Myanmar in advanced negotiations to licence-build JF-17 fighter

Anthony Davis, Yangon - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
01 February 2017


A PAF JF-17 Thunder being demonstrated at the 2015 Paris Air Show. Myanmar is in negotiations to licence-build the third-generation fighter. Source: PA

After deciding to purchase 16 JF-17 Thunder multi-role combat aircraft in 2015, Myanmar is now in advanced negotiations with Pakistan to also licence-build the third-generation fighter, defence industry sources in Yangon and sources close to the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) told Jane's in mid-January.

If an agreement is reached, Myanmar's bid to manufacture the single-engine combat aircraft - co-developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China's Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC) - could mark a significant step forward in the country's efforts to expand its local defence industry.

As the MAF phases out its obsolete fleet of F-7M Airguard and A-5C 'Fantan' combat aircraft purchased from China in the 1990s, licensed production of the JF-17 Thunder would also mean that the aircraft will likely become the MAF's workhorse over the coming decades in much the same way as it has moved to prominence within the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

At least 70 of the fighters are in service with the PAF, with the first ones having entered service in 2009. Expectations are that the PAF will induct up to 150 JF-17 Thunder fighters in the coming years.

The first of 16 imported JF-17s ordered by Myanmar are expected to go into service with the MAF later this year. Speaking on condition of anonymity, sources told Jane's that these aircraft will be of the Block II variant, which was first rolled out from the PAC's Kamra plant in 2015 and which, unlike the Block I variant, features an air-to-air refuelling capability and improved avionics and electronics.

It is unclear whether later deliveries to the MAF will include the far more advanced Block III variant being produced at Kamra since last year. Sources told Jane's that in the context of ongoing negotiations on licensed production, Myanmar is seeking to produce the aircraft's Block III variant.

fa-50 is a good multirole light fighter.its supersonic and and cheap.philippines bought it for 35m a piece(flyaway cost plus initial training/maintenance)...capabilities wise,its almost similar to f16 or gripen c...

the potential is huge...right now lockheed block korean from putting an aesa radar, afraid it will affect f16

looks so similar to F-5E Tiger

fa-50 is a good multirole light fighter.its supersonic and and cheap.philippines bought it for 35m a piece(flyaway cost plus initial training/maintenance)...capabilities wise,its almost similar to f16 or gripen c...

the potential is huge...right now lockheed block korean from putting an aesa radar, afraid it will affect f16

Nope it not similar.
It have way less payload, ferry range and combat radius.

comparable with gripen in term of performance tho.

jf17 is just a heavily upgraded chinese mig21 or the f7
with more or less similar cost you better get the korean fa-50

Navy turns to locally made missile boats

The Jakarta Post 4 Feb 2017 Wahyoe Boediwardhana


Piece by piece: Employees of state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia work on the fourth 60-meterlong fast missile boat (FMB), KCR60M, in Surabaya on Thursday. The vessel was ordered by the Indonesian Navy. JP/Wahyoe Boediwardhana

Rear Admiral Leonardi, the Defense Ministry’s chief of the procurement center, firmly pushed the button, turning on the laser cutting machine that immediately started cutting a Krakatau Steel-produced steel sheet with perfect precision.

The act, which took place at the assembly hall of state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL in Surabaya, marked the commencement of the construction of the 60 meter-long Fast Missile Boat (FMB), also known as KCR60M, which was ordered by the Indonesian Navy.

“Since PT PAL has constructed the previous three FMBs, we expect that the flaws found on those boats would be corrected and improved upon on the fourth boat so it would be an improved version,” Leonardi said recently.

He said that the Navy had gained confidence in operating domestically-built warships. The confidence, he added, was reflected in the increasing number of orders placed by the Navy on domestic shipbuilders.

In mid-2017, the Navy plans to commission a batch of three additional 60 meter-long FMBs.

The Navy expected to have seven FMBs in operation by 2017.

Currently, the Navy has three FMBs in operation that began in 2014, another one has just begun construction and an order for the construction of another three would be placed in mid-2017.

The construction cost for the last four FMBs was expected to reach Rp. 2.2 trillion (US$165 million).

Separately, Assistant for Logistics of the Navy Chief Rear Admiral Mulyadi explained that the fourth FMB, which was ordered by the Defense Ministry, and the additional three FMBs, which were ordered directly by the Navy, would feature different characteristics.

PT PAL would build the fourth FMB without any armaments. A weapon control system, guns and missile launchers would be added upon the completion of the FMB.

The additional three FMBs, on the other hand, would be fully installed with armaments during the construction process.

“We tried to have it constructed with full armaments, but due to budget limitations we will build the boat as a platform first and then equip it with the necessary weapons later on,” he said, referring to the fourth FMB.

The cost for constructing the fourth FMB is about Rp. 210 billion, while the cost for constructing the additional three FMBs with full armaments would reach Rp 665 billion each.

“The 60 meter-long FMBs would use European-made combat management systems (CMS) that have excellent reliability, while the 40 meter-long FMBs would use Chinese-made CMS,” he added.

PT PAL CEO M Firmansyah Arifin disclosed that in addition to the three additional, fullyarmed FMBs, the Navy planned to commission a Banjarmasin-class landing platform dock (LPD), an amphibious warship able to transport and land troops as well as equipment.

“We are still in discussion with our Navy counterparts on the detailed specifications,” Firmansyah said.

The company has, in the past, built three LPDs for the Navy. It also won a tender to construct a strategic sealift vessel (SSV) for the Philippines’ Navy and, recently, secured an order from Malaysia’s Navy to construct a Multirole Support Ship (MRSS).

“The contract with Malaysia’s Navy will be inked next August. There is a possibility that they will order more than one MRSS. The platform for MRSSs is similar to the one for the Indonesian Navy’s LPD and the Philippines’ SSV. However, the MRSS will be bigger, 163 meter-long, and fully-armed.”

The orders from foreign navies, he stressed, proved that PT PAL possessed shipbuilding technology on par with that of other countries’ shipbuilders.

Not really.
Honestly it just the same tier as yak130.
It basically an advance trainer upgraded to have combat mission capable.
As for gripen it was same tier as f16.
The difference is it design based on swing role and based on sweden AF strategic requirements.

no not really

believe it or not gripen was developed as a trainer/light attack aircraft as well,back when they were considering F-16 and even F/A-18, before they went back to the drawing board and decided they wanted a proper fighter instead

the only reason why FA-50 aren't as advanced as Gripen (especially latter variant) is that the korean wanted them more as secondary fighter and not as their top line fighter, but i believe it can be further developed to match gripen (especially if it used better engine like eurojet or F414). even as it is now in term of performance, it already close to gripen

swingrole (which is just added aspect of multirole capability) depends largely on the avionics. As it is today, FA-50 use APG-67, similar to older F-16 but with APG-83 and Litening pod, it could do the same

rtaf will operate T-50 as well (as well as gripen), so we can see how big it is side by side with gripen when they got it

Get FA-50 and expose themselves to US sanction.

This modular upgrade concept appears to be similar to Rheinmetall's MBT Revolution concept. It includes enhanced survivability by using SidePRO-ATR armor and electric drive systems. The tanks internal systems are fully digital and includue a new battlefield management system. The MLU also includes a new commander's sight with integrated thermal imager.

ni kalau dia spam, 2a7 pun tekincit!     

ni kalau dia spam, 2a7 pun tekincit!     

Side armor module of the Leopard 2 Evolution defeating a PG-7VLT with tandem warhead

In case of the Leopard 2 Evolution, the side armor of the tank was capable of resisting the PG-7VLT ammunition with tandem warhead, which can penetrate more than 500 mm of steel armor after defeating explosive reactive armor (ERA). In static tests, a similar thick array of AMAP was also capable of protecting against the PG-7VR round (fitted with the same warhead as used by the RPG-29 ammunition), which is capable of penetrating up to 750 mm steel armor (600 mm after ERA).

its primary role is to take on mechanized infantry consisting of ifv/afv/apc not mbt
in the first place its a flawed idea to use the last century era rpg to oppose modern mbt
though to even manage disabling a tank is already a huge firepower for a mere infantry