Pakistan to receive first batch of JF-17 thunder aircraft next Year
By Maria A Khan 'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent

CHENGDU (China): The Pakistan Air Force will receive the delivery of first batch of JF-17 thunder aircraft sometime next year, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed said.

Talking to media here Wednesday after the success of first maiden operational test flight of PT-4 aircraft, he said the Air Force plans to induct more than 100 Fighters (JF-17) Thunders, jointly produced by China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra.

Lauding the efficient performance of the prototype-4 aircraft, he said it will be equipped will 'state-of-the-art' avionics, radar and weapons integration systems. Small batch production of the single-seat, single-engine JF-17, will begin in China next month.

Pakistan and China had been negotiating with different companies inviting them to buy the avionics package for the JF-17 aircraft. It would be economic model. The Air Chief said there is no aircraft in the world which has such good value for money.

The exact price cannot be determined at this stage, but he said he was sure the aircraft will be almost nearly half of the price of any other fighter aircraft. And capability-wise, it would be better than some of the most modern aircraft in the world.

Answering a question, he said, " We are confident that many Air Forces in the world will prefer to buy it, when it will go on mass production."

About PT-4 combat aircraft, he said the project is a important milestone in development of aircraft industry in the two countries. It carried the new and modified airframe. Minor changes we might have to do after testing the aircraft, he said adding “ Now we have final shape of JF-17 (thunder) and it is hoped that this particular aircraft will get into production."

Commenting on the depth of Sino-Pak relationship, he said it proved time-tested over the years in various sectors, including the Defence production sector. “ These relationships are based on mutual trust, faith and friendship. JF-17 programme has provided a big incentive to this relationship.

He hoped that collaboration between the two countries enjoy would give more strength to their aviation industry. “ We are discussing some other projects with our Chinese counterparts."

The success of the JF-17 thunder joint programme will usher a new era of strategic partnership between the two friendly countries in the aviation sector. He termed the success of the PT-4 maiden flight a big achievement in the aviation history in the recent years.

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