AFP/Internews

Karachi

 

The head of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) said yesterday that Pakistan had introduced 50 home-assembled multi-role JF-17 Thunder fight jets into its air force.

Air Marshal Javed Ahmed, chief of the state-owned Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), said the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had already received 50 of the home-made aircraft and that the supply of the second block would start this month.

“The five aircraft of the next block would be inducted (into PAF) this year,” Air Marshal Javed Ahmed, told AFP on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition And Seminars (IDEAS) in Karachi, an arms fair that brings together dealers from all over the world.

Pakistan has been manufacturing the JF-17 aircraft since 2009 with the help of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation of China (CACC).

“JF-17 is a modern aircraft, it fulfils all the needs of PAF, it is affordable, the cockpit is very user friendly, all beyond visual range attack capabilities as well as stand of deliveries are available at this aircraft,” Ahmed said.

Pakistan’s defence budget sucks up about 20% of its national income annually, leaving a meagre share for education and health facilities.

Pakistani ordnance factories have recently been making attempts to develop arms to meet domestic needs, as well as seeking to tap into the export market.

“A lot of international customers from developing countries have shown interest in the aircraft and we are in active negotiations with many countries,” the PAC chief said.

First-time participant Russia will also be contributing to the fair.

Around 333 defence equipment makers are participating in the eighth edition of IDEAS, including 77 Pakistani firms, said Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) Media Director Commodore Tahir Javed.

“Eighty-eight delegations, including 30 headed by high level officials including defence ministers, joint chiefs and services chiefs, have confirmed participation,” he said in a news briefing ahead of the formal inauguration.

The four-day exhibition will take place side by side a seminar where military and civilian security experts will read papers focusing on terrorism related challenges faced by many countries.

“We are more than satisfied by the response from every participating region,” Commodore Javed said.

Pakistan will feature its usual heavy weaponry including Al-Khalid tank, JF Thunder fighter aircraft and a broad range of assault and communication equipment.

DEPO Director Co-ordination Brigadier Mazhar Mumtaz said the success of the exhibition should not be judged from the variety and kind of weapons and equipment put on sale by Pakistan.

“Our purpose was to engage different countries and we have succeeded in doing that. As far as the equipment is concerned, the question remains who can compete on both quality and cost.”