The meeting was informed that the aircraft would have an edge over its contemporary aircraft particularly Indian light-combat aircraft in terms of cost, early availability and supportability.

The JF-17 Thunder is a light weight, all-weather, multi-role fighter aircraft jointly developed by China and Pakistan. The aircraft has been designed for high performance at low cost.

JF-17 Thunder Pictures at DefenceTalk.com

The Committee headed by Sheikh Aftab Ahmad visited the PAC and was given detailed briefing about the ongoing projects being undertaken by the prestigious organisation in the defence production sector.

The Chairman PAC Air Marshal Khalid Chaudhry gave detailed briefing about the projects whereby informing that the PAC has set up the factory for initiating the serial production of JF-17 Thunder aircraft.

He said PAC has the capability to manufacture 75 % avionics and 58 % of airframe of the modern fighter aircraft.

About other project being carried out by PAC, he said PAC had been overhauling around 180 engines of various fighter jets and 60 aircraft a year. As during the last three years, since he joined as Chairman of PAC, around 160 aircraft and some 580 engines of the aircraft have been overhauled.

He also informed that the Mirage Rebuild Factory, which is a part of PAC has been rebuilding 35 years old version of the Mirage aircraft which were bought as scrap from various countries.

In the avionics sector he said state-of-the-art machinery recently imported from various developed countries has been installed to manufacture various gadgets for different versions of the aircraft in the inventory of Pakistan Airforce.