You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
China-Japan-Koreas
'Advanced' China fighter aircraft makes test flight
2006-05-03
CHENGDU, April 28 (Xinhua) -- An advanced version of the China-developed new-generation fighter plane, the Xiaolong/FC-4, succeeded in its first flight on Friday in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Based on previous models, the Xiaolong/FC-1 and FC-3, the FC-4 is equipped with advanced electronics and weapons systems, which improve its combat capabilities, say experts.
Looks like an F-4 Phantom in some ways; no stealth whatsoever. Wonder if they'll sell a bunch to Hugo?
The success of the 16-minute test flight marks a significant step in China's aviation industry, and makes mass production possible.

The Xiaolong series is a multipurpose light fighter aircraft developed by the China Aviation Industry Corporation I(CAIC-I), the Chengdu Aircraft Group Corp. and China Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation. With advanced design and manufacturing technology, this export-oriented fighter plane is small, low in cost and suitable for modern warfare and the demands of military fighters, experts said.

The development program for the new-generation fighter aircraft was officially launched in 1999, led by the CAIC-I, the country's leading operator in the aerospace industry.
Posted by:Steve White

#18  Looks to me like an up-engined, slightly-modified cross between a Mig-21 and an F-5 (sold to the Vietnamese in three versions back in the early 1970's), with a vew other modifications thrown in for good measure. The tail is pure T-38. The underside strakes are similar to those on the Mig-23. The cockpit is pure Mig-21. The wings are T-38 with forward-projecting strakes similar to those found on the F-16 and some late-model F-5s. No innovation, just copy, cut-n-paste, and work it all together until it actually flies, then try to refine it to see if you can get it to do better. That's typical of World War II era thinking.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2006-05-03 13:43  

#17  There are two reasons to build airplanes: home use and export. For the Chinese, having an aircraft industry means jobs, manufacturing experience and export income.

These babies may not stand up against modern American or Euro fighters, but not everyone is going up against First World militaries. Even if you have the planes, you still need pilots.

No doubt, lots of South American and African countries could use these against their neighbors and their own populace. Guys like Hugo will stock up on the grounds of preparing for the forthcoming Yankee invasion. I bet the Chinese sell a *bleep*load.
Posted by: SteveS   2006-05-03 11:38  

#16  Does it need a pilot? If yes, semi-obselete. Does the pilot need to be trained? If yes, what's the quality of training? Is the training based on decades of air combat experience? If yes, against whom?

One could go on backwards into the past, and arrive at the invention of gunpowder - at which point, the Chinese were at the head of the technological field. A lot has happened since then, though.
Posted by: Whong Whoting4646   2006-05-03 10:58  

#15  I might go down to Canal Street and pick one up. Let you know.
Posted by: Grunter   2006-05-03 09:26  

#14  !
Posted by: 6   2006-05-03 09:25  

#13  Difficult to use Google to find info on Chinese fighter aircraft?

Hmmm.
Posted by: Seafarious   2006-05-03 09:13  

#12  FC-1 through FC-4 are essentually the same airframe. The FC-4 is upgraded with Italian avionics (digital displays, moving map). It also uses the MiG-29's engines (poor engine controls). Don't know about FC-4 radar upgrades, but the FC-1's Israeli radar (Elta-2032, Italian and Russian radar were options at one time) is decent, but limited in range and multi target attack modes.

From a Chinese perspective, it still has the drawback of the FC-1, namely it has a lot of foreign components (including joint production with Pakistan) that limits it's attractiveness for the PLAAF. The FC-1 was quoted at around $15 million. Compare that to stripped export versions of the F-16 that go for $20 million.
Posted by: ed   2006-05-03 09:06  

#11  The Chinese have never really put a good airplane together that could seriously challange western fighters. Against the old Soviet planes in third world countries, they do great.
Posted by: DarthVader   2006-05-03 07:49  

#10  Murat is back?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-05-03 07:28  

#9  MiG 21 clone.

Posted by: john   2006-05-03 06:51  

#8  The key to China's Air Force is numbers (much like their Army)not technology. We could shoot these things out of the sky all day but, sooner or later, we got to reload.

Having a lot of little capable planes instead of a smaller number of capable ones means

1) Needing loooooots of fuel
2) Needing to train a looooooot of pilots
3) Needing loooooots of mechanics (otherwise you will be lucky if you get 10% vailability)
4) Needing loooooots of airfields
5) Neeeing to produce looooooots of spare parts
6) Needing loooooots of aircontrollers

Plus there is a limit on how many planes you can put in a given portion of sky before they begin to intefere with each other

For illustration of the quality force vs the unmanageable large mob think in how Wavell's 30 thousand gobbled a force of 200,000 Italians or how when the Germans invaded the Soviets had more tanks than rest of the world combined (60% of themuinavailable due to lack of spare parts) and less than five months later Stalin had to deny 200 tanks to Joukov for the counteroffensive because there was simply none in the reserve. None, Zero. Nada
Posted by: JFM   2006-05-03 05:44  

#7  FC-1...same tail numbers though!

inscrutable!
Posted by: RD   2006-05-03 05:20  

#6  could be mistaken but the top photo in the RB article looks like an older Mig variant, not the Xiaolong/FC-4.

inscrutable Chinese

Posted by: RD   2006-05-03 05:18  

#5  from pics: small with forebody strakes
short range, use: defense



Posted by: RD   2006-05-03 05:12  

#4  I think it looks like an old MIG. There lies the truth... nothing but old building concepts with some new junk in it. Nothing to see here.

The key to China's Air Force is numbers (much like their Army)not technology. We could shoot these things out of the sky all day but, sooner or later, we got to reload. And that is their advantage, swarm their opponent with numbers.


Posted by: Armylife   2006-05-03 04:52  

#3  Diffuicult o say wit a single sideshot photo but it looks like a Mirage III (the fighter who was state of the art 4O years ago in the Six Days War). It is definitely not stealthy, has poor backwards vision (compare with the canopies in F15, F14, F16 and F/A18) and its aerodynamics look really old fashioned.

Now aht reamins to know is how good its electronics and how capable its misiles but for now I am unimpressed.
Posted by: JFM   2006-05-03 04:05  

#2  The success of that plane will be its pricetag.
It is said that the plane is costing between $12 - $15mln dollar which is damn cheap compared to an F16.
So it will have a good market in Africa and some Asian countries.
Posted by: Murat   2006-05-03 03:18  

#1  The one in the picture is the FC-1. I tried to find a picture, but there is remarkably little information in google about the FC-4.
Posted by: gromky   2006-05-03 03:16  

00:00