Posted on 12/07/2014 2:26:48 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
A revamped version of JF-17 jet fighter took centre stage at 8th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) in Karachi this week as the country looks to boost its role as a military exporter on the world stage.
Pakistan’s military has long been a major importer of defence equipment, particularly from key ally China.
But the country is hoping the updated JF-17, conceived and initially developed with the help of China, along with Pakistani-made tanks and surveillance drones, will help grow military exports and bring in much-needed foreign exchange revenue.
The country’s forex reserves are slowly recovering after falling to just $3 billion in November 2013, from nearly $15 billion in 2011.
But the economy is still shackled by a long-running energy crisis and growth remains sluggish, predicted at 4.3 percent this financial year.
The new JF-17, which is manufactured at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) just west of Islamabad, was among the key exhibits at the four-day event.
The plane will initially be handed over to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which is currently carrying out air strikes against militants in North Waziristan.
“We will hand over 16 Block-II JF-17s to the PAF every year,” said Air Marshal Javaid Ahmad.
He said the first five would be delivered this month and the plant has the capacity to produce 25 aircraft per year.
The air force started using the first edition of the JF-17 in 2010, having historically relied on US imports during wars.
It has deployed F-16s in recent attacks on insurgents in the tribal regions that border Afghanistan, but not its own home-made fighters.
After the Cold War ended Pakistan began to deepen defence and economic ties with ally China, culminating in the test flight of the jet’s prototype in Chengdu in 2003.
(Excerpt) Read more at tribune.com.pk ...
Anything built by a moslem nation is suspicious and without credit due to lack of superior workmanship...they can’t even build AK-47’s correctly - the concept of a rifled barrel beyond their capacity of understanding...
From the end of the article...
“And Pakistan-produced aircraft have not been without their problems.
Two Mushshak trainer planes, which Pakistan manufactures and exports, mainly to the Gulf, have crashed this year in routine missions.
Two pilots were killed in the first incident in April while two were injured in the second in September.”
How far down the food chain do you have to be to buy Paki knockoffs of Chinese knockoffs?
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