Muhammad Usman Ali

14-EE-26

JF-17 Thunder
(Multirole Fighter)

IMRD Report
Introduction:
Cause:
This report is written as an assignment to make us aware of report writing and to learn the
format and purpose of report writing.
Credibility:
This report is based on articles which PAF have recognized to be authentic. The data is
mostly collected by visiting 3-4 bases including Kamra Air Base rather than the internet
sources.
Purpose:
Basic information about JF-17 including its design, specifications and comparison with the
latest Russian and American Multirole fighters, and the need of these types of aircrafts is
described in the report.
A multirole fighter is a jet powered combat aircraft intended to perform different roles in
combat. The term Multirole describes dual nature of the aircraft. One is the primary air to
air combat role and the second one is the secondary role like air to surface attack. The main
purpose for developing a multirole fighter jet is cost reduction in using a common airframe.

Methodology:
Reading the article written by Wing Commander Abid Ali Khan, I came to know the
importance of JF-17 aircraft along with the useful information about this aircraft like its turbo
engine, low specific fuel consumption, more fuel capacity, digital electronic engine control,
single point pressure refueling etc.
I went to the Kamra Air Base as a visitor and had an allowance card to see the JF-17 and to
collect the basic information about its design.
The construction of JF-17 aircrafts Block 2 is done in Pakistan Aeronautical Complex,
Kamra. Latest machinery is used for its turbo engine to make it 100% impeccable. Its wings
are constructed with the perfect accuracy of angles and size. Pakistan Aeronautical Complex,
Kamra is playing a vital role in its construction.
Moreover I watched a documentary of JF-17 Chief Project Director, Arshad Malik.

Muhammad Usman Ali

14-EE-26

Results:
JF-17 Thunder aircraft plays a vital role in Pakistan defense system. It can be lift armed
missiles up to 3620kg of air and ground weaponry and the wing tip is usually consists of
short range infer-red AAMs.
Its maintenance design is very efficient that makes accessibility of the components
immediately and easy. All maintenance panels and components are installed at mans height.
Computer controlled fault diagnosis has reduced the maintenance cost and also introduce the
concept of Maintenance on Fault Only.
The atmospheric temperature in Pakistan ranges from -50 degree to 55 degree centigrade, this
aircraft is specially designed for this type of atmospheres.
A multirole fighter is the basic need of a country in this modern era. Government of Pakistan
is playing a good role in manufacturing these aircrafts and their number is increasing every
year.

Discussion:
JF-17 Thunder can compete with the latest Multirole fighters like Raptor F-35 by America, J0 and J-31 by China etc. It can fight in any condition and in any atmosphere. It is equipped
with all latest armed technologies with nuclear missile launch capability.
The advantages of JF-17 for a country are countless. It provide shots with 100% accuracy and
its missile launching technology is much more better and accurate than the multirole fighters
of neighbor countries like India, Iran and Afghanistan.
Moreover some of the disadvantages are also under considered. For a country like Pakistan, it
is very difficult to maintain these aircrafts in a large number so our country has a limited
number of these aircrafts. There security is also a major factor which makes us difficult to
maintain these aircrafts. During training session of pilots, it highly costs the PAF.
Government should increase the budget of Pakistan Air Force a little bit to meet the
requirements of JF-17 Thunder.

Muhammad Usman Ali

14-EE-26

Brief Analytical Report:

Date:

12th Oct, 2015

To:

Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman.

From:

JF-17 Chief Project Director, Arshad Malik

Subject:

Feasibility of developing some more JF-17 aircrafts

This report recommends that we should develop more fifth generation aircrafts like JF-17
Thunder to make our countrys defense and attacking system, much better than before.

Background:
JF-17 was developed to meet the Pakistan Air Forces requirement for a modern, and
multirole combat aircraft with a cost of US $500 million. Its developments started in June
1995 by signing a memorandum of understanding between Pakistan and China.
Its development was done in Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra. This type of aircraft is
the basic need of a country in this modern era where every developed country has its own
nuclear weapons and fifth generation combat aircrafts with multirole fighting capability
equipped with latest armed missiles and guns.
Pakistan has 54 JF-17 aircrafts in service. These aircrafts are not enough to meet the
minimum requirement of our defense system as our neighbor countries like India has more
capable multirole fighters and they are ordering some more fifth generation aircrafts from
Russia.

Recommendation:
I recommend that the PAF should develop at least 50 more JF-17 aircrafts and also do some
modifications in its weaponry system.

Muhammad Usman Ali

14-EE-26

Discussion:
As the United Nations Security Council do not allow any country to make nuclear weapons.
Similarly they do not allow them to make multirole fighter aircrafts as well unless there is a
basic need of such aircrafts but Pakistan has developed these aircrafts with the help of China
and their aeronautical engineers as well. This aircraft did many operations in Pakistan like
Operation Rah-e-Nijat in 2009 and recently Operation Zarb-e-Azab in Waziristan.
Aircrafts Features:
First two blocks of JF-17 is powered by Russian RD 97 turbofan engine which gives very low
fuel consumption and more thrust than the previous turbojet engines fitted to aircrafts like F16. The fuel system consists of internal fuel tanks which can store up to 2330kg. They are
refueled through a single point. This system is well suited with in-flight refueling in which
tanker aircrafts are used to refuel jet and increasing its range and timings to land and flight
again. It is equipped with latest Digital Electronic Engine Control, besides enhancing
engines performance this makes engine handling very easy under all conditions and all
altitudes. Low fuel consumption and low drag smooth design insure its longer survival and
range. Because of its single point refueling system, the aircraft has reduced the time of
refueling to a great level. Radars of long range and Active visual range missiles provide the
pilot with a first shot ability. An incorporated interrogator with colored display gives easy
cues for dangerous decision making.

Total Cost:
According to JF-17 Chief Project Director Arshad Malik, this aircraft costs three times less
than any other fifth generation multirole fighter. But some of the resources said, it costs US
$500 million. Its actual price is still hidden. These aircrafts are cost efficient for a country
like Pakistan said by Chief Air Marshal Sohail Aman.

Muhammad Usman Ali

14-EE-26

Progress Report
Date:

12th Oct, 2015.

To:

Chief Air Marshal, Sohail Aman

From:

JF-17 Chief Project Director, Arshad Malik

Subject:

Progress report on development of 50 JF-17 aircrafts.

Introduction:
This report is basically about the development of 50 more JF-17 aircrafts by the
recommendation of Chief Air Marshal Sohail Aman. This project was started in 26 th May,
2014. According to the Project Director Abid Ali khan, this project will take around 3 years
for its completion. Block 1 of JF-17 is almost accomplished and is placed under supervision
of Chinese Engineers to check further any faults or defects on each piece.

Work Completed:
Basically development of JF-17 is divided into two blocks.

Block 1
Block 2

Block 1 of JF-17 contains wings and the engine part. Each wing has been separately
developed by latest machinery with the perfect measurements of angles and size in Pakistan
Aeronautical Complex, Kamra. Each wing is developed within 7-8 days from its design to its
construction. Hundred such wings have been developed for 50 aircrafts.
Development of the engine is at the last stage. After its development the Block 1 of the JF-17
will be completed. The cost of each aircrafts Block 1 is US $300 million. Cost of each
separate part is hidden due to some security reasons.
According to its design, each aircraft requires three Nylon cord and rubber tires. Pakistan
Aeronautical Complex, Kamra has developed tires by itself rather to export them from
European countries.

Muhammad Usman Ali

14-EE-26

Work scheduled:
Block 2 of JF 17 will be processed from 30th Oct, 2015 till the end of Dec, 2016. This block
contain all the mechanical parts of JF-17 aircraft.
Fuel tank of this aircraft is much bigger in size than other multirole fighters, with a capacity
of 2330kg. There would be a month required to prepare 50 such type of tanks. The outer body
of the aircraft is already in process and it is developing in China. JF-17 requires a digital
electronic engine control to operate its turbofan engine.
In its weaponry system, a short range infrared AAM will be placed under each wing. Separate
place of each missile and weapon will be made.

Problems:
For a country like Pakistan, many problems occur while developing such type of multirole
fighter aircrafts. Our machinery is not as much efficient as some developed countries like
China, Russia and America have, that is why the body of Block 2 will be developed in China.
Moreover our economy is very down as compared to other countries and we have to look
upon our budget for such an expensive and technical project.

Outline Report

Muhammad Usman Ali

Researcher:
Purpose:

14-EE-26

Usman Ali
To increase the development of fifth generation Multirole
Fighters like JF-17 Thunder.

Methods:

Visiting the important Air bases and meeting different

people involved in the development of JF-17.

This project is based on following criteria:

Cost:
More that $500 million on each aircraft.
Time:
Less than a year.
Efficiency: Minimum fuel consumption.
Benefit:
An aircraft with all the latest weaponry system.

Conclusion:

Very beneficial to a country like Pakistan. Defense and

attacking system become stronger and the enemies
become threatened.