PAF to induct 8 JF-17 Thunder aircraft by year-end: Air chief
KAMRA: The Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed on Tuesday said the PAF would induct eight JF-17 Thunder aircraft by the end of this year.
Addressing the launching ceremony for manufacturing of JF-17 Thunder sub-Assemblies, marking formal assembling of the fighter aircraft, at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC),
Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed said around 60 per cent of the frame of the aircraft and up to 80 per cent of the avionics to be fitted in the aircraft would be manufactured in the country by 2010.
He said the PAC had plans to make the JF-17 Thunder the world's first weapon system that will be able to carry all types of conventional weapons targeting from air to air, air to ground, air to sea and to pound from the air.
He said this state-of-the-art, multipurpose, light combat aircraft, would be a complete combination of fighter and a weapon system, which would also have optional capability to carry non-conventional weapons. He said the PAF would induct 150 aircraft in its inventory in the first phase, in accordance with the already signed agreement with the Chinese company, cooperating with Pakistan in assembling and manufacturing the aircraft.
"Still we will require some 100 aircraft, as
the PAC envisages to take the yearly assembly and manufacturing capability of the aircraft from at present eight aircraft to 15, then up to 25 by 2011," he said. Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed said: "All JF-17 Thunders will be produced in Pakistan as the PAC has achieved the capability to assemble, paint the frame and aircraft besides conducting flight tests."
He said on March 23, (Pakistan Day) the indigenously assembled aircraft would take part in the fly past, a routine feature of the Pakistan Day parade of PAF.
He said around 40 to 50 aircraft would have avionics of Chinese origin while in the next batch these would have indigenously developed avionics. He said in the next decade, the aircraft would be available for re-export through China and the share in the financial receipts would be paid to Pakistan.
After formal inauguration of the sub-assemblies of the aircraft, the air chief told media persons that the PAC in the next two years would achieve the capability to make the fighter a "warfare suite" that would match the needs of most of the countries in the sector.
He said the alphabets "J & F" included as title of the aircraft denoting "Joint Fighter" and "we will prove that this Joint Fighter is the best available in the market." He thanked the friendly country of China for extending all cooperation enabling Pakistan to achieve the cherished goal towards manufacturing of a fighter aircraft.
He said the JF-17 Thunder was a living example of Pakistan-China friendship and this will help further deepen the bonds existed between both the brotherly and friendly countries. Terming it a landmark achievement, he said it is not only a source of pride for Pakistan but also a measure of rare distinction for the country to have joined a selected group of nations having indigenous fighter aircraft production capability.
The project launched in 2000 has already made major strides, including first flight of prototype in August 2003, then in April 2004, and on May 10 2006 with fully integrated configurations.
PAF to induct 8 JF-17 Thunder aircraft by year-end: Air chief
