I wanna clarify the point nickantite is referring to that jf-17 is based on mig-21,which is atually not true ........the real story is that there was an earlier project named sabre ll/super 7..initiated in 1986 to upgrade the then ubiquitious mig21 airframe by incorporating a full size radar dome to fit in a larger sized radar, side air intakes, HUD and capable to fire latest western armaments like AIM7 BVR, harpoon antiship missile and AGM-45 shrike or AGM-88 harm missile and latest EW capabilities....during reagon regime....Chinese CATIC and Northrop Grumman signed a deal to convert 55 J7 airframes, or F7 u cal it, upto super seven standard....ofcourse the powerplant was also meant to be replaced with GE404, same one which powered F/A-18 A and B models or with British RB99 turbo fan engines. the wing designs were reatined
. Now I dont have the book at the time otherwise I would
posted the pic of how that aircraft looked like
PAF did a in detail study of that plane........and its leadership were also thinking to go for a down graded model of F-16 (113 in numbers) as an alternative.........the benefits of the cancelled super 7 project wud have no doubt enabled pakistan to develop its own aeronautical industry with transfer of technology
the project was called off soon after the tianamem square incident ....later CATIC invited Pakistan into another plane project of the same name super seven.but spec were heavily revised with design help from MiGbureau...and its loosely based on a proposed cancelled single engine powered Mig 29 version known as Mig-33
MOU was signed in 1999 and there have been constant improvemnets to the airframe.....now this jf-17 airframe is
nowhere identical to the mig 21 airframe.....the side air intakes have been modified twice in its development and now they are remisiscent of those found on JSF F-35, which allows better airflow at high Angle of Attacks... and conceals the engine blades from the radar waves...the radar waves get reflected from engine blades
the source of my info till 1992 is the book named Faizaya written by the Indian writers Ravi Rakhi and Pushpinder Singh
