Many Chinese online commentators said that the selection of the JF-17 Thunder symbolizes the close relationship between the two nations. PHOTO: http://www.paf.gov.pk
BEIJING: Many countries around the world are keen on obtaining JF-17 Thunder fighter jet jointly developed by Pakistan and China, said a senior officer of the Pakistan Air Force on Sunday.
"We've been getting inquiries and expressions of interest for the JF-17 Thunder from many countries in the Middle East, Africa and from as far as South America," Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, told China Daily.
Pakistan has had the privilege of showcasing the fighter plane twice in China's International Airshow held bi-annually in Zhuhai.
The JF-17 Thunder or the FC-1 Fierce Dragon as it's known in China is a third-generation multipurpose combat jet co-developed by Aviation Industry Corp of China and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC).
PAC is in charge of manufacturing and maintaining the Pakistan Air Force's aircraft back home.
"During my foreign visits, almost everyone I met asked me about the plane and many countries said they want to join the project," Khan said.
The JF-17 is an "extremely capable aircraft" and its maneuverability and avionics are excellent, he added.
Air Vice-Marshal Javaid Ahmed, chief director of the JF-17 project, added to the assertion. "The JF-17 is one of our top lightweight fighters, comparable to any advanced aircraft in the Pakistan Air Force."
The Complex has already produced more than 40 JF-17s, he said adding that the collaborative project between China and Pakistan on the aircraft is still underway with technicians from both the countries focusing on upgrading the weapons and avionics.
Khan said the Pakistan Air Force may also take part in the development of other aircrafts in the future.
His remarks came shortly after six JF-17 Thunder fighter jets escorted the Boeing 747 with Premier Li Keqiang on board, who arrived in Pakistan for a two-day visit on Wednesday.
In a telephonic interview with China Daily, Wing Commander Ronald Afzal, leader of Pakistan Air Force's 16th Squadron said "It's a great honor for us that our JF-17s were selected to welcome Chinese Premier Li Keqiang."
"We had handpicked the best pilots in my squadron and trained intensively on escort formation at high altitudes as well as low altitudes one week before Prime Minister Li was to arrive," Afzal said.
"As its developers, we feel quite privileged to see our planes undertake such an honorable mission and believe that the Pakistan Air Force chose the JF-17 to welcome our premier partly because it has a lot of Chinese elements," said Yang Wei, the chief designer of the aircraft at the Aviation Industry Corp of China.
Yang's team will join hands with their Pakistani counterparts to develop future versions of the JF-17, gradually providing the aircraft with partial stealth and aerial refueling capabilities, he said.
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@sami: There may not be electricity for the civilians, true. But you can be sure, officers' houses are air conditioned and remain pleasantly COOL my friend. So also air bases all the time you know! They say Pakistani people are very resilient and can take up any hardship for their families, Zameen and Khuda. So stop complaining.
how can you meet the orders for JF-17when there is 20 hrs. powercut in a day??
The most important point to consider, is that the war does not depend on military strength and weapons. But, it only depends on the faith in God and loyalness with homeland. We have a lot examples. In 1965, how we shoted down 117 migs of Indian Air Force with our low class Sabres. Similliarly, JF 17 WILL ALSO RULE OVER SKY.
I am following all article from 2009. I can say that countries are Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Zimbabwe, Egypt and some middle east countries are intrested. Main reason is its low cost Maintenance. Jf-17 Bock-2 has aesa radar and stealthy. So many countries will try to see that part. Even China will consider.
@Raj: You have made a valid observation however we should wish our neighbor good luck to find prospective buyers from small countries which cannot be ruled out as China has decided to stop further production of these aircrafts.
@Enlightened: That other countries shown interest need not mean they are interested in buying these JF17 planes. Perhaps it migh be useful for as training jets or even to display in a museum TC. Or impress foreign dignitaries provided they can be bough at cut throt prices. China may even n'interet free' loans to buyer for the purpose of keepin production going or to show off. Ther is lots goes on behind the actual show. Buyers have to worry if parts at available etc. so I is not easy and buy something xpenive!
Dear All,
I am Pakistani, I am Indian, i only want peace. has any of the above educated elite cared for it ?
This is for both Pakistanis and Indians, all we see is today's China which is challenging U.S.A in almost all of the aspects but what we forgot is for many decades China was sitting very quietly ,working its way to the top. As School going kid 30 yrs back I still remember using very good quality Chinese fountain pens and from little fountain pens they have progressed to heavy engineering. I don't know what kind of genes we posses, we make much more noise and do very little like empty vessel make much noise . India is on path which china took 30 yrs back but Pakistan still has long way to go . Till then keep on making making noise Pakistanis and Indians ...btw start some kind of students and teachers exchange programmes with each other at least.
No interest in JF-17 at all. All we need is 24 hours of uninterrupted electricity for God's sake.
Some very valid points above re utilization of resources towards national problems of which electricity shortage and healthcare improvment are the front runners. But please we have to take into consideration the massive spend on defence budget (c. 75% annually) is finally showing some evidene of being consumed towards good use. Yes the tehnology may not be the latest however it has resulted in something tangeable coming out of our most well fed industry @ Shami...I admire your through knowledge and understand your point on the lack of Pakistani manufactured parts in use. However mate have you come across the phase "why re-invent the wheel?". Chinese themselves have mastered this art where they tend to source parts from across the globe and design engineer it effectively into their products. And in the west we can see that it is changing the image of Chinese brands that were in the past not trusted for reliability. Also if you lift the hood of any Audi or Mercedes-Benz (both hallmarks of German engineering) you will notice that very few of the parts would have been manufactured locally. In fact automotive factories in Western Europe are perfect examples of effiient assembly lines of parts from across the globe (saying that from first hand experience). The point I am trying to make is we need to back initiatives that will get revenue generated for our country. Yes there will be shortcomings along the way but it is all part of the continuous improvment process. In addition to the above why do we draw comparison with India every time? We need to assess ourselves by understanding where we are today in the defence sector as oppose to a decade ago and what steps are required to achieve the longterm vision?
Who said JF-17 is the 4th Generation.. At max is 2.5 generation. It
s got a manual Radar which is the technology of 1980s and not AESA.Even the Chinese are not using it. They are just building this junk for us. Our main fighter is the F-16, which is tried, tested, potent and proven. They are the ones which should stand ground against the SU-30.
@BetelQ8: We export them @ high price and import them @ cheap. Got the point Mr. Economist?
@indian: " The JF-17 Thunder or the FC-1 Fierce Dragon as it’s known in China is a third-generation multipurpose combat jet co-developed by Aviation Industry Corp of China and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). " The World is now on a track for Fifth Generation Aircrafts in various joint ventures. Why are you still stuck on Third Generation ? Kudos to the chinese :) It is a face saver. I would be much happy if Pakistan would have manufactured a Rail Engine / Dam or a Powerhouse. FYI " The Sukhoi + Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) is a fifth-generation fighter being developed by India and Russia."
China is grounding its entire JF-17 fleet including its higher versions because of its obsolete technology and reverting to SU-35 along with technology transfer from Russia. JF-17 Thunder beats all others in its price tag ie 20 million US dollars as compared to India's SU-30's 40 millions which is now being upgraded to SU-35 at HAL factory in India. However, SU-30 is far superior than JF-17 having twin engines, with speed mach 2.35 against 1.8, rate of climb 355m/s against 175, range up to 8000 km against 3000km of JF-17's. SU-30 has most maneuverability and excellent air to air performance matching with US F-18. No modern aircraft is made of all metal frame and devoid of carbon fiber composite but JF-17 is made of all metal frame which is the main reason for its low price tag and has much less life span. Notwithstanding its performance, if Pakistan is able to sell these aircrafts to other countries would earn them much needed foreign exchange which will be good for its faltering economy.
Interested in a third generation fighter? While whole world is going for 5th gen or atleast 4th gen fighters,which are these countries?Also China has not inducted single FC-17 in its own airforce or navy.
@Awan: There is no money, the PPP mafia mob have looted and bankrupted Pakistan.
@Zulfiqar: Zulfi you are also Zilch in Flying
@Deepak indian: And you can not produce even Onion and Potato to your requirement, and have to import from across the border. This is the real shame, if you can feel it.
You have to remember that our scientists and engineers are paid very low wages and have very scares budgets but yet they defy the odds. If we had the same resources and capital most western countries have then we would be ahead of all of them. Congrats on the JF-17, now step aside and let our power systems engineers take charge!.
@indian: Thanks.
Its good to have it, but can we divert that money to eradicate the simplest disease that is diverstating children - Polio
@AR: Why would I be frustrated? And what have my feelings got to do with orders for JF-17 by foreign militaries? If I could really influence the conduct of foreign armies just by feeling a little different I would be the most powerful man in the world.
@Haroon Malik: Your also know zilch about flying.
@ ET: Please update the image, which shows an old prototype of the JF-17.
Yet another indigenous product: after indigenous satellites, tanks, nuclear plants and Missiles +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Keep it up.
@Water Bottle: No I am just an Ordinary Civilian. Just join any Hobby flying enthusiast group in Pakistan and you will find many with tons of knowledge about this. Anyway If i would be an Army or Airforce officer then i might be failing in telling even the basics of any technology but will be excelling in telling the beer brands, hollywood flicks and rates of Plots in DHA and other housing schemes instead,
Just don know why these 1950s planes can be envy of others. How can such a backward country like China produce any advanced aircraft.
What about 5th generation electricity?feeling hot?
@Shaami: I can smell something burning. My regrets that you are not current on this Aircrafts Stats. BTW Martin & Baker seats are made in UK and not USA.
Awan .Pakistan has build so called fighter planes that good, well you can not build train engine in last 63 years of independence so shame .?? .
@Indian, Ever heard about FGFA?
@Indian Why do you feel compelled to masquerade as an Indian? Assuming for one second that Pakistan did play any significant role in building JF-17, there are zero reasons for an Indian to feel proud about it. Pride swells in one when his own country achieves something, not when a failed neighboring state makes dubious claims about building something that they clearly have no local research & technological base to support it.
Can Pakistan worry and do something about the law and order, economic condition and strengthening it's democratic institutions not be bothered by the might of military and it's propaganda machinery. Any news about the military power and it's toys and inventions will sure come at the cost of our liberties. We have been held hostage to this institution since 1947.
@indian: You are a Pakistani.
India is looking for good fighter jets. May be Rehman Malik can sell a thousand or two of JF17 to India.
@Shaami.....Seems you know too much about JF 17,its weaknesses & have also suggested its improvement plan. Why can't you start making improved version of JF17 & market it.Aside from Pakistan even the US might consider buying your aircraft.
@abdussamad: Your frustration is a proof that the news is right and many parties are interested to know about JF-17.
I bet no one expressed interest in this plane at all. It is all propaganda.
@Awan: For God's sake stop this nonsense of wasting your already meager resources on building war planes, rather divert all available resources on building nation by strengthening basic infrastructure like power generation, restoring law and order and creating job opportunities. You don't need JF 17 or F 16 on your dinning table. By the way what usefulness F 16 has brought to this nation which is far superior war machine compared to JF 17 except increased maintenance cost till it becomes obsolete and gone. And please understand, no other country included India would be a threat to us, they have more important and better things to do on their agenda.
@ Awan
You must be aware of the fact that JF-7 project was initiated during Nawaz Sharif's government. So it is wise to foresee that this project will get a new boost after Nawaz Sharif becomes Prime Minister... InshaAllah
As an indian i feel proud when i see pakistan developing an aircraft on its owm ofcourse with chinese help a little bit. Hats off to Pak engineers. In India we dont have such expertise so we'll keep buying military hardware fron US, Russia, UK, France, Israel among others.
There is a huge difference in locally developed and locally manufactured aircraft and in my view JF/17 is just a locally assembled fighter jet and nothing else. JF-17s engine has a Russian rejected RD-93 engine manufactured in China under license which cannot even reach speed of above 1.6 Mach and that too with huge trails of smoke to be detected everywhere with infrared signature device. Similarly all avionics are mostly European, Radar is age old Chinese KLJ-7, Missiles like sidewinder aim9L is American and even the Martin baker ejection seat is American. I think Pakistanis done a wonderful paint job to own that aircraft otherwise our country cannot take the credit of JF-17 other than assembling the parts produced in the outside world. Could anybody tell me the name of a single Part in JF-17 that is developed in Pakistan???
If Pakistan Airforce cannot do anything then atleast fit JF-17 with modern PESA ( Passive Electronic Scanned Array ) Radar, or AESA phased array systems as long gone are the days of mechanical steered radars like KLJ-7 in modern jets and PAF must learn the modern trades of Electronic steering in this regard.
Yep, so they said four years ago.
Its a good start folks. Keep learning through this experience of JF-17 and you will eventually get better at it. Haters gonna hate but whatever the quality of this aircraft is, it is bound to improve because that is how you learn!
A step in the right direction indeed.