So whos manufacturing these core load-bearing components for future orders if the only team existent in China is at CATIC and at project office level and coordinating only with suppliers of components (presumably things like electronic, electrical and hydraulic components)?
At the business level, Factory 132 is also one of CATIC's suppliers.
PAF placed an order with PAC for the purchase of JF-17B3 aircraft.
PAC breaks down the order, manufactures some of the components itself, and places purchase orders for the remaining parts with CATIC.
CATIC broke down PAC's purchase order and placed separate purchase orders with different suppliers. For example, Factory 132 produces load-bearing structural parts, CETC produces radars, and the Air-to-Air Missile Institute produces PL-15E missiles, etc.
Factory 132 then placed purchase orders with raw material suppliers. The raw materials are then forged into JF-17 load-bearing structural components.
CETC procures parts from different component suppliers and then assembles them into radars.
The Air-to-Air Missile Institute procures parts from different component suppliers and then assembles them into PL-15E missiles.
Some items are delivered to PAC centrally by CATIC. Other items can be delivered directly to PAC by the suppliers, but CATIC remains responsible for the business aspects of the transaction.
This is a vast industrial system. However, in China, only CATIC has a direct business relationship with PAC.
Other suppliers may know that the end customer is PAC, or they may only know CATIC; some suppliers may not even know that the products they manufacture are ultimately used in the JF-17 fighter jet. They manufacture a wide variety of products in their daily operations and do not work exclusively on projects related to the JF-17 aircraft.
