a
World Aviation Defense & Security News - Pakistan
 
 
New batch of 16 JF-17 Thunder fighters inducted in Pakistan Air Force
 
A fresh batch of 16 upgraded JF-17 Thunder aircraft, jointly developed by China and Pakistan, was yesterday inducted into the Pakistan Air Force. The command flag of the fighter and surveillance aircraft was handed over to Squadron-II of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) by the country's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra.
     
New batch of 16 JF 17 Thunder fighters inducted in Pakistan Air Force 640 001Pakistan Air Force inducted 16 new JF-17 Thunder fighter jets yesterday
     
The PAF completed its target of producing 16 JF-17 Thunder aircraft for the year 2015 and the ceremony today marked their induction into the force. The upgraded models which were added to the PAF fleet today have advanced avionics, air-to-air refueling capability, data link, enhanced electronic warfare capability and enhanced load carrying ability.

Pakistan's Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman said the addition of the JF-17 aircraft built at Kamra airbase with the support of China would strengthen the tactical and surveillance capabilities of the PAF.

He said PAF is well prepared to fight any threat against the state. The PAF has been assisting the ground troops in operation Zarb-e-Azb as well, Mr Aman said. Mr Aman also expressed Pakistan's resolve to produce up to 24 jets in 2016.

The PAC JF-17 Thunder is a light-weight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the Pakistan Air Force, the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAC) of China.

The JF-17 is powered by a single Russian RD-93 turbofan engine, which is a variant of the RD-33 engine used on the Mig-29 fighter.

 

,