Pakistan begins production of jet fighter developed with China

Jan 22, 2008, 12:53 GMT

Islamabad - Pakistan on Tuesday began production of a multi- role jet fighter it has developed jointly with China, the air force said.

The production line was inaugurated by Pakistan Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mahmood Ahmed, at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra.

The assembly, painting and flight tests will be held in Pakistan, while all the remaining stages will be completed in China, the air chief said.

Twenty-five warplanes will be manufactured over the next three years and from 2010 production will be raised to an industrial level.

The single-seat JF-17, known as Fighter China-1 (FC-1) Fierce Dragon in China, was previously being manufactured by the Chinese Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation.

Its maiden flight took place in 2003 and Pakistan received the first pair of JF-17s in 2007. The aircraft will replace Chinese-made F-7 and Mirage fighters in the fleet of Pakistan's Air Force. Each aircraft costs an estimated 15-20 million US dollars.

In order to strengthen its air power, Pakistan has recently signed a multi-billion dollar deal with the United States to acquire 18 new F-16s fighters as well as unspecified number of upgraded second-hand F-16s.