JF-17
The JF-17 is a low-cost, low-maintenance, lightweight, single-engine, fourth-generation multi-role combat aircraft designed, developed, and produced jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of China. Designed and built to replace the Pakistani Air Force’s 2nd and 3rd generation fighters such as the Mirage III, A-5, and F-7. The JF-17 entered service with the PAF in 2007, in PAF service it has conducted multiple anti-terrorist operations on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The JF-17 has also entered service with the Myanmar Airforce with an order of 16 airframes (of which 7 have been delivered so far).
Capable of carrying multiple types of weapons such as the GPS guided LS-6 and GB-6 and the BVRAAM SD-10 missile it is a very capable airframe. It is also the newest aircraft released as a module in DCS, with its first flight in 2003, only 17 years ago. The version we have in DCS is primarily a Block I with some Block II features: the removable aerial refueling probe being one of the most notable examples of features from the Block II.
Contents
Weapons List
The JF-17 is capable of carrying:
- Mk-82 series 500lbs unguided bomb
- Mk-83 series 1,000lbs unguided bomb
- Mk-84 series 2,000lbs unguided bomb
- Mk-20 cluster bombs
- Hydra 70 2.75 inch rockets
- GSH-23 23mm cannon (A/A & A/G)
- PL-5IIE infrared-guided air-to-air missile
- SD-10 active radar homing air-to-air missile
- C-701IR infrared-guided air-to-ground missile
- C-701T television-guided air-to-ground missile
- GBU-10 Paveway II 2,000lbs laser-guided bomb
- GBU-12 Paveway II 500lbs laser-guided bomb
- GBU-16 Paveway II 1,000lbs laser-guided bomb
- LD-10 anti-radiation missile
- GB-6 GPS-guided glide cluster bomb
- GB-6SFW GPS-guided glide SFW-cluster bomb
- GB-6 GPS-guided glide bomb
- LS-6 GPS-guided glide bomb
- CM-802AKG air-to-ground cruise missile
- C-802 anti-ship missile
- BRM-1 Laser-Guided Rockets
- Type-200A Unguided Anti-Runway Bomb
Hotas
The JF-17 has a modern Hands On Throttle And Stick system (HOTAS) which means that most controls the pilot will need in flight will be kept on his HOTAS, thus negating the need to move focus around the cockpit. The Switches on the HOTAS are either named T for Throttle or S for stick. The list of controls is:
On the throttle:
- T1: selects Master Mode
- Up: AA master mode
- Middle: NAV master mode
- Down: AG master mode
- T2: Controls Countermeasures
- Forward: Engages SPJ (Self-Protection Jammer)
- Push: Cages PL-5 seeker
- Backwards: Dispenses Countermeasures
- T3: engages/disengages the Speedbreak
- Forwards: Speed Brake on
- Push: Speed brake on/off
- Backwards: Speed Brake of
- T4: Radio PTT and IFF interrogation:
- Forward: Comm 1 PTT
- Push: IFF interrogation start/stop
- Backward: Comm 2 PTT
- T5: TDC acts as a mouse to slew the various sensors.
- T6: antenna elevation: while in:
- Targeting pod: controls zoom
- A/A radar controls scan elevation
On the Stick:
- S1: Sensor Selection (SS) selects the SOI
- Forward: Selects ACM mode
- Backward: Cycle HUD/Center MFD as SOI
- Right: Select Right MFD as SOI
- Left: Select Left MFD as SOI
- S2: Sensor Control:
- Forward: Increases Display distance and enters Boresight mode when in DGFT master mode
- Backward: decreases display distance and enters vertical scan mode when in DGFT master mode
- Right: Change Azimuth Scan range and enters Heads-Up display area when in DGFT master mode
- Left: in A/A:
- In TWS,RWS or VS mode: cycles between them
- SAM mode: Cycles between SAM and NAM sub-modes
- S3: Weapon release
- S4: Gun trigger
- S5: Missile step / NWS
- S6: Trim
- S7: Autopilot disengage
- S8: cycles between weapon profiles
Useful links
- Chuck's guide for JF-17
- JF-17 discussion forum
- Deka Ironworks' "DCS JF-17" playlist in YouTube
- RedKite's playlist in YouTube with a collection of tutorials by Deka, Jabbers, RedKite
- JF-17 Training Missions by Rudel-Chw
