Islamabad (PTI): Pakistan will start the serial production of JF-17 'Thunder' warplane, jointly developed with China, by the end of this month, with the first indigenously produced combat jet set to take to the skies by end of the year.
"We will start production of this aircraft from the 30th of this month and Inshallah, the first made-in-Pakistan JF-17 aircraft will fly in Pakistan's airspace by the end of this year," Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said.
Addressing a graduation ceremony of a combat commanders' course held at an airbase in Sargodha on Saturday, Suleman said the programme for building the lightweight, all-weather, multi-role combat jet is on track.
Pakistan and China signed an agreement in March for the production of 42 JF-17 fighters, which are expected to form the backbone of Pakistani aerial combat fleet in coming years.
Though Pakistan is facing a severe financial crunch, the production of the jets is being started with the cooperation of the Chinese government. Pakistan has invested $600 million in the JF-17 project.
The Pakistan Air Force has so far received eight JF-17 jets from China that are being used for testing and evaluation. The PAF plans to raise its first squadron of JF-17 jets by the end of this year and it will be stationed at an airbase in Peshawar.
Pakistan's decision to begin indigenous production of the JF-17 comes at a time when the military is making extensive use of airpower in operations against the Taliban in the country's northwest.
Combat jets and gunship helicopters have been used to bombard militant hideouts in Swat valley and South Waziristan, the stronghold of local Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.
Air Chief Marshal Suleman said: "PAF has extensively flown against the militants in Swat as well as in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). 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 the Pakistan Army. We will continue our contribution towards our national security effort as long as it is required".
Air Chief Marshal Suleman noted that 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."
"We will start production of this aircraft from the 30th of this month and Inshallah, the first made-in-Pakistan JF-17 aircraft will fly in Pakistan's airspace by the end of this year," Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said.
Addressing a graduation ceremony of a combat commanders' course held at an airbase in Sargodha on Saturday, Suleman said the programme for building the lightweight, all-weather, multi-role combat jet is on track.
Pakistan and China signed an agreement in March for the production of 42 JF-17 fighters, which are expected to form the backbone of Pakistani aerial combat fleet in coming years.
Though Pakistan is facing a severe financial crunch, the production of the jets is being started with the cooperation of the Chinese government. Pakistan has invested $600 million in the JF-17 project.
The Pakistan Air Force has so far received eight JF-17 jets from China that are being used for testing and evaluation. The PAF plans to raise its first squadron of JF-17 jets by the end of this year and it will be stationed at an airbase in Peshawar.
Pakistan's decision to begin indigenous production of the JF-17 comes at a time when the military is making extensive use of airpower in operations against the Taliban in the country's northwest.
Combat jets and gunship helicopters have been used to bombard militant hideouts in Swat valley and South Waziristan, the stronghold of local Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.
Air Chief Marshal Suleman said: "PAF has extensively flown against the militants in Swat as well as in FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). 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 the Pakistan Army. We will continue our contribution towards our national security effort as long as it is required".
Air Chief Marshal Suleman noted that 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."
