Thunder Jet JF-17 production begins in Pakistan

Islamabad, Jan.22 : Pakistan and China have begun the co-production of the Thunder jet JF-17 at the Kamra Aeronautical Complex.

Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mehmood inaugurated the co-production facility at Kamra on Tuesday.

The JF-17 thunder jets can also be upgraded to carry conventional and non-conventional weapons.

The Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder, also known as the Fighter China-1 (FC-1) Fierce Dragon in China, is a single-seat multirole fighter aircraft.

The first two aircraft were delivered to the Pakistan Air Force in December 2007. The JF-17/FC-1 is designed to be a cost-effective plane which can meet the tactical and strategic needs of the Pakistani Air Force.

Till now, it has been manufactured by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation.

Its maiden flight took place on August 25, 2003. Its primary users are the Pakistan Air Force and the PLA Air Force. Four prototypes plu four have been delivered to Pakistan. Each aircraft costs an estimated 15-20 million American dollars.

ANI