing the radar detection distance, so need to turn the antenna to extend the scope of the radar scan, we are familiar, such as F-22 fighter AESA, etc. The reason is fixed, because the power of these fighter AESA high, big angle scanning can tolerate certain gain losses, while the light aircraft as the radar power is limited, this loss can not be ignored, and the JF-17 the same level of JAS-39 fighter, equipped with the AESA will also use rotary mechanism is said to increase the range of the radar scan. There is also a mechanical scanning mechanism of airborne phased array radar is more familiar with the BARS passive phased array radar-PESA, the radar equipment in Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighter jets above, some people often take the Su-30MKI China Air Force Su-30MKK comparison, BARS is a project must be mentioned, but the official website of NIIP is relatively conservative given the data; BARS electronic scanning angle is 40 degrees lower than conventional aircraft fire control radar scanning range of 60 degrees the need to further expand the machinery sector, the size of radar target detection range fighter aircraft in the 130-140 km, these data clearly BARS radar antenna, the 1-meter diameter and 5KW peak do not match, because I think the two are virtually identical The, BARS is PESA, compared with the AESA, the radar antenna is relatively simple, cost is also low, but the disadvantage is the complexity of radar feed, transmitter power need to go through circulation, the power distribution network to reach the array element, in which clearly have greater power loss, that is, even though the antenna and power BARS larger, but due to large losses, the antenna radiated energy is not high, so that when the scanning angle is large, this loss plus the antenna decline in the gain will reduce the radar detection performance, in this case, had to be supplemented by mechanical scanning mechanism, as heavy phased array antenna, the target data update rate is not too high, also causing the overall weight and radar systems increase in volume, BARS weight of more than 500 kilograms. This is why the Indian Air Force to upgrade the BARS to the root causes of AESA.

JAS-39 equipped with the AESA, pay attention to the radar antenna is movable, JF-17′s AESA estimated its close

according to China Electronics Import and Export Company information provided with the JF-17BLOCK1 current airborne radar is a type of KLJ-7 fire control radar, the radar antenna is about 600 mm in diameter, as the probe under distance of 80 km about 105 km on the apparent. Plane search distance of 120 km, while KLJ-7 also has a more complete ground (sea work) patterns, including high-precision synthetic aperture and ground moving target indication mode, but the indicators for the SD support effective longer range -10B is still a reluctance, particularly the goal of mechanical scanning radar update rate lower, less able to multi-target attack, while in the implementation of the open space model can not simultaneously empty model, which for the PAF at a disadvantage, it is very negative. If the dress AESA, you can use the latter the product of a larger power aperture radar to improve detection range, but may have to raise the level of JF-17 is limited by the power supply and cooling system capacity, but rely on quick AESA electronic scanning capabilities, JF-17 can focus the radar energy is concentrated mainly on the direction of the threat or to provide a detection range of the tracking accuracy, or to achieve fast detection and tracking of multiple targets, and mode of implementation of the time when the implementation of open space empty model, particularly is its good performance for multi-target tracking to provide reliable PAF multiple target attack capability, multi-target attack in the BVR process, airborne radar speed search mode after completion of the target detection, edge tracking mode into the side of the search target tracking, multiple target tracking algorithm after treatment by objective data, and then to the mission computer for data processing. From the experience of modern air combat, air combat of the war the next intersection is shorter and shorter time, the pilot in an attack as much as possible to attack multiple targets in order to improve the ability of targets. This is also the general facelift of modern fighter AESA and active radar guided air to air missile of the main reasons.

JF-17BLOCK2 F-10B may be equipped with the IRST

With modern electronic warfare systems development, in particular the development of radio frequency memory technology, airborne radar, if too much power, very easy to intercept and interfere with each other, even if the JF-17BLOCK2 equipped with AESA, you can use the burst and low-probability of intercept flashing mode, but still want to avoid excessive signal leakage, therefore, have a silent detection means to become a modern air combat is an important component of which is infrared search and tracking system, be pointed out that Pakistan had developed its own related systems, and equipped with PAF’s Mirage -3 / top 5 fighter aircraft, used for air and ground target detection, and navigation can be used for night flying at low altitude, but its performance such as lower detection range, I believe that China’s production of the aircraft will be equipped with airborne infrared search and tracking system – IRST, the system has replaced the Russian system has become -11 J of the Air Force’s main equipment, the system has detected distance, the characteristics of strong anti-interference ability, by virtue of IRST, PAF pilots can not open the case of the radar, still remain mastery of the target, thus avoiding the premature opening of the radar, exposing their position.

PAF equipment SAAB-2000″ Balance Beam “early warning

we know that the modern battlefield broad aspect, the detection system of any fighter can achieve coverage of theater, and more need for an external command guidance system provides objective support for the fighters for the attack The first step is to guide and air target detection radar network to detect, the determination of the relevant coordinates, and send fighters guided the plane to the array are favorable to launch attacks, to take the initiative in aerial combat, the traditional ground-air defense command guidance systems, though they have more display and control units, can guide a large number of fighters, but due to curvature of the Earth, restrictions on the lack of grasp of the low empty feeling, so PAF has introduced from Sweden and my SAAB-2000 “balance beam” and ZDK-03 early warning aircraft. The former side-looking radar by air to achieve the key threat to the direction of extension of alert, and the latter with a larger body and range, you can stay over a long time in key areas, to guide the implementation of early warning and control mission, the command can be under the authority of the superior direct command of combat fighters, PAF enhanced emergency response capacity, for the land strip, the limited strategic depth for Pakistan is very valuable, so it is imperative for the PAF to complete early warning aircraft and fighter jets, ground air defense command guidance systems join to form a joint network operations system, which is already equipped with a JF-17 tactical data link terminals, and ZDK-03 can join, but the view from the relevant message, JF-17 data link the present power seem more limited, less likely to LINK-4A with the United States rather, to support one-way or two-way data transfer and exchange, but the network can accommodate the small number of members of the exchange’s data include only the location of the intended target intercept point, fighters themselves location and status information, and JF-17BLOCK2 will achieve early warning aircraft and SAAB-2000 interconnection network to form a more perfect system, combat system, while its chain of transmission of data and more extensive information, data throughput is also higher, more integrated and more features.

domestic WMD-7 optical targeting pod

Pakistan’s national power as limited, PAF can not afford large-scale fleet, so it needs its own fighter aircraft to have more features to the smaller fleet to bear more combat missions, from the point of view Zhuhai Airshow, JF-17BLOCK1 WMD-7 fighter aircraft equipped with optical targeting pod, the pod of about 2.7 meters, diameter of 0.39 meters, weighs 280 kilograms, is equipped with a FLIR infrared imaging, CCD and laser irradiation / ranging system, you can day and night in all weather conditions to search for ground targets, identification and tracking, and track the target under irradiation of laser ranging and guide the laser-guided bombs and other precision-guided weapons general-purpose bombs or precision bombing of targets from the air show public information shows that, WMD-7 infrared device operating in middle infrared band (3-5 microns), this small band interference infrared background radiation, through atmospheric water gas and ability to detect high temperature conditions, and imaging devices and more simple and reliable, is the main national optical pod devices, infrared devices and has two CCD field of view; 4.3 * 5.8 degree wide field for 1.9 1.4 * search for the target and the narrow field of view used to track, identify goals, work in the 1.06 micron laser irradiation distance of more than 13 km, ranging from greater than 18 km, it can be speculated that infrared devices can detect more than 20 kilometers away from From these data, domestic WMD-7 pods roughly the skill level of the first generation of Israel Lite Ning pod performance rather than the latest Lite Ning or the United States Sniper XR pod that there are certain gaps, including infrared detection range, the role of distance laser devices, while the laser wavelength is 1.05 microns, but not eye-safe 1.57 microns, which will obviously affect the use of the pod, there is WMD-7 pod seems the lack of wide-field (24 * 17 degrees) and low-altitude night navigation capability, I think this may be the PAF JF-17 to perform mostly in close air support and attack missions shallow depth, does not perform low-altitude long-range strike missions, or the low-altitude radar penetration ability to do, such as adding terrain for radar tracking and avoid regression model, the pod from the simplified structure and reduce the cost point of view, PAF does not require the WMD-7 with navigation capability, in fact, in our Air Force , the information from the public point of view, such as the Zhuhai Air Show, the F-10S in the pod layout view, using a system similar to the U.S. Air Force LANTRIN dual pod system, which uses low-altitude navigation pod Blue Sky (equipped with a terrain following radar, wide-view FLIR system) to support the WMD-7 pods, be pointed out that in some data that the role of distance as a new generation of pod, you can cancel the original navigation pod, but the latest two from the current situation the use of a pod; U.S. Air Force is still with the AAQ-13 navigation pod to support low-Sniper XR pods, while France’s DAMOCLES pod also has a special wide-navigation FLIR device, which also shows the current dual pod system is still low penetration of States against long-range night pod of choice. It is worth mentioning that the JF-17 is equipped with laser-guided bombs, and no wind we are familiar with the header, so I guess should be used 500 kilograms of the latest laser-guided bombs, the missile uses proportional navigation guidance system, rather than the original speed track guidance system, proportional navigation guidance accuracy better way, and can overcome the influence of wind, can attack the target speed, is the new laser-guided bombs used to guide the general approach. Have more combat capability.

optical targeting pod While increasing the aircraft’s low altitude penetration capability, but limited its own limitations, and its standoff attack capability is poor, forward-looking infrared devices can not obtain the target distance, must have a laser device with, but the laser in the atmosphere close distance, although a new generation of optical laser device known as pods, such as DAMOCLES working distance can be over 40 kilometers, but the operation that is, to more than 10,000 meters altitude, the conditions for the disadvantage of the PAF, this is obviously unrealistic. JF-17 Therefore, the greater need Standoff Weapon System for the Indian Air Force combat capability in the case of increasing, especially in the Indian Air Force A-50EHI early warning aircraft enter service today have been able to hit the target, save themselves, from the point of view the air show, JF-17BLOCK1 Ray Stone in China has been able to mount -6 glide bomb, mine stone -6 500 kg in a normal installation of aerial bombs on the GPS / INS guidance components and a high aspect ratio come on the wing, on the wing than the advantages of exhibition is a large lift, induced drag is small, with better conditions in the subsonic lift-drag ratio, the distance run, according to information delivery from the mine stone -6 more than 60 km, can be in India outside the range of most air defense systems put in, as Ray Stone -6 is used in GPS / INS guidance system, so there is signal interference during the war and shielding the risks, but the JF-17′s KLJ -7 synthetic aperture radar will have high-precision drawing mode, you can detect ground targets, and then combine their laser inertial navigation system to obtain target coordinates, and then enter into the mine rock -6 to guidance systems, and JF-17BLOCK2 the AESA is in the mode of implementation of the land, while at the same time detection of air targets, to further enhance the aircraft in high threat combat environment.

H-4 in Pakistan Standoff Attack System

In addition to Ray Stone -6 outside, JF-17BLOCK2 will integrate the two types of self-developed standoff in Pakistan attack system, which is H2/H4 Standoff Standoff Attack attack system and Raytheon Systems, These two systems are the introduction of technology from South Africa, Pakistan, precision-guided attacks its own production system in which the design concept and Ray H2/H4 stone -6 similar system installed in the general-purpose bombs gliding wing and TV guidance system is made, H2′s running a distance of 60 km, and the installation of a booster rocket H-4 engine, with a range over 120 kilometers, H-2/H-4 are equipped with data link, to support the attack mode after launch lock, that is the first briefly to put the bomb target, and then the pilot use of the bomb television image seeker targeted return, and also the importance of targeting or attack the weak parts, and assessment of attack effects, and Raytheon Systems is an international standoff attack Popular standoff munitions tear cloth system, image released from the Palestinian side view, Raytheon Systems, non-circular cross section projectile body, a certain degree of stealth capability, hence, have a better use of space within the series, contribute to the modular shells space to accommodate the different munitions to deal with different objectives, the system used in large aspect ratio and jet engines under the wing, so far with the range, with Raytheon Systems, JF-17 can fight in the Indian border with Pakistan in depth objectives, and further greatly enhance the aircraft’s combat capability and survivability.

the above analysis we can see, JF-17 through its outstanding performance, PAF has received recognition, PAF has become an integral part of combat; through the installation of AESA and SD-10B air missiles, to improve the combat aircraft Su-30MKI fighter, while the introduction of the system Standoff Attack to further enhance the aircraft against ground targets in India, Pakistan JF-17 project in the sound and pragmatic attitude and India in LAC project Shanghao Nu far higher in sharp contrast; in the LCA fighter configuration does not standard MK1 circumstances, actually have to invest the development MCA fighters, all regardless of whether the strength of its own developed such aircraft.

JF-17 will become the main force of PAF fleet

“The relationship between Pakistan and China is a geopolitical keystone for both countries, and the solidarity between them is unmatched by any relationship between two sovereign states,” Ambassador of Pakistan to China Masood Khan has said. He was delivering a keynote address at a roundtable on ‘Accelerating Sino-Pakistan Economic Partnership’.