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China's Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Group (CAIG) has manufactured one full-size mock-up and a first prototype of the fighter aircraft is in production, with work to be completed in early 2003, Jane's Defence Weekly reported on Thursday.
The design will enable the aircraft to integrate weapon systems from different countries, including Chinese-made PL11 semi-active radar guided and PL-12 (the local designation for the Russian R-77) active radar guided air-to-air missiles.
The FC-1 will also be able to deploy precision-guided ground-attack weapons, including a new Chinese-made laser-guided glide bomb with a range of more than 20 kms.
Expected to fly by late 2003, the aircraft will be equipped with an EL/M-2032 fire-control radar supplied by Israel Aircraft Industries' Elta business unit along with four Russian RD-93 turbofan engines.
To improve the FC-1's flying performance, CAIG has developed a new generation dual redundant longitudinal fly-by-wire system.
The FC-1 programme has also benefited from consultation work conducted by Russia's Mikoyan Design Bureau under a $500,000 contract from CAIG.
The Chinese air force intends to field a mixed fleet of Su-27SK/Su-30MKK, J-10A (F-10) and FC-1 fighters to meet its requirements, the weekly said.
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