Officials from Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) has once again reiterated the first expor...
Officials from Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) has once again reiterated the first export order for the JF-17 fighter jet during the concluded Dubai Airshow.
The unidentified export customer was first announced during the 2015 Paris Airshow.
The officials said the several potential customers are evaluating the JF-17 fighter and an upgraded version is expected to score more export order.
Myanmar has been speculated to be the export customer, according to media reports.
The JF-17 is a third generation single engined single seat multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed and manufactured by China and Pakistan. Majority of design work was carried out by China.
Currently operated only by Pakistan Air Force, the low cost fighter providing decent capabilities, is designed to replace second generation fighter jets.
A Block 2 version of JF-17 is being developed, featuring advanced capabilities, such as air-to-air refueling, data link and electronic warfare, along with new guided weapons.
According to PAF Air Vice Marshal Arshad Malik, PAF operates 60 of theses jets and intends to procure 40 more, which are expected to join service by end of 2016.
A two-seat trainer version, with the same combat capability is also being developed, whose maiden flight is targeted for 2016.
AVIC says it anticipates an market for 300 of the type.
The all weather fighter was initially designed for air-to-air combat missions and has since then improved its ground attack capability.
Powered by a Russian RD-93 turbofan engine, a variant of the RD-33 that powers the MiG-29, the JF-17 can carry a payload of 3400 kg in its seven weapon stations.
Even though the fighter was first delivered to PAF in 2009, it is yet to make a combat debut. Early Block 1 variants were pure single role fighters.
A Block 3 version in future will feature an Chinese active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that is being developed by the Nanjing Research of Electronic Technology (NRIST), along with helmet-mounted display and a possible internal infrared search and tracking (IRST) system.
