ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Chairman Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Air Marshal Javaid Ahmed on Wednesday informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence Production that the complex had achieved a milestone in the country’s aviation history by endogenously manufacturing 16 fighter jets (JF-17 Thunder) during 2015.
He said that the production and manufacturing of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets would be enhanced to 20 per year from the next year.
As many as 66 JF-17 Thunder planes have been included in the Air Force fleet, he added.
He also said that the complex had also recovered the SAAB-2000 Aircraft which was damaged during terrorist’s attack on Kamra Air Base and save huge national exchequer by repairing it in the Aeronautical complex.
The NA body met here under the chairmanship of Khawaja Sohail Mansoor while Syed Muhammad Ashiq Hussain Shah, Muhammad Khan Daha, Ms. Asiya Nasir, Sardar Muhammad Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa, Ms. Amra Khan, Ms. Iffat Liaqat and Chaudhry Hamid Hameed were also present in the meeting.
While briefing the committee members, the Chairman PAC said that PAC delivered the first JF-17 aircraft to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in 2009 and produced 50 Block-I aircraft by Dec 2013 after which the production of Block-II was started.
The JF-17 is an advanced, light-weight, all-weather, multi-role fighter aircraft and it has state-of-the-art avionics and its capability to employ latest weapons gives it an edge over other fighter Co-produced by China and Pakistan, aircraft in the same category, he added.
He said that Pakistan has been actively trying to find international buyers of the aircraft.
He said that negotiations with a couple of developing countries for export of JF-17 were progressing.
Chairman Committee Sohail Mansoor expressed the hope that Pakistan Aeronautical Complex would be able to achieve the target of 20 to 24 aircraft per year.
“I will appreciate the vital role played by our time-tested Chinese friends for the success of JF-17 program. Their support at PAC Kamra and in so many other projects is cherished and highly valued by every Pakistani,” he said.
The Chairman PAC also announced that to achieve the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) technology for the JF-17 Thunder and returned the possession of the first ever JF-17 aircraft to PAF after carrying out necessary MRO of Thunder.
He said PAF had achieved the set goals for the preparedness and would replace its ageing fleet with the modern JF-17s.
“The replacement program would continue till 2020,” he said.
Answering a question he said negotiations were in hand for the sale of country’s sophisticated multi-role combat aircraft with friendly nations around the globe.
Source: APP
