How the JF-17 Merged Russian and Romanian Design

The JF-17 Thunder, a lightweight fighter jet developed jointly by China and Pakistan, has sparked discussions about the origins of its design. While the aircraft shares visual similarities with other jets, its development story is a bit more complex.

Initially, experts theorized that the JF-17 was heavily based on the MiG-33, a single-engine version of the Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter jet. This belief arose partly because the JF-17 uses the RD-93 engine, which is related to the engines used in the MiG-29 family.

However, deeper analysis reveals another potential source of inspiration: the Romanian IAR-95 fighter. The JF-17 possesses noticeable similarities with the IAR-95, particularly in the design of its tail section and wing extensions.

The most plausible explanation is that the JF-17's design merges elements from both the MiG-33 and the IAR-95. Chinese engineers may have started with the MiG-33 design as a base and then selectively incorporated features from the IAR-95 to improve the aircraft's performance.

The JF-17's development highlights the fact that China and Pakistan were seeking a cost-effective and lightweight fighter aircraft. Drawing from existing design concepts would have been a logical path. This program also underscores the global nature of modern aircraft design. While it's common to take inspiration from earlier models, the end result can be a unique aircraft with its own distinct set of capabilities.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Unnecessary splitting hair over origin of a cheap fighter Jet which can be beat by an upgraded Mig-21 Bison piloted by a seasoned pilot.

A much better analysis would have been between IAI Lavi and Chengdu J-10.

 

[Sentoki]

For the umpteenth time, please stop propogating the notion that the JF17 was a "joint development" by China and Pakistan. It is a rebranded FC10 that China lets Pakistan do some final assembly and screwdrivering at their Kamran Air Complex.

If that's what is the definition of "Joint Development", then the SU30-MKI, MIG29s, Jaguars, MIG-21s were all joint development between India and Russia.

 

[Bharat007]

Our Tejas is lot more reliable and better than this. MK2 can easily best this in range and weapons payload.

 

[Ysmir Rewari]

Unnecessary splitting hair over origin of a cheap fighter Jet which can be beat by an upgraded Mig-21 Bison piloted by a seasoned pilot.

A much better analysis would have been between IAI Lavi and Chengdu J-10.

IAI sold their blueprints after Israeli Parliament scrapped Lavi to recover R&D costs, much to the chagrin on US

 

[Sandeep]

There's a big difference between the junk fighter and our jets. In a battle our Tejas jet would be better than their jet which has very poor technology and weapons capabilities. China might have fooled Pakistan into thinking they have the best jet but India already knows everything about the junk fighter.

 

[Tls Mani]

All chinese products are clandestine copies spied or bribed from abroad.Other than bicycles mao jackets & noodles they never had anything designed by them.

 

[Hari Sud]

Pakistan at that time and even now has no capability to copy anything. It is all Chinese work who are copy master by their DNA.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

IAI sold their blueprints after Israeli Parliament scrapped Lavi to recover R&D costs, much to the chagrin on US

Irony is, It was US's general weapons export ban in the 1980s which was the very reason for the advent of IAI Lavi project.