China delivers two JF-17 aircraft to PAF

Islamabad, Mar 12 (UNI) China has delivered two JF-17 (Thunder) aircraft to Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which will be displayed for the first time during the Joint Services Pakistan Day Parade on March 23.

Pakistan Air Chief Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad today inspected the two planes, which had arrived in Pakistan early this month.

Conceived in 1992, the JF-17 project was jointly undertaken and pursued by Pakistan and China until the first prototype carried out its maiden flight in August 2003.

The JF-17 Prototype 04 aircraft, with fully integrated configuration, made its successful maiden flight in Chengdu, China on May 10 last year taking the programme to a new height of success.

The aircraft is an advanced multi-role Light Combat Aircraft jointly invested and developed by the two countries. ''It is a key collaboration strategic project between two countries in the military field,'' an official statement said.

''The flight tests of prototype aircraft in China are moving forward smoothly,'' the statement said, adding that in order to speed up the development progress and facilitate maturity of JF-17s, two aircraft have arrived in Pakistan for further tests and flight evaluation by the PAF.

''The flight evaluation to be conducted by PAF will be of great help in improving the performance of aircraft and making the JF-17 aircraft more competitive and reliable,'' the statement added.

UNI