Pakistan
Air Force is participating in Dubai Air Show-2011, which was inaugurated
by Prime Minister of UAE, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Rashid Al-Makhtum, on Sunday.
Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan
Air Force also attended the inaugural ceremony along with a large number
of delegations from different countries including Air Chiefs of a number
of Air Forces, said a press release. Later, the Air Chief also addressed
the press conference regarding the participation of PAF in Air show. JF-17
Thunder, K-8 and Super Mashak aircraft of Pakistan Air Force along with
the PAF contingent comprising PAF pilots and technicians are participating
in Dubai Air Show 2011.
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The impressive JF-17 (Thunder) jointly co-developed
(by PAF & CATIC), and co-produced by PAC (Pakistan Aeronautical
Complex) and CATIC (China Aero-technology Import Export Corporation)
has been put up for static as well as aerial display in the Air Show.
JF-17 made its debut at Farnborough Air Show in 2010, when two JF-17s
flew all the way from Pakistan to Farnborough, UK. At Farnborough, the
aircraft attracted intense focus of visitors and international media.
Four months later in November 10, three JF-17s flew over to China to
participate in Zhuhai Air Show, where the aircraft made its first ever
aerobatics display. In June 11, three JF-17s participated in aerobatics
and static display in 100-years Celebrations of Turkish Air Force.
At present, JF-17 aircraft stands prominent in its own class of fighters.
In the present environment, when defence budgets are shrinking and Air
Forces face difficulties in affording modern combat aircraft, JF-17
offers a highly cost effective solution with cutting edge capabilities.
In the shape of JF-17 aircraft, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and CATIC
offer a cost- effective, highly potent, multi-role combat aircraft which
is capable of meeting the challenges of present and future Air Power
employment.
The JF-17 Thunder is an all weather, multi-role, light combat aircraft
that has the potential to be the main stay & work horse of any Air
Force. The design of JF-17 aircraft is based on modern concepts of aerodynamics.
The aircraft is equipped with a digital fly-by-wire flight control system
that gives it the agility in all regimes of the operational flight envelope.
The JF-17 has a complete glass cockpit, excellent man-machine interface
and modern self-protection suite, which enhance combat potential and
survivability of the aircraft.
The JF-17 is equipped with fourth generation avionics systems, wide
range of conventional and smart weapons, long range glide bombs, Beyond
Visual Range & short range Air-to-Air missiles, Anti-Ship missile
and Air-to-Surface missiles.
The aircraft requires remarkably short lengths of runway for take-off
& landing, which offers flexibility of aircraft operations at short
air strips.
Shortly, the aircraft will also have Air-to-Air refuelling capability,
which will further enhance its combat potential and employment options.
Pakistan Air Force has inducted JF-17 in its fleet and with the co-production
in full swing the aircraft are rolling out from Pakistan Aeronautical
Complex (PAC) Kamra.
The JF-17 Programme has been a success story since its inception in
1998. Developmental work on the aircraft commenced in the year-1999
and detailed design was finalized in September, 2001.
After flight testing, a Small Batch of 08 aircraft was produced in year-2007
and finally serial co-production of the aircraft started in Pakistan
in the Year-2009. So far PAF’s two Squadrons have been equipped
with JF-17s,while the third is planned to be raised by beginning next
year.
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