In the next five to 10 years, 200 to 300 JF-17 Thunders, co-developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and Pakistan’s Air Force (PAF), are expected to be sold, Chinese state media reported on Thursday.
Yang Ying, President of China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), told a conference jointly held by China and Pakistan during the 51st International Paris Air and Space Show on June 15, reported People’s Daily.
The JF-17 Thunder is more cost-effective and its potential is unrivaled compared with other fighters at the same level, Marshal Arshad Malik, chief project director of JF-17 fighter project of Pakistan Air Force said at the conference. To date, Pakistan Air Force has established three JF-17 fighter squadrons and plans to equip them with 250 -275 JF-17 fighters in the next few years.
The JF-17 Thunder or FC-1 Xiaolong (Fierce Dragon) is a lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the PAC and AVIC. Three of them are being displayed at the show and will perform aerobatic displays.
China and Pakistan signed a cooperative deal to jointly develop the fighter in 1998. It made its successful maiden flight in 2003. In March 2007, the first batch of JF-17 Thunders was delivered to Pakistan.
