JF-17 Thunder Discussions

[Stratos]

The PLAAF and the PLANAF are a real need for DCS. Any update will be a great addition.

[Tread_Head57]

New WIP shots up on their FB page.

[cubanace]

me dreams

 

I wish Could Become a reality But its still in Service in China,My Fav Chinese plane, child of the LAVI Project.:D

Edited December 11, 2017 by cubanace

[probad]

From FB:

Our Development Plan in 2018

Happy New Year, everyone!

Since the announcement of the DCS: JF-17, all our developers have been very pleased with the DCS community’s attention and enthusiasm. We are thrilled to be given such recognition in our work. We will be pushing ourselves forward in the following year and many more to come.

With the growing numbers of the DCS third party teams, they've brought various aircrafts to the player. As for us, a very new addition to the DCS world, a lot of pressure have been brought to us in order to keep up with the quality levels of those well reputed teams. We, as well as many players, have experienced that with some products, the sky is the limit. We look forward to investing all that we can to bring you the best products we can offer. For the DCS: JF-17 project, we are proud to announce that the external model has been finished, and we are very satisfied with the accuracy of the model.

The development process was able to run smoothly by the following reasons:

1. During that period, our external modeler was not technically married to his current wife.

2. Chinese Aviation Museum located in Beijing, China, currently has an FC-1 on display.

3. Long live the friendship between China and Pakistan.

4. Our photographer friends generously provided us with hundreds of gigabytes of JF-17 photos for our reference.

Unfortunately, our cockpit modeler doesn’t have the same kind of luck. There isn’t much document or photos for cockpit reference at the very beginning, especially for: control panel, ejection seat, control stick, sizes and positions of cockpit devices. The outcome from different production batches of the real aircrafts did not help with our modeling process either. Aircrafts of different batches and different tail numbers were of slightly off from each other. However, we still believe that with a little harder work and dedication we will be able to finish the cockpit model with our current documents. During the early stage of development, there were some “errors” in tiny details that we believe no one would notice, but we insisted on correcting them when documents became available to us. However, the perfectionism has costed us much more time and workload.

Next, let’s talk about the simulation. Since JF-17 is a multi-role fighter aircraft, it equipped with a KLJ-7 multi-function radar. It is a small but still capable radar, with 7 different A2A modes: RWS, TWS, VS, ACM, SAM, STT and DTT, as well as several A2S modes, such as AGR, MAP, BCN, GMTI, SEA1, SEA2, TA, and WA. Currently, we've finished targets detection, track and lock in A2A and A2G modes. Our next work will focus on drawing interface and implement related HOTAS logic for those radar modes, as well as the transition between those modes under different conditions. In conclusion, this “tiny” (less than 120 kg) X band multi-function Doppler fire control radar will cost us great amount of work. The work is well worthy, since it is the handful multi-function radar in DCS: World.

After radar, let’s discuss about another highlight part of JF-17: it’s digital/mechanical hybrid flight control system. This system can not only act as a safeguard for the rookies, but also can make sure the experienced pilots focus on his battle. It can change its control law based on different stages of the flight such as takeoff/landing, combat and A2A/A2G missions. We demonstrated some features of the flight control system last year and we already finished most working modes in DFCS (digital flight control system). After DFCS, we will start working on EFCS (Emergency Flight Control System). As a backup for the DFCS, EFCS will take over DFCS’s job when DFCS has malfunctions. Of course, you’d better RTB immediately when you have to use EFCS. Another important part of the simulation is the flight performance, such as aerodynamic characteristics, center of gravity characteristics, weight characteristics and thrust characteristics. Currently we are working on matching excessive thrust characteristics (Thrust minus drag) with document under standard configuration of the aircraft. RD-93 is a Russian made turbofan afterburner engine, we get it’s thrust data from our Pakistan friend. But if we want to calculate its thrust when its installed on the aircraft, we must consider total pressure distortion and dynamic distortion of the inlet, suction of the boundary layer, thrust loss due to nozzle malfunction, power extraction to generators and bleed air system, etc. We are performing calculation under these conditions, our simulations of the remaining thrust characteristics in different height with half fuel, clean loadout is accurate. Next, we’ll working on calculate aircraft’s drag in different loadout. We will consider the drag change when a same loadout mounted on different load points, and aerodynamic interference between different loadouts, etc.

Regarding the sub-system of the aircraft, I want to start with the damage model. We already finish the damage part subdivision and the test of the damage determination. DCS: JF-17 has 66 different damageable parts and each part has its damage effect related to aircraft aerodynamics, equipment and systems. this will depend on what equipment/systems are located on the damaged part, and depend on what equipment/systems are connected to the equipment/systems on the damaged part. Here is a very simple example, when the main landing gear bay is damaged, not only the hydraulic and pneumatic devices will be affected, landing gear’s position sensor and the main gear’s load sensor may also malfunction. Thus, DFCS’s approaching control law may not be activated, which leads to a different landing control characteristic compared to a normal landing.

This refined pattern of damage model involves every piece of equipment on the aircraft, and for our avionics, all of the subsystems must be completed and associated. For a fully functional modern multi-purpose fighter, the workload is tremendous, but for our leader of the avionics group, who is physically in China while works in US time zone, this is not a problem.

Before the last, I want to talk about China Asset Pack. The original intention of the China Asset Pack is actually very simple, not only the welfare for Chinese players, but also for world-wide players. We therefore adhere to a simple principle: an addon free of charge. But free does not mean shoddy - our members kept on improving and testing the China Asset Pack during the national holidays, giving up personal vacations and running out of many bottles of hair growth shampoo.

Currently we are aiming to fully dedicate our effort in the JF-17 project, therefore the updates for the China Asset Pack will slow down. However, we are pleased to see several community members volunteering to contribute to the China Asset Pack. In the near future, we plan to release the KJ-2000 AWACS AI based on the A50 provided by ED, and KJ-200 AWACS AI developed by Zeyuan Fan. We hope to see their efforts will bring more Chinese units to DCS World.

Lastly, we greatly appreciate all your attentions and support for our projects. Although we are not able to provide frequent updates, our work never stops. DCS: JF-17 project has been undertaking smoothly as planned. We welcome our supporters to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Weibo, and Bilibili for our official news and updates. Please be aware that these are our only official channels.

We hope to bring you the best of our work in 2018!

[ebabil]

A real awacs would be good instead an AI

[probad]

im not sure how you arrived at an idea like that but i think its safe to say we won't ever get to see a dcs level simulation of chinese awacs.

[ebabil]

man, it's just a wish

[frixon28]

This is awesome news, 2 multirole fighters in 1 year. Should be an amazing module with all its capabilities

[Tread_Head57]

Sounds like we should see the JF-17 in late 2018/early 2019. Still a lot of coding to do but it looks like it's coming along nicely!

[Stratos]

This is awesome news, 2 multirole fighters in 1 year. Should be an amazing module with all its capabilities

 

Agree 100% A really interesting module, specially for the new weapons it will bring with it.

[Tread_Head57]

Anyone know what's up with the JF-17 or Deka Ironworks? They used to be really active of FB but nothing new out of them since JAN 4th. Is the JF-17 still on track?

[LevelPulse]

Anyone know what's up with the JF-17 or Deka Ironworks? They used to be really active of FB but nothing new out of them since JAN 4th. Is the JF-17 still on track?

 

It's on track, last i heard (if i recall correctly) they got third party status (or were in the process) but don't quote me on that!

[Tread_Head57]

Thanks Cubanace.

[Askerov24]

So, here is the update :)

 

Hi everyone,

It's been a long time no update. Since we've officially started the work for half year, there are still many things we need to explore, study and get familiar with. Also, our members enjoyed a long break during Chinese New Year in Feb.

 

Since March, our programmers have been busy working on the architecture of the big MFCD rendering code. The MFCD of JF-17 can work as an entire screen, and can also display info into split screens [a square one plus a small rectangle one below]. Therefore, a good code structure design can greatly reduce the complexity and future workload of our ASM programmers. Our artists are still finishing and refining the external and internal models of thunder. Matching the quality level of model and texture of other 3rd parties is a challenging task, but our modelers are filled with fighting will! Sorry that for JF-17 there is no picture ready to share with you this time.

 

Regarding CAP, we are moving forward a bit slowly. Fortunately, there are several volunteers help us expand the pack. Here are some WIP pictures of KJ-200 from Biller, and a WIP YJ-62 for 052C. We are contacting Silver Dragon for adding his Pr. 205 and SY-1 into CAP. We've also discussed with ED about flyable J-11A. If we have any news, we would like to share with you. Like most players, we would like to see flyable J-11A to enrich the 'Red' force. To make it able to appear in both sides in MP match, we added J-11A to AUSAF (fictional!) and made a few new skins (fictional too!).

 

At the end, thanks for your patience and support so far!

 

 

 

 

P.S. Possible flyable J-11A is amazing, even if it's FC3 level (PFM+SSM)

[Askerov24]

I contacted them once for permission on a J-11A mod (as you always should do) and I was told somebody else already did it. :) Just Su-27 cockpit and avionics.

 

But yes, good question. Maybe they can add it as a mini-feature for Su-27 standalone and FC3. :music_whistling:

 

Yeah, just another Su-27, but with R-77 ;)

[Askerov24]

Amazing update from Deka!

 

Last tease before summer.

We are planning AI aircraft of J-10A, JH-7A and H-6H (A volunteer just started H-6D, and hope we will have this too to shoot YJ-6). These three models are early works from our artists made years ago. Since now they need to focus on JF-17 models, another junior artist will finish all details and export them to DCS on his pace.

To make more progress on JF-17 and show something to you after F/A-18C early access, we will start emissions control after today

 

 

 

[*Rage*]

Id love to see a J10 in DCS.

[uboats]

Id love to see a J10 in DCS.

 

J-10A is main focus, then JH-7A and H-6H

[ddhenda]

It's actually an H-6D, the radome is large and unlike H, it had a bomb bay.

 

their model pic shows H-6H not H-6D

[MAD_MIKE]

Devs, whould be wonderful if different types of pitch axis realization be implemented, like on the F-5 module in advanced options.

[happy cavin]

Id love to see a J10 in DCS.

 

in user made files there is an J-10A mod.

 

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/1938096/

Edited April 25, 2018 by happy cavin

[uboats]

JF-17 Thunder Discussions

 

Feel free to discuss here :)

[mackurt]

Congratulations!

So when is the next update? We want more redfor fighters come to the DCS world...

Edited April 27, 2018 by mackurt

[Toxic]

CONGRATS! :D

[asla36]

I'm so happy for you! Thanks to you we'll have a full fidelity counterpart to the F/A-18C, and a fitting one too in the Persian gulf scenario!!! Wish you the best of luck!