Indigenous JF-17 Thunder aircrafts to start flying by year-end: PAF chief

[Neo]

Indigenous JF-17 Thunder aircrafts to start flying by year-end: PAF chief

Islamabad, June 28 (ANI): Pakistan’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, has said that indigenously made JF-17 Thunder fighter aircrafts would start flying by this year-end.

Speaking at a function at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base in Mushaf in Sargodha, Air Chief Marshal Suleman said the JF-17 Thunder programme is heading in the right direction, and the production of the jets would begin from June 30 .

“We will start production of this aircraft from 30th of this month and the first Pakistan-made JF-17 aircraft will fly in the country’s airspace by the end of this year,” The Dawn quoted Air Chief Marshal Suleman, as saying.

He said Pakistan is facing several challenges from within its borders and beyond, and thus its response to them should be looked in a broader perspective.

“The challenges, both internal and external, that confronts us today and our responses to these have to be viewed in the broader perspective of the changes that are shaping the geopolitical landscape of the world,” said Air Chief Marshal Suleman.

“Apart from the traditional hostile adversary, new frontiers of conflict have lately emerged for us in the West and from within. These developments pose a great deal of threat to our national security,” he added.

Commenting on the Swat military operation, Air Chief Marshal Suleman said the air force has been providing support to the troops on the ground, and it would continue to pound the extremists in future also.

“The PAF has extensively flown against militants in Swat and Fata and application of airpower has brought about tangible results. We will continue our contribution towards our national security effort,” he said. (ANI)

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Assembly line:

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Pre-production aircraft:

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Above Pictures are Courtesy BaburMissile, Saeed Khan & APP

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said that first Pakistan made JF-17 Thunder aircraft would fly in the country’s airspace by end of this year. He made this announcement while addressing the Graduation Ceremony of No 38 Combat Commanders’ Course which was held at Pakistan Air Force Base, Mushaf (Sargodha). In his address to the graduating Combat Commanders, he said, The JF-17 Thunder programme is on track. “We will start production of this aircraft from 30th of this month and Inshallah 1st Made in Pakistan JF-17 aircraft will fly in Pakistan's airspace by end of this year.” “PAF has extensively flown against the militants in Swat as well as in FATA. Application of airpower has brought about tangible results. This is a new type of warfare in which PAF has been participating for the first time during the last one year or so in support of Pakistan Army. We will continue our contribution towards our national security effort as long as it is required.” Referring to the challenges confronted the nation, he said ‘the challenges, both internal and external, that confront us today and our responses to these have to be viewed in the broader perspective of the changes that are shaping the geopolitical landscape of the world. Apart from the traditional hostile adversary, new frontiers of conflict have lately emerged for us in the West and from within. These developments pose a great deal of threat to our national security.” The Chief Guest awarded certificates and trophies to the graduating officers who underwent a strenuous and professionally demanding course. The Chief of the Air Staff Trophy for the best Combat Commander was awarded to Squadron Leader Haider Shahbaz Ali while Air Officer Commanding Air Defence Command Trophy for best Combat Controller was awarded to Squadron Leader Saquib Rehman. Earlier on his arrival, the Chief Guest was received by Air Commodore M Ashfaque Arain, Base Commander PAF Base, Mushaf. The ceremony was attended by Principal Staff Officers and field commanders of Pakistan Air Force.

UPDATE

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman inaugurated the final assembly work in a ceremony at Kamra. Top military and civilian officials of Pakistan and China attended, senior officers of Chinese company CATIC attended the ceremony. "The project was near to end in 1999 due to sanction imposed on Pakistan after the nuclear tests but in 2001 it was reviewed. The agreement in this respect could not be signed in 2007-08 due to unavailability of funds but Government of China arranged loans on soft installment and the role of CATIC Company in this respect is laudable", Qamar said. The project is supported by China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation for the Chinese side. Each individual aircraft is expected to have a fly-away cost of around US$8-15 million. On 22 January 2008, Pakistan started limited serial production of the aircraft at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra but on Tuesday full-fledged production of JF-17 has been started in PAC after completing testing and avionics evaluation. The JF-17 will replace Pakistan’s MiG-21-derived Chengdu F-7, Nanchang A-5 and Dassault Mirage III/Mirage V aircraft currently in service. JF-17 can be armed with up to 3,629 kg (8,000 lb) of air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance, as well as other equipment. Pakistan, Rao Qamar said, we have eight JF-17 thunders and soon PAF would complete its squadron of JF-17 jets. The project has two aims one is to ensure national security and second is to strengthen Pakistan Aviation Industry, he said. We would also sell JF-17 thunders to other countries, he said while lauding the role of China in development of PAF. He hoped that the technician of PAF would come out to the expectation of nation by introducing the new technology. No comprise would be made on country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Rao Qamar said. Speaking at the occasion, Vice President CATIC Lei Pay said today is a historic day because dream is going to materialize. At end of this year, assembling and flying testing of 6 JF-17 thunders would be completed, he said. We are facing several challenges but the Chinese Government would continue to collaborate with Pakistan, he said. The project would boost the Sino-Pak friendship, he said. Addressing the ceremony, Chairman PAC Air Marshal Farhat Hussain said total 40 JF-17 thunders would be prepared in Kamra. 12 JF-17 thunders would be prepared by 2010, 15 to 20 by 2011 and after 2010 all the JF-17 would be prepared in Pakistan, he said. 85 percent work with regard to purchase of weapons and parts of JF-17 thunders have been completed and we would be able to complete the project at stimulated time", he said.

[ajpirzada]

Updated at: 0050 PST, Sunday, November 08, 2009
BEIJING: The first state of the art JF-17 Thunder fighter plane produced in Kamra will roll out by the end of this month.

This was stated by Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Pakistan Air force in an interview on Saturday.

“This will start a new era in Pak-China relationship, and aviation industry”, said CAS while talking to source.

Rao Qamar Suleman is currently here to attend the 60th anniversary of founding of PLAAF.

“Both China as well as PAF are attaching lot of importance to this project”, CAS Rao Qamar said.

The JF-17 fighter aircraft will help to replace the existing fleet of PAF comprising F-7, A-5 and all Mirage planes, he added.

http://www.geo.tv/11-8-2009/52569.htm

[Munir]

Just to explain the potential of a light fighter...

JF17 has the option to get the GS-302 canon... And surely the anti tank versions will have it. GS-302 means 30mm twin barrel. It has a rate of 3000 rpm (vulcan 20 mm is double that rate). MV is 870 m/s. barrel life is 4000 rounds with max burst of 250 rounds. The weight is 105 kg with round weight of 390 gram. It is highly destructive against light and soft armoured targets in ranges between 800-1500 m.

So let us compare vulcan 20 with GS 30

Vulcan-GS
Max firing peed 6000-3000
Weight 112 (ex feed system 140-180 kg)-105
MV 1050 m/s- 870 m/s
weight round 100 gram- 390 gram

[Jihad]

Great news, can't wait to see them flying over our skies.
It's been a while, and with threats all around us, we need this baby more then ever.

[macrocks]

t's been a while, and with threats all around us, we need this baby more then ever.

What threats ???. Taliban need not be fought with these as they are not as capable and F-16 will remain the most potent Fighter with PAF.
As far as tackling IAF is concerned you guys better stop thinking about it and concentrate on enemy at home for the near future. And when you guys will be out of this crap then IAF will be inducting LCA block-II and MMRCA. Thus you guys may have got it for the price of a junk but unless the engine is changed to a more powerful version and thus the frame redesigned it is just a stop gap measure against any retaliation by IAF for any mumbai type attacks.

Regards

[Solid Beast]

Originally Posted by macrocks

What threats ???. Taliban need not be fought with these as they are not as capable and F-16 will remain the most potent Fighter with PAF.
As far as tackling IAF is concerned you guys better stop thinking about it and concentrate on enemy at home for the near future. And when you guys will be out of this crap then IAF will be inducting LCA block-II and MMRCA. Thus you guys may have got it for the price of a junk but unless the engine is changed to a more powerful version and thus the frame redesigned it is just a stop gap measure against any retaliation by IAF for any mumbai type attacks.

Regards

Pardon me if I come across abrasive, but what is your knowledge in this field, and can you please display some if you are going to say things like Taliban need not be fought with such equipment? They infact are more capable than any F-16 block 15 in inventory at the moment.

Second, as far as tackling IAF is concerned, PAF can never stop thinking about them, it's just imbecilic and only achieves positives for India. It's not like it is impossible to multi-task juggling India and extremists.

The current engine will only be used in the first batch of 50 and I wouldn't talk much shit about it considering there are much more shoddy inferior Russian engines being fielded by IAF as we speak. Air frame is also fine.