JF-17

Development of a light fighter has been begun in 1986. At that time China hoped, that American Grumman corporation will assist in modernization J-7 (МiG-21) fighters to which was planned to give new name Saber-7, and then, having saved up experience to create absolutely new type of a fighter. But crisis of 1989, when the Chinese authorities have severely dispersed performances of students for democracy, the USA have stopped all military-technical contacts to China. In 1989 Pakistan where there was a militarian сapture of authority that has led to that both the countries - China and Pakistan, have started to develop a new fighter in common has suffered from the American sanctions.



Both countries had the minimal stock of knowledge concerning development of modern models of military technics, the help was, it is necessary for them. Russia has arrived to the help. After USSR crash has started to offer technologies. The stream of technologies has gone the «deep river» from Russia, and it concerns not only aviation technologies.



JF-17, as the western press informs, has been developed on the basis of project ОКB MiG which, after acceptance on arms of the Russian Air Force, should have МiG-33 index. It was the project of a light-weight fighter on the basis of МiG-29 technology, equipped one RD-33 engine, and, possibly, was planned basically as export product Russian Aircraft-building corporаtion (RSK) МiG.



The first JF-17 has been shown on May, 31, 2003. The first test flight has been accomplished on August, 25, and the first flight with full structure of the electronic equipment took place on April, 28, 2006 (the fourth prototype). Pakistan on March, 19, 2008 had 12 planes this type. Certainly, creation of this plane would be impossible without deliveries of RD-93 engines from Russia (RD-33 an export variant). The Contract on delivery of the first 100 engines of this type has been concluded in 2005. China has achieved that engines have been re-exported to Pakistan, and this consent has been received, despite of loud protests of India - the strategic competitor of Pakistan. As is known, in the Chinese Air Forces there are no MiG-29 fighters. The first RD-33 the engine had been delivered in the beginning of 2000 years.



According to irandefence.net (the Iranese military Internet-forum), China plans to buy 1000 (!) RD-93 engine. Probably, Chineses have decided to reach success of export deliveries МiG-21 the Soviet fighter. This fighter had been sold in quantity of 10.000 aircraft to 40 countries. It is good, as the Chinese proverb speaks, «the way to 10.000 li begins with a first step».