ASIA PACIFIC
Date Posted: 15-Apr-2011
Defence Weekly
China-Pakistan co-operate in first joint exercise
Farhan Bokhari Correspondent - Islamabad
China and Pakistan conducted their first-ever joint air exercise in March 2011 in the first overseas deployment of a People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) contingent.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said in a brief announcement: "A contingent of Chinese PLA Air Force comprising combat aircraft, pilots and technicians arrived at an operational base of the Pakistan Air Force". The exercise 'Shaheen-1' was not open to the media and the location and type of aircraft participating was not released. It is believed that PLAAF J-10 aircraft flew alongside Pakistan's JF-17 'Thunder' fighters, built with Chinese co-operation.
A senior Pakistani government official told that "this exercise is an important stepping stone for our two air forces to co-operate more closely than in the past. The PLA Air Force-PAF relationship has been mainly built on China supplying aircraft to Pakistan, but now we want to get closer on operational matters".
"A deployment to gain from each other's operational and professional experience is in fact a big step forward between China and Pakistan", a Western defence official based in Islamabad said on condition of anonymity.
In addition to the JF-17, the PAF has confirmed its interest in buying up to two squadrons of China's J-10 fighter, but these hopes have been constrained by its financial situation. Pakistan is also in the process of receiving four Chinese ZDK-03 airborne early warning and control aircraft.
Pakistan JF-17s are believed to have conducted an exercise with PLAAF J-10 fighters in March 2011. (IHS /Patrick Allen)