JF-17 Thunder: Operational Test Flight Successful
By Maria A Khan - 'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent

CHENGDU (China): The fourth prototype of JF-17 Thunder aircraft, equipped with exclusive avionics and weapons qualification systems, jointly manufactured by Pakistan and China completed its maiden test operational flight here Wednesday, proving its creditability to meet the needs of both the countries.

The 11 minutes flight at 1500 meters height with 500 kilometers speed per hour. It took off from People’s Liberation Air force base, Chengdu and landed back on the same runway, reporting perfect performance.

Chief of Pakistan Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed who was chief guest at the maiden flight ceremony congratulated the pilots, engineers and technicians of the two countries to make the JF-17 Thunder project successful.

The ceremony was attended by the top officials of Chinese Aviation Industry and relevant departments.

Incorporating advanced design and state-of-the-art technology, the plane demonstrated outstanding agility and performance parameters. It was a successful trial flight in which pilot of the one-seated aircraft completed all preset subjects and ended up a smooth landing.

The successful maiden flight proved the reliable performance of the aircraft and demonstrated that Pakistan and Chinese aviation industry have grown capable of developing a new aircraft.

Pakistan Air Force officials said that the aircraft has comprehensive combat capability of a third generation fighter. The plane is capable of carrying multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.

The combat aircraft is a cooperative project between the Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Group located in the southwest province of Sichuan and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra. The success of the test flight marks a significant step in the development of aviation industry of the two countries. Its mass production is possible.

Addressing the ceremony, Air Chief Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed said the success of JF-17 thunder joint programme will usher a new era of strategic partnership between the two friendly countries in the aviation field. He termed the success of the PT-4 maiden flight a big achievement in the aviation history in recent years.

He noted that trial flight has laid a solid foundation of further cooperation between the two countries to meet future challenges.

President China Aviation Industries Corporation Liu Guazhou in his address on the occasion said the JF-17 Thunder is key project of the Sino-Pak bilateral cooperation in the military field. The test flight has proved that engineers and technicians enjoys high capability of designing and manufacturing advanced highly-efficient combat aircraft, he added.

With advanced design and manufacturing technology, this export-oriented fighter plane is small, low in cost and suitable for modern warfare and demands of military fighters. While earlier prototypes have focused on operational flight capabilities, the fourth prototype was aimed at especially testing the weapons.

The plane is capable of carrying multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. Pakistan Air Force plans to induct more than 100 Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Aircrafts. Small batch production of the single-seat, single-engine JF-17, will begin in China in June and would be delivered to Pakistan next year.●