Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

In 2010 the news story was that a new version of the JF-17 would be 5th gen:

http://gb.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=41 ... &o=ext

But at the same show in 2011 the story changed to a Block 2 JF-17 with 4.5th gen features.

http://www.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=4 ... &o=ext

So the fighter is currently 4th gen and a new "Super JF-17" will like the Super Hornet be 4.5th gen and the reporters messed up in 2010 with this "5th gen" hype, no?

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That would be correct. The JF-17 could presumably be upgraded to something near 5th-gen, but I doubt the PRC has the ability to actualize that. I see them as sticking with 3/4/4.5 for the next decade or so. The J-20 is probably a long way from IOC, let alone full service, so J-10s and J-11s, as well as possibly J-17s, will make up the non-obsolescent portions of the PLAAF.

I doubt its anything more than maybe a 4th generation plane with band aids. If its delivered service life is only 4000 hours then its right up there with Russian planes and falls short of three decades old western ones.

madrat wrote:

I doubt its anything more than maybe a 4th generation plane with band aids. If its delivered service life is only 4000 hours then its right up there with Russian planes and falls short of three decades old western ones.

Yeah, that won't even hold a new airframe to 2030. I've heard stuff going into the 2060s for the F-35, and the Raptor only slightly less. You're right, in that the JF-17 delivers capability that was new twenty years ago.

Complete the following madcap: Dorsal fins on a fifth gen fighter are like _______ on a _______.

Personally I'd go with "training wheels" and "Police motorcycle". Smile

hcobb wrote:

Complete the following madcap: Dorsal fins on a fifth gen fighter are like _______ on a _______.

Personally I'd go with "training wheels" and "Police motorcycle". Smile

Drones on an AFB? Laughing

Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

Jf-17 5th gen or 4.5th?