JF-17 Thunder to jolt international aviation market

 Three JF-17 Fighter planes are participating in this air show. One of these has been put on display for general public as well as for prospective buyers while other are performing aerobatics.
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Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), said on Tuesday that Pakistan-China joint production JF-17 Thunder fighter jet brought prospects in the international aviation market. “It has many added features which make it much more attractive than any other fighter aircraft of its category,” said the air chief.
“A low price tag and much less maintenance and operational cost compared to the other planes of its class make it attractive for the buyers,” he said while talking to the media after attending the 8th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition that would continue here at China’s southern coastal city neighboring Macau, till November 21.
During the six-day exhibition, 35 countries and regions are participating.
Chinese Vice PM Zhang Dejiang was the Chief Guest at the show. Former Prime Minister Li Peng and PLA Air Chief and senior party leaders were also present on this occasion.
Pakistan, having the second biggest fleet of aircraft after host China, is participating for the first time in this exhibition. As many as ten K-8 trainer aircraft and three JF-17 fighters are taking part in the show that demonstrates the all-weather and time-tested friendship between the two countries.
While talking about the plane, the air chief commented that it has all state-of-the-art features. He particularly mentioned its supreme avionics essential for a modern combat aircraft.
“There is likely to be big demand of this type of aircraft in the international market, as it meets all the requirements that are needed by a modern air force, at a very affordable price,” he said.
To a question regarding boosting the cooperation between Pakistan Air Force and China, Rao Suleman said the two brotherly neighboring countries had a long history of cooperation in all fields particularly defence.
He expressed the confidence that with the passage of time these bonds of friendsip would further consolidate.
App adds: Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Masood Khan said this air show has epitomised Pakistan-China relations. “Today is a great day for both Pakistan and China”, he said. JF-17’s demonstration was spectacular as well as professional, he added.
“Three JF-17 fighter planes are participating in this air show. One of these has been put on display for general public as well as for prospective buyers while others are performing aerobatics.”
Another manifestation of this friendship was that immediately after the-state-of-art J-10 aerobatics by PLA Air Force, PAF pilots were invited to demonstrate their aerobatic skills on the JF-17 Thunder.
As the single-seat, fighter plane appeared for the first time in the Chinese skies, the pilot stunned thousands of spectators with a spectacular show of aerobatics that lasted for nearly ten minutes.
Another attraction of the day was the formation aerobatic show by PAF Sherdils, on China made K-8 trainer aircraft, which also mesmerized the audience.
Replying to a question, the Sherdil pilots regarded K-8 planes as stable, fuel efficient and fitted with best performing turbo engine.
With an exhibition area approaching 23,000 square meters, the show has attracted about 600 exhibitors and is showcasing nearly 70 commercial and military aircraft of different models.
To mark the importance of this event, the Air Force of People’s Liberation Army of China also put on display a series of aircraft which participated in the 60th National Day Parade on October 1, 2009.

Pak, China to launch satellite next year

Pakistan is closely collaborating with China for launching a joint space communication satellite next year.
“It will be a milestone in Pak-China friendship and bring immense economic benefits to Pakistan,” said Ambassador Masood Khan while addressing the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) on Wednesday. The agreement to set up the joint satellite communication project called Pasksat-1R was signed in 2008 and witnessed was by President Asif Ali Zardari and his Chinese counterpart President Hu Jintao.
Established in 1980, CGWIC is the sole commercial organization authorized by the Chinese government to provide satellites, commercial launch services and to carry out international space cooperation. The CGWIC is actively involved in the international marketing of products and services utilizing space technology and provides high quality products and specialized services in diversified fields.
While felicitating the CGWC on its 30th anniversary, Ambassador Khan congratulated China over the launch of its second lunar orbiter Chang’e 2 earlier this month. He also extended heartiest felicitations to China National Space Administration and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Recalling the launch of China’s first satellite Shen Zhou Qihao in September 2008, the Ambassador said that with its launch whole China seemed to have soared into space. He regarded it a true revolution of expectations and achievements. He said it has been a privilege for Pakistan to be associated with the GWIC.
The Ambassador paid special tribute to the hardworking and visionary leadership of the CASC and CGWIC over their successes. He specially complimented the work of China’s outstanding space scientists and CGWIC for internationalized development of space technologies. Dilating on the recent flood devastation in Pakistan, he said, the country has passed through one of the most difficult periods in its history. “At this difficult hour, the Government and people of China stood by Pakistan. CGWIC is one of those friends who stepped forward to assist us in our relief and recovery effort,” Mr Khan observed.
He expressed deepest appreciation and most profound gratitude of the Government and the people of Pakistan to CGWIC for its financial contribution of RMB 500,000 to Pakistan’s relief effor the said. As China prepares to launch Shenzhou Bahao, and to develop Mars exploration technologies for starting a joint mission with Russia in 2011, Mr Masood Khan expressed the aspiration that one day a Pakistani astronaut will travel aboard Shenzhou.
“We always say that Pakistan-China relations are deeper than oceans and higher than mountains. On the day a Pakistani astronaut boards Shenzhou we would say our friendship is as vast as the space itself,” he said.

Pakistan celebrates its 63rd Independence Day

The people of Pakistan`s 63rd Independence Day with great passion and renews commitment to make Pakistan one of the best countries in the world.With the dawn of the day, people from across Pakistan will hold special prayers in Masajids and will be praying for the prosperity of the country and victory against all illnesses of the nation.The celebration will the Flag Hosting ceremony at The PM House.Similar events will also be held in all 4 provincial Capitals,Muzaffarabad and Gilgit-Baltistan. 


While keeping alive the previous traditions, all the important government and private buildings have been illuminated. The people from across the country have decorated their homes, shopping centres, offices, schools and other major buildings and also their vehicles with flags, banners and paintings of Quaid e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Mohammad Iqbal and many other leaders of the Pakistan movement.

Special in the celebrations of this year's Independence Day is, that the people from across the country will be participating in relief efforts and will be organising events at cities and towns level to collect donations and other valuables to be used in relief efforts for the flood affected people.

Due to worst natural disaster in Pakistan. The President House had cancelled all Independence Day events. The Presidential spokesman said that the money saved would be used in relief operation of the flood-affected people. The Presidential spokesman also mentioned that the President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari would be spending his whole day with the flood-affected people through out Pakistan. Responding to the ongoing crisis due to natural disaster in Pakistan, Pakistan Army had also cancelled all 14th August and 6th September celebrations. The ISPR handout said that the money saved by cancelling the ceremonies would be used in rescue operations. Already, there are more than 1,00,000 army men serving day and night in the rescue operation, through out the country.

However, people from across Pakistan stepped up their preparations last night. The enthusiasms amongst the women and children were worth mentioning. Streets and bazaars, through out Pakistan, witnessed the highest level of passion amongst them, who had washed-out billions of rupees to buy flags, badges, banners, Cds & DVDs of National songs. Even in the midnight, the roads and streets were remained busy, when the people came out to see illuminations on government and private buildings. Many of the shopkeepers, who were selling national flags, banners and other stuff, mentioned that they were gone out of stock and were unable to meet the public demands.

The Independence Day Celebration will continue till the end of the Day. Hundreds of Thousands of the people would be visiting flood-affected areas all over Pakistan in order to help those, who lost all their life achievements in flood.

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Pakistan Develop Stealth version of the JF-17 Thunder Block II‏

Although the JF-17 design was frozen after its 6th prototype, there was an informal understanding on further development of the block II stealthy version. Several designs of the stealthy JF-17 have since then been floated, like the one above. Now, there are reports coming of an MoU being officially signed between Pakistan and China to develop the much advanced block II version. The JF-17, despite seeing immense hindrance by India [and may be Russia now] is surprisingly seeing huge acceptance and appreciation from some very good Air forces of the world such as of Turkey and Egypt. In fact, there were also reports of India considering the JF-17 before 26/11.

The new JF-17 block II could be an indication of Pakistan’s approval for its next (5th) generation fighter and this comes because India has already agreed to “pay for” the PAK-FA Russian 5th generation fighter, aimed at countering the American F-22 Raptor. India is also on papers wooing an indigenous [?] 5th generation fighter called the MCA (Medium Combat aircraft) but with India’s LCA now entering its 4th decade of prototyping, this seems not likely before 2040, a time when 6th generation fighters would already be flying. The block II of JF-17 could see deployment before 2020. This is reported to be an entirely full-stealth aircraft. Congratulations to the nation.

China-Pak in MoU to Develop Variant on JF-17 Thunder

China and Pakistan have reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a stealth version of a light-weight fighter aircraft being jointly produced by them to match MiG-21 warplane, a work horse of the Indian Air Force.

JF-17 Thunder, also known as FC-1, being jointly built by Kamra-based Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Chengdu Aerospace Company (CAC) today made its first appearance at an international air show having flown in here after making refueling stops in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

The plane, which has been in development in one form or another since 1991, is a symbol of cooperation between China and Pakistan and the first assembled version brought out by the Kamra plant, delivered in November last year, according to ‘Show News,’ a special issue of defence journal Aviation Week for the Farnborough Air Show.

“The two (countries) have also reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a stealth variant of the JF-17 Thunder,” it said.

The journal said that Pakistan Air Force (PAK) is expected to acquire around 250 JF-17s, but this may be a split of 100 in the JF-17 configuration, being displayed at the air show here, and 150 of the stealth multi-role combat aircraft (MCRA) between 2015 and 2025.

A Russian-built Klimov RD-93 engine — a specialised single-engine fighter variant of the Mig 29’s RS-33 powerplant, powers the plane. The first prototype of the warplane flew in 2003 and the first two Chinese-made versions were handed over to the PAF in March 2007.

Show organisers said that the two JF-17 fighter planes would not fly as part of the air show. “The aircraft has not completed its full release to service in Pakistan,” the journal said, quoting a member of the flight control committee.

“Although that full release is only month away, the PAF is also today in what is for them new territory. Farnborough is their very first event of this kind ever,” it said.

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Pak China enters global fighter aircraft market through JF-17 Thunder

The JF-17 Thunder is classed as a multi - role fighter and can be loosely compared to the F-16.


As Pakistan surprised the global aviation community by displaying the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft at Farnborough Air show 2010, its partner in the aircraft’s development, Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAC) of China might be getting ready to laugh all the way to the bank. Thanks to Islamabad’s close relations with the Gulf states, notably Saudi Arabia, U.A.E and some other Islamic countries, there is a good chance the JF-17 may find an international buyer.
According to a senior source, Turkey and a range of Middle East and African states are interested in the fighters. The money from any sales will be steered into the country's air force.
The JF-17 has been jointly developed by CAC and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and is based on the Chinese Chengdu FC-1 Xiaolong, which like all Chinese fighters has its origins in Russia. The FC-1 is said to be a based on the SU-27 fighter.
The JF-17 Thunder is classed as a multi-role fighter and can be loosely compared to the F-16 or several other light and agile fighters in the world such as the Gripen.
The JF-17, though only on static display at Farnborough, has attracted considerable interest from the international aviation community.
Informed sources said the reason for exhibiting the fighter at Farnborough was to get the international vendor community interested to help in its future development and to make it compatible with existing air assets of some of the potential customer-countries.
About 50% of the on-board equipment and avionics for the fighter is manufactured in Pakistan at the Kamra plant, while the rest of the assembly parts come from China.
Pakistan has commenced serial production of the fighter and plans to build 250 of them for its own use. The JF-17 has its origins during the era when the U.S. denied Islamabad sale of F-16 fighters after Lockheed Martin obtained a contract but had to mothball the fighters following refusal of the U.S. government to give the go-ahead for delivery of the fighters to Pakistan.

Islamabad then went to China to seek co-production of the FC-1 in Pakistan with unique specs due to which it re-designated the fighter as JF-17.
However, key systems and sub-systems including the engine, avionics, weapons control systems and key airframe components are being imported from China.
The exact deal between Pakistan and China is not known but if exports happen, the latter should get a price for the components it has supplied.
However, some analysts contend that the JF-17 is merely an assembly job with the principal components brought to Pakistan in a semi-knocked-down condition.
An unnamed PAC official has been quoted by the Pakistani Dawn newspaper that Turkey and some countries of the Middle East and Africa were taking keen interest in acquisition of the aircraft.
The first squadron of JF-17 has already joined the fighter fleet and the second squadron will be inducted by the end of the year, the official is reported as saying.

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