Pakistan

JF-17 fighter jets inducted in 26th Squadron of PAF

Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder Jet fighters have been designed in collaboration with China.

Express April 11, 2011

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Air Force spokesperson said on Monday that JF - 17 Thunder Jet fighters have been inducted into the PAF's 26th Squadron.

Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder Jet fighters have been designed in collaboration with China but have been manufactured indigenously.

The spokesperson said that the induction took place during a special ceremony at a PAF operational base.

Pakistan Air Force chief Rao Qamar Suleman made an address during the ceremony and thanked the Chinese government for its cooperation in preparing the jets.

He said Pakistan is in a state of war and the air force will do everything in its power to defend the nation.

He added the 26th Squadron previously had A5 Jet fighters only and that the JF-17 Jets will also be soon inducted in the 16th Squadron as well.

COMMENTS (60)

indian | 13 years ago | Reply The country which cant even make a car by itself forget about making fighter jet....... Jf 17 is( russian and chinese ) aircraft. jf 17 is derived from russian single engined cancelled aircraft (might be mig 33) which design was purchased by chinese and modified for selling it to countries which are seeking replacement for their old migs/mirage etc and chinese are also not interested in inductin this aicraft in their airforce. most imp thing is jf 17 uses russian RD-93 engines... So forget about pakistan involvment in making jf 17 they are just buying spare part and assembling them in their country. The only indigenously work pakistan can do is paint the aircraft..... :-D

Danish Abbs | 13 years ago | Reply @vivek ramana: Look Mr we try to build our own..ok..if with chine its ok..but every one know wht u do with the cooperation with Israel and CIA in Baluchistan though afghan border. as u told before our army spokesman we take just 15 minute ... ok just in 15 minute or i think may in 6 minutes u see the show ..the show of ur destruction..ok.

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Abu Abdullah | 13 years ago | Reply @ all indians A case of sour grapes perhaps?

saqib | 13 years ago | Reply @vivek ramana: brother india isnt either making anything indiginously... Every Su-27 every mig is produced under license from russia.As for your so called indiginous TEJAS/LCA aircraft...take this one from wikipedia.org "the fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system (FCS), multi-mode pulse-doppler radar, and afterburning turbofan engine.[14] Although India has had a policy of strictly limiting foreign participation in the LCA programme, these are the only major LCA systems on which the ADA has had to invite significant foreign technological assistance and consultancy." and FYI the link also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_Tejas happy now ? We do accept our crumbling economy but people in Pakistan are living a much better life.Although still its tough but not as worse as in india.

Kumbhakaran | 13 years ago | Reply @vivek ramana: Vannakkam, Thiru Ramanna, We your enemies (the Asuras ) have developed weapons to save ourselves from the hedgemony of the Sanatan Dharmis. We have always fought and outfought you with inferior equipment. This is our destiny. We will sacrifice everything to protect our inependence from a belligerent neighbour that is three times our size in area, 9 times our population and with a military machine that is five times our own. The JF-17 is a modest step in this direction. India's own inegenous fighter develpmnt has been none too glamorous from the HF-24 Marut ( which had weak engines) to LCA Tehas which had a disastrous record of failures and delays due to the flopped Kaveri engine development. Now the youe engieers are relying on American jet-engines with all the strings attached.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @SYED ADEEL HUSSAIN: Yes , perhaps , but better check with your Finance Minister, who at present is in states with Begging Bowl from IMF !! Its always nice to have toys , but they really are no good if you can not afford the JUICE to Run Them!!!!

SYED ADEEL HUSSAIN | 13 years ago | Reply This is great news! JF-17 armed with SD-10 BVR AAM's will give the IAF a run for its money Long live Pakistan!

Gear Head | 13 years ago | Reply I guess they've come a long way since the 1980s, when PAF pilots used to call Chinese planes "flying coffins."

Khaqan | 13 years ago | Reply You must see yourself, you are in the middle of nowhere if Khalistan, Kashmir, UP, Baihar and all those who wants to get freedom if they get it. You must ashamed on your india over the incident of Ahamadabad Babari Masjid Golden Tempil. You have been killing all kind of indian like Muslim Sikh Christians even your own Hindus whom you don't count human and also it is written in your holy Book that if you kill any animal Gods will punish you but if you kill Shoder there is no punishment. How cruel you are........ You even don't count them as human. How can you talk about Pakistan first see yourself. Some one from your side has talked about Our Beloved prophet (S.A.W.W) give him my massage that Annat Ram a former Hindu convert to Islam and we know him as Molana Ubaid Ullah you must read his Book Tohfa-tul-Hind then you will start vomiting when you will read about your gods and godes. My Religion stop me to use any bad word against any religion other wise i would have shown you what you are. Even your religion name was given by Muslims And now you are called Hindu.

Khaqan | 13 years ago | Reply The country like India is unable to blame Pakistan when they also depend on Russia. Your Su and Migh aircraft are the worse quality of Russian technology. China has great potential to make batter then Russia. In 1963 war China has proved there superiority over India. You beg from Russia and Israel and we supply our goods to our friend you are only taker and we are giver as well.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @Usman: Now whatever gives you this idea, that India may possibly be interested in Pakistan??? There is nothing in today's Pakistan, which India would want! In fact its a complete liablity, with its brain washed generation and non educated next one too !! Its not as if its a economically viable either, its frankly insolvent !!! If this was a company rather than a nation , one would have to shut it down!!!! it was different in 1971 in East Pakistan, there was a class of people who were cultured and receptive and victims of abuse so India had to act, there was also a matter of over 10 million odd refugees sheltering in India at the time too, so India acted and liberated them and not with the view of ruling them !!!!

Not at all happy anymore | 13 years ago | Reply The truth hurts, and Tribunes refusal to post my comment is proof of the pudding that no one can say ANY thing to army ..

Vinayak | 13 years ago | Reply @maynotmatter: Ditto. Need somethings like this happening in our neighbourhood to keep Indian engineers excited. @Usman: Tell me why will anybody want to swallow Pakistan as it is now. India has not swallowed Bhutan or Maldives, why will India swallow Pakistan of all countries.

Usman | 13 years ago | Reply @Stephen Jones: You are partially right, unfortunately, if we dont do this our neighbour will swallow us in no time.....do you honestly think pakistan can survive long without keeping up with india militarily? I hope india and pakistan resolve their differences soon....

Abhi | 13 years ago | Reply @vivek ramana: Yes they have contibuted i.e painting on the plane

maynotmatter | 13 years ago | Reply Congratulations to PAF, this is sleek looking plane. Hopefully best in it's class too. For anyone who is commenting against the technical achievement of Pakistani engineer I would just say dude get a life. Irrespective of Pakistan made it assembled it or stole it, they have a working model, in the end, in battlefield that is what will count. All the false pride that we make it "indigenous" is just crap, it is only make feel good element and holds no real value. Just that any country doesn't design and build aircraft on its own doesn't mean it doesn't have capability. It's entirely upto nation's strategic planning whether it wants to spend money on re-inventing wheel or just take what exists and improvise it. So any argument trying to demean Pakistani's effort in making their own aircraft is simply absurd and reflects insecurity. I am Indian and I don't feel threatened by Pakistan making it's own aircraft. I would rather take it as an healthy challenge for our engineers to deliver something better. of course I wish the challenge was more for something constructive rather than weapons and weapons delivery, but what the heck, bring it on :)

Qasim | 13 years ago | Reply Some of the comments about the aircraft are plain ridiculous. People claiming the JF-17 Thunder is an inferior or sub-sonic aircraft. Do some research on the web, the aircraft goes up to Mach 1.8, same speed as the new US F-35. While the JFT is not the best fighter out there, it is a very decent modern fighter that delivers alot of value at a very good price point. Chinese aeronautics tech has come a very long way, they're very prudent, they copy the best out there and try to learn from it. Their latest avionics hardware has even been making the US uneasy. And when the JFT went to the Farnborrough Airshow in Britain alot of western aviation experts were surprised by the aircraft. Some of their own analysts wrote that the aircraft literally stole the show, taking the show back to it's traditional experience when, during the Cold War, the show was a venue where remarkable and strange aircraft from the Far East would make a surprising appearance. And Pakistan's contribution should not be negated. Even as far back as the 60's Pakistan would be the driving force behind pushing the Chinese aviation industry to adopt some modern western design practices. For example, in the 60's when we inducted Chinese F-6 aircraft, we had them design "gondola tanks" that increased the range and area over which the aircraft could effectively operate. And later on, the Chinese PLA Air Force also adopted this on the F-6 aircraft they operated. On the JFT Project as well, a large team of Pakistani aeronautics engineers worked here, and that in some part resulted in this aircraft achieving a number of firsts in Chinese aeronautics history. It has highly unusual Diverterless Supersonic Intakes(DSI) that are typically found in 5th generation aircraft like the F-35 that is under development in the US. Of course the huge advancements the Chinese industry has made is also to be credited. And China is also introducing some of these things in their other indigenous aircraft project, the J-10. It's upgraded variant, the J-10B also incorporates DSI intakes, replacing the conventional ones it had before. And before the J-10B variant, the JFT had the most sophisticated MMI(Man Machine Interface) to be found in any Chinese aircraft. I don't intend to make China's contribution in this project seem smaller than it is, because China's part was overwhelmingly crucial. This aircraft would not have been made without China. Pakistan's lucky to have such a dependable all-weather ally which is willing to accomodate us like this. All I'm saying is, Pakistan also had some role in the project and it would be inaccurate to say that we are only assembling a Chinese aircraft. Pakistan has always had Chinese aircraft it's flown modified and given productive feedback on them and many of these changes have been subsequently added to the aircraft the Chinese Airforce flies as well, to the F-6 fuel tanks, F-7's list of 80 design changes, LET's design input, to even the J-10 which Pakistan evaluated a few years back and suggested improvements that have been incorporated in newer variants. And Pakistan is slated to induct an upgraded variant in a couple of years, called the FC-20.It is not without reason that Indians are jealous of the deep ties between Pakistan and China. Neither Russia nor their new buddy arms suppliers in the US accomodate them like China does for Pakistan. Oh and one more thing. We have an electricity crisis and education problems because of a highly corrupt leadership. Though we have a small education budget 60% of that remains unspent, because of bad governance. If we abandon our negligable ability to defend ourselves we will face the consequences in the bad geo-political neighborhood we live in. To our east we have a neighbor many times our size, which by it's very nature is a deceitful bully. It has had disputes and conflicts with every neighbor it has big or small, from China to Sri Lanka, to killing Bangladeshi Border Security men. And they have crossed our International Borders multiple times. So abandon your ability to defend, politicians will be able to buy some more farms and ranches somewhere in the West, and we will be abandoned to fend for ourselves without the means to do so.

crankthatskunk | 13 years ago | Reply @Kanishka: Fortunately for you and unfortunately for us Muslims our newspapers are so open minded liberals that they have published you’re highly inappropriate comments regarding our holy personalities, but it still published by this newspapers. I have written civilised comments on your newspapers and other sites for few years now, but not one single comment is ever published by your “Democratic” and “shinning” India. They don’t even publish if you write about the filth on Mumbai and other cities streets, or say millions live and die on footpaths in Mumbai the crown jewel of shinning India. Don’t worry we Pakistanis are used to your “Democracy”.

Sick of it....!!!!!!! | 13 years ago | Reply @Kanishka: Dont dare to indulge in blasphemy by attributing wrong things to our prophet....we are not disrespectful to our own and others prophets...otherwise we too can write such things about your Ram and Krishan and millions of other gods.......but our bringing up is a lot better than you......so we will not do such a stupid thing to get a "high" like you..... you are deplorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rafey | 13 years ago | Reply JF-17 Thunder awesome :) If you guys want more info, check out http://www.jf-17.com

annonymos | 13 years ago | Reply @Saeed: that was diwali night & we want you to see some lights (if u gt wt i mean)......nyways indeed u have large hrt & even larger mouths

Jigi | 13 years ago | Reply @Saeed: There are lots of Pakis posting in TOI. Maybe you said something that was abusive.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @Stephen Jones: They have left those priorities, of feeding and educating the masses to Allah !! That's the reason they are so many Madrassas, where the young are brainwashed reciting in foreign language, that they hardly know, and promise of reaching paradise and virgins awaiting them as Jihadis!!!!! Is it any wonder that Donar Nations are taking dim view of what this country says and does!! They have a priority in fooling the masses, in order to remain in power and Army has to show self importance in its role to abuse the budgets, which are not really viable in the current state of economy or fiscal policy!!!

Samir | 13 years ago | Reply @ Express tribune: KINDLY REMOVE Kanishka's: "Muhammad keh Gaye Ayesha sey...." comment! Sad you didnt consider it as offending!!! REMOVE IT

Ahmed Ilyas | 13 years ago | Reply If they cant shoot down drones which are killing Pakistani citizens then there is no point of having these machines...

zingo | 13 years ago | Reply Indian LCA is using an imported engine as well..kaveri engine has been in development for ages with no deployment....so let's look at things in a fair manner...

pardesi | 13 years ago | Reply @Ali Haider: Dear Mr Haider: If we start paying our dues this includes govt offices, local and provincial offices, development authorities, private subscribers including people like us and stop stealing electricity, regard this precious resource as national rather than personal than we all will get electricity. I am failing to remember that institutions like WAPDA, KESC have completed a single project which was on budget, time and free of corruption. At least PAF as an institution has given to this country a plane which is regarded as modern and provides us security. Has this been the spirit in the corrupt institutes like WAPDA or other similar companies where nepotism, corruption, malpractices and cronism runs riot than it would have been different story but we should not be expecting any electricity or any other amenities including water because of poorly run organizations like WAPDA and KESC. So campaign against companies holding you back and your progress back not against another institution which is trying to preserve our safety and independence. Campaign against corrupt WAPDA, KESC and the people who benefit from these companies. Campaign for break up of WAPDA which is holding Pakistan back from her progress.

abuyossef shukri | 13 years ago | Reply Comments of foreign national on this issue reflect the importance that people accord to Pakistan. Now aren't they concerned.

AK | 13 years ago | Reply No electricity, no infrastructure, no economy, no education, no health, no law and order but yes we have these jets and nuclear bombs for no use. Good going!!!!

Jeddy | 13 years ago | Reply An air force is only good as it has an regular supply of aircraft and there should be diversity. Maintaining them is expensive. Being able to keep the planes in the air for combat is vital.

Saad | 13 years ago | Reply I don't know why people like vivek write garbage on OUR websites, don't you have like your own websites to litter? I don't have anything against you but if you cant write anything good then you better not write anything at all. All you will always be is envious of Pakistan. I know I wont make much sense to your dull mind mind but read the following: "Pakistan Aeronautical Complex began manufacturing JF-17 sub-assemblies on 22 January 2008. Manufacture of parts had already begun at PAC in 2005." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JF-17#Production.2Cdeliveryandfurtherdevelopment Get a life and seriously If you cant write anything good (which you wont) you better shut your beak rather than spreading inaccurate information.

Abu Abdullah | 13 years ago | Reply @vivek ramana: A Case of Sour Grapes may be...

Mo | 13 years ago | Reply lol indias so caleld joint fighters with Russia are 80% russian funded and the missiles still fail.These fighter jets are made in Pakistan and can be sold to islamic armies all over the world

Ravi | 13 years ago | Reply @vivek ramana: Just because they are pakistanis dont disapprove everything........ See any sort of research and developement in any sector needs huge effort. This specially goes for aircraft manufacturing, since if a single part malfunctions it can bring down the whole of aircraft......... India kept doing the same for decades and i know how much effort it takes to even assemble the parts imported from other country with millitry precision . Especially in aircrafts where you dont get a second chance. Let their conflict with india end and such expertise will be very handy for their country and their economy....

ba ha | 13 years ago | Reply Yes we should be "pounding" enemy territory. But we owe money to the whole world so that is out of the question. any other suggestions sirgee@Aamer:

Qasim | 13 years ago | Reply Vivek atleast we are good at assembling parts to call them jets unlike indian engineerd MISSLES turning out to be nightmare!!

M.Asad | 13 years ago | Reply china won't give us technology.We and our media are fool.

omer | 13 years ago | Reply I ll say tht this jet is still under devlopment as the time progresses it will have better avoinics and as far as drones are considered they can b brought down wid a stinger. U dnt need a jet to do tht

FactCheck | 13 years ago | Reply @Grace: JF-17 is single engine subsonic (80-86.36 kN) toy in the world of Supersonic jet fighters. at speed of Mach 2. (Mach 1 = 332 m/s or 1195 km/hr or 717 miles/hour).

Tilsim | 13 years ago | Reply Our boys get their toys but ask the children who never got a chance to education or an economic future, how these beautiful flying machines will help them? Who is defending them and their dignity, against their miserable existance? When will we apply ourselves to our people, the way we apply ourselves to increasing our indebtedness and war preparedness?

naseer | 13 years ago | Reply @vivek ramana: Mr vivek ramana you make formula for the millions of hungry indians who sleep without food every night, and I live in New york I know how cheap indian people are, we sometime dont serve them because they count pennies before they pay us, then they talk to their relatives in india and say we are making thousands in salary in USA. Mr your country have more poverty and problems than Pakistan better solve them instead of getting jealous of somebodys success. I have lot of material for indians plz dont provoke us and shutup.

Stephen Jones | 13 years ago | Reply And yet you can't provide a descent education for all your children. Don't you think your country has got it priorities WRONG.

Kanishka | 13 years ago | Reply @Vivek... even India assembles most of its fighters using Russian/US parts...

saad | 13 years ago | Reply israel usa india must be shivering lol

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply As I recall you have had a squadron of JF – 17 operating for over a yr now - why is this news? I would hope that there are people in Pakistan who might argue that at a cost of $15 million each there are better alternatives to fighting the Taliban. This aircraft does not have the sophistication to put up a decent fight against modern infidel aircraft.

Humanity | 13 years ago | Reply Get set to eat more grass ...

TightDhoti | 13 years ago | Reply A terrorism killer?

Saeed | 13 years ago | Reply @Vivek...first of all you should thanks the pakistani's LARGE HEARTEDNESS as our news paper atleast published your rotten views..Today I have given a comment on TOI and they didnt bother to post it as it shows how afridi is true about you..secondlyy we take pride only in one thing and that is at any stage in the future we can close the .... hole of indiaa with our limited capabilites.what are you proud of renting a motor for you space rocket from Russia and then investing millions on it only to see it blow up in mid air hahahha...i think it was better if you would have invested this money for the 50 percent malnourished children in indiaaa...you are a true india showing you can not digest even an article showing some pakistani progress..

Khaqan | 13 years ago | Reply Good keep it up. We want to see Our own aircraft in PAF

sandy | 13 years ago | Reply @Vivek: Dont worry dude... its ok. There are several videos in youtube where paki reporters claim that they have "manufactured and exported" railway locomotives !!!! The truth is that forget loco, even for simple wagons/coaches the Rawalpindi factory imports parts and assemble them mostly from master china.. Whenever you see the word "manufactured" in pak news, replace it with "assembly", the newspapers get paid by ISI/Military to make a mountain of a mole of defence news.. surprising you didnt know that yet..

Aamer | 13 years ago | Reply Ah more jets to pound our own territory.

Roflcopter | 13 years ago | Reply @vivek ramana, lol jealous Indians are hilarious. Do you guys even have working jets?

Grace | 13 years ago | Reply Way to go PAF! - just goes to show that Pakistan can do whatever it sets its mind to doing.

ayesha | 13 years ago | Reply Will they hit drones??

Zain Ally | 13 years ago | Reply @Uzair Javaid: Typical PAF squadron has around 20 aircrafts.

vivek ramana | 13 years ago | Reply haha lol.. assembling the imported parts from china are not called as indigenously manufactured.... u can't even manufacture jet engines indigenously then how is ur media reporting like "designed in collaboration with China but have been manufactured indigenously " anyhow u people know how to make urself pride with a worst technology.. better try to make a formula to save ur tumbling economy..

Fahad Raza | 13 years ago | Reply Ain't this a Kooool jet!

Ali Haider | 13 years ago | Reply New fighters, wow. The public does not have electricity BUT we have new fighters.

Raqib Ali | 13 years ago | Reply That's great news. This project has developed technical capacities of thousands of Pakistani engineers. Thank you China!

Uzair Javaid | 13 years ago | Reply But how many? that is what's important

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