The Pakistan Air Force's Karakorum Eagle 03 (KE-03) officially stood up with 4 Squadron in a ceremony at PAF Base Masroor on 26 February. Source: PAF
More than three years after receiving its first Karakorum Eagle 03 (KE-03) airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) No 4 Squadron officially stood up in a ceremony at PAF Base Masroor on 26 February.
The aircraft, developed by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), is based on a Shaanxi Y-8WG airframe and has been fitted with a rotodome. The PAF is the only operator of the ZDK-03, as it is designated in China.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PAF Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt.
"Induction of the Karakorum Eagle will revolutionise the PAF's operational concepts," ACM Butt said. "With its induction, PAF is transforming into a modern versatile and capability-based force."
The first aircraft was rolled out at Hanzhong, China, on 13 November 2010 and delivered to the PAF on 26 November 2011. Since then all four KE-03s have been ferried to their new base near Karachi, with the unit putting the aircraft through a lengthy test and evaluation phase that led to several minor upgrades of the original system.
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