Project Sabre II
Encyclopedia
{|Project Sabre II was an attempt to develop a low-cost multi-role combat aircraft based on an existing design, the Chengdu F-7M
(a Chinese derivative of the MiG-21). The project was initiated by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)
and the Grumman Aerospace Corporation was contracted to work with specialists from the PAF and China to define and develop the concept. The PAF had left the project by March 1989 because it was considered uneconomic. In November 1988 it was reported that Grumman and CATIC would begin a new study to upgrade the F-7M into the Super 7. Grumman pulled out when the United States placed sanctions on China after the Tiananmen Square protests
of 1989. China continued with the project until it was re-branded as the FC-1 in the early 1990s.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF)
started looking for a new fighter to replace their large fleet of Shenyang F-6
, which were approaching the end of their service lives, in the late 1980s. After becoming interested in the F-7M, the PAF initiated Project Sabre II to re-design and upgrade the Chengdu F-7M.
In January 1987, a contract was awarded to Grumman Aerospace of Bethpage, New York, to study and define the Sabre II concept with cooperation from CAC and PAF specialists. The study was completed after seven months and concluded that the project was a financial risk due to very high costs and other options were much more cost-effective, despite the prospects of producing Sabre II in Pakistan and giving the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
more experience and technical knowledge.
In September 1987 it was reported that a 5 month feasibility study had been completed by Grumman, working in cooperation with CAC, CATIC and the PAF, in which the Chengdu F-7M was radically upgraded. Known as Sabre II, the upgrade involved fitting the F-7M with modern Western radar, avionics, engine and a re-designed forward fuselage. It was stated that Sabre II would replace 150 Shenyang F-6 in PAF service. A picture showed that the F-7's nose inlet had been replaced with a solid nose radome and a new pair of air inlets were mounted on the sides of the fuselage under the cockpit.
Under Project Sabre II, considered a replacement of the abandoned Super-7 project by the Chinese, the F-7 airframe was redesigned with angled air intakes on the sides of the fuselage
replacing the nose intake. The nose intake was replaced by a solid nose radome
to house the avionics from the F-20 Tigershark
. The Chinese WP-7 turbojet engine was planned to be replaced with a modern turbofan
engine, either the GE F404 or PW1120, to improve performance. The resulting aircraft, designated F-7M Sabre-II, would have looked much like the Guizhou JL-9 (or FTC-2000)
jet trainer / fighter
aircraft.
The Pratt & Whitney PW1216, an afterburning derivative of the J52-P-409 turbojet producing 16000 pound-forces (71.2 kN) of thrust, was also proposed for installation on the Sabre II. The engine's afterburner was designed in China. Fitting the APG-66 radar was also planned.
Project Sabre II was terminated in 1989, due to the breaking of relations between the United States and China after the Tiananmen Square protest and the subsequent US-imposed sanctions that prevented access to any US technology in the project. Sanctions for Pakistan followed soon after, with Pakistan's on-going nuclear program, about which the US had known for some years, cited as the reason. The Nuclear Program had an overarching effect on the Super-7 project. While the US exhibited little tolerance with Pakistan's emerging nuclear aspirations after India's low-yield nuclear test
in 1974, it tolerated the its nuclear program during the 80's due to the US desire for Pakistani cooperation, in order to defeat the Soviets in the Afghan Soviet war
. Once the Soviet forces retreated, Pakistani cooperation was no longer required and military and economic sanction
s were imposed under the Pressler amendment in 1990. This prevented the delivery of F-16 aircraft already paid for by the PAF during the Afghan war, and efforts by the PAF to find a replacement failed (see Pakistan Air Force 1990-2001, the lost decade).
The PAF decided on a much less expensive solution for replacement of the F-6, the Chengdu F-7P Skybolt, an upgraded version of the F-7M Airguard. The F-7P fleet was to be supported by a fleet of over 100 advanced F-16 Fighting Falcons from the United States, 40 of which had been delivered during the 1980s.
In November 1988 it was reported that Grumman and CATIC were starting a 9 month design study into the Super 7, another F-7M upgraded with side-mounted intakes, a nose radome containing the APG-66 radar, an RB.199 or F404 RM12 turbofan replacing the Chinese WP-7 turbojet, increased wing area, leading-edge slats, combat flaps, two more hardpoints for carrying Sidewinder missiles, single point pressure refuelling system, more fuel storage, stronger landing gear with bigger wheels and nose-wheel steering, windscreen and canopy from F-20 Tigershark, F-16 style cockpit avionics, new ejection seat and new oxygen supply system. Wingspan was to be increased from 23.5 to 26 ft (7.2 to 7.9 ), with increased wing chord. Fuselage length was to be increased from 45.8 to 49.3 ft (14 to 15 ). A maximum flyaway unit cost was estimated to be $10 million.
In March 1990 it was reported that after being rejected by the PAF, Sabre II had been superseded by the Super 7 and China was considering continuing its development.
Chengdu J-7
The Chengdu Jian-7 is a People's Republic of China-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. Though production ceased in 2008 it continues to serve, mostly as an interceptor, in several air forces, including China's.-Design and development:...
(a Chinese derivative of the MiG-21). The project was initiated by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
and the Grumman Aerospace Corporation was contracted to work with specialists from the PAF and China to define and develop the concept. The PAF had left the project by March 1989 because it was considered uneconomic. In November 1988 it was reported that Grumman and CATIC would begin a new study to upgrade the F-7M into the Super 7. Grumman pulled out when the United States placed sanctions on China after the Tiananmen Square protests
Tiananmen Square protests
Tiananmen Square in Beijing has been the central point for several major historical protests, with their most commonly referred to Chinese name in parentheses....
of 1989. China continued with the project until it was re-branded as the FC-1 in the early 1990s.
Origins
In 1984 the latest export version of the Chengdu F-7, an extensively upgraded form of the F-7B incorporating various Western systems and designated F-7M Airguard, was released. Pakistan was interested in developing and manufacturing an improved version of the F-7M to replace its large fleet of Shenyang F-6 and move Pakistan's aviation industry forward. Grumman Aerospace of the United States was contracted to do a 5 month feasibility study and in September 1987 the F-7 Sabre II was revealed.The Pakistan Air Force (PAF)
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
started looking for a new fighter to replace their large fleet of Shenyang F-6
Shenyang J-6
The Shenyang J-6 was the Chinese-built version of the Soviet MiG-19 'Farmer' fighter aircraft.-Design and development:...
, which were approaching the end of their service lives, in the late 1980s. After becoming interested in the F-7M, the PAF initiated Project Sabre II to re-design and upgrade the Chengdu F-7M.
In January 1987, a contract was awarded to Grumman Aerospace of Bethpage, New York, to study and define the Sabre II concept with cooperation from CAC and PAF specialists. The study was completed after seven months and concluded that the project was a financial risk due to very high costs and other options were much more cost-effective, despite the prospects of producing Sabre II in Pakistan and giving the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex is a facility used to service, assemble and manufacture aircraft for the Pakistani Armed Forces...
more experience and technical knowledge.
In September 1987 it was reported that a 5 month feasibility study had been completed by Grumman, working in cooperation with CAC, CATIC and the PAF, in which the Chengdu F-7M was radically upgraded. Known as Sabre II, the upgrade involved fitting the F-7M with modern Western radar, avionics, engine and a re-designed forward fuselage. It was stated that Sabre II would replace 150 Shenyang F-6 in PAF service. A picture showed that the F-7's nose inlet had been replaced with a solid nose radome and a new pair of air inlets were mounted on the sides of the fuselage under the cockpit.
Under Project Sabre II, considered a replacement of the abandoned Super-7 project by the Chinese, the F-7 airframe was redesigned with angled air intakes on the sides of the fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
replacing the nose intake. The nose intake was replaced by a solid nose radome
Radome
A radome is a structural, weatherproof enclosure that protects a microwave or radar antenna. The radome is constructed of material that minimally attenuates the electromagnetic signal transmitted or received by the antenna. In other words, the radome is transparent to radar or radio waves...
to house the avionics from the F-20 Tigershark
F-20 Tigershark
The Northrop F-20 Tigershark was a privately-financed light fighter, designed and built by Northrop. Its development began in 1975 as a further evolution of Northrop's F-5E Tiger II, featuring a new engine that greatly improved overall performance, and a modern avionics suite including a powerful...
. The Chinese WP-7 turbojet engine was planned to be replaced with a modern turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
engine, either the GE F404 or PW1120, to improve performance. The resulting aircraft, designated F-7M Sabre-II, would have looked much like the Guizhou JL-9 (or FTC-2000)
Guizhou JL-9
- See also :- References :...
jet trainer / fighter
Jet trainer
A Jet trainer is typically a turbofan or turbojet powered training aircraft, intended either for general aviation flying training or for more advanced jet aircraft. Jet trainers are typically divided into civilian and military, and custom designs versus versions of existing aircraft...
aircraft.
The Pratt & Whitney PW1216, an afterburning derivative of the J52-P-409 turbojet producing 16000 pound-forces (71.2 kN) of thrust, was also proposed for installation on the Sabre II. The engine's afterburner was designed in China. Fitting the APG-66 radar was also planned.
Project Sabre II was terminated in 1989, due to the breaking of relations between the United States and China after the Tiananmen Square protest and the subsequent US-imposed sanctions that prevented access to any US technology in the project. Sanctions for Pakistan followed soon after, with Pakistan's on-going nuclear program, about which the US had known for some years, cited as the reason. The Nuclear Program had an overarching effect on the Super-7 project. While the US exhibited little tolerance with Pakistan's emerging nuclear aspirations after India's low-yield nuclear test
Smiling Buddha
The Smiling Buddha, formally designated as Pokhran-I, was the codename given to Republic of India's first nuclear test explosion that took place at the long-constructed Indian Army base, Pokhran Test Range at Pokhran municipality, Rajasthan state on 18 May 1974 at 8:05 a.m....
in 1974, it tolerated the its nuclear program during the 80's due to the US desire for Pakistani cooperation, in order to defeat the Soviets in the Afghan Soviet war
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
. Once the Soviet forces retreated, Pakistani cooperation was no longer required and military and economic sanction
Economic sanctions
Economic sanctions are domestic penalties applied by one country on another for a variety of reasons. Economic sanctions include, but are not limited to, tariffs, trade barriers, import duties, and import or export quotas...
s were imposed under the Pressler amendment in 1990. This prevented the delivery of F-16 aircraft already paid for by the PAF during the Afghan war, and efforts by the PAF to find a replacement failed (see Pakistan Air Force 1990-2001, the lost decade).
The PAF decided on a much less expensive solution for replacement of the F-6, the Chengdu F-7P Skybolt, an upgraded version of the F-7M Airguard. The F-7P fleet was to be supported by a fleet of over 100 advanced F-16 Fighting Falcons from the United States, 40 of which had been delivered during the 1980s.
In November 1988 it was reported that Grumman and CATIC were starting a 9 month design study into the Super 7, another F-7M upgraded with side-mounted intakes, a nose radome containing the APG-66 radar, an RB.199 or F404 RM12 turbofan replacing the Chinese WP-7 turbojet, increased wing area, leading-edge slats, combat flaps, two more hardpoints for carrying Sidewinder missiles, single point pressure refuelling system, more fuel storage, stronger landing gear with bigger wheels and nose-wheel steering, windscreen and canopy from F-20 Tigershark, F-16 style cockpit avionics, new ejection seat and new oxygen supply system. Wingspan was to be increased from 23.5 to 26 ft (7.2 to 7.9 ), with increased wing chord. Fuselage length was to be increased from 45.8 to 49.3 ft (14 to 15 ). A maximum flyaway unit cost was estimated to be $10 million.
In March 1990 it was reported that after being rejected by the PAF, Sabre II had been superseded by the Super 7 and China was considering continuing its development.
See also
- Grumman Aerospace
- Pakistan Air ForcePakistan Air ForceThe Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
- Chengdu F-7Chengdu J-7The Chengdu Jian-7 is a People's Republic of China-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. Though production ceased in 2008 it continues to serve, mostly as an interceptor, in several air forces, including China's.-Design and development:...
- Chengdu FC-1 / JF-17 ThunderJF-17 ThunderThe PAC JF-17 Thunder , or CAC FC-1 Xiaolong , is a light-weight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation of China, the Pakistan Air Force and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex...