Pakistan Jets (JF-17) Still Being Considered (by Srilanka)

[Areesh]

The Sri Lanka Air Force says it has not ruled out acquiring JF-17 Thunder Aircraft from Pakistan and that no final decision has been made on the matter.
A much publicized matter when Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was visiting Sri Lanka recently was that Sri Lanka was to sign a deal to purchase JF-17 Thunder Aircraft from Pakistan.

JF-17 Thunder is a third-generation fighter co-produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC).

However no such agreement was signed and the Indian media later reported that the deal was suspended owing to pressure from India.

The Air Force says nothing has been ruled out and all options are still being looked into and JF-17 still remains an option.

Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Chandima Alwis told The Sunday Leader that Sri Lanka is in need of new jets to be on par with the changing world.

He said that a final decision had never been taken on the JF-17 Thunder Aircraft even at the time Nawaz Sharif was in Sri Lanka.

“We have a requirement to improve our fleet and we are studying various options. The Air Force had never informed the Ministry of Defence that we would like to go for the JF-17 so there was never a final decision to purchase the jets when the Pakistan Prime Minister was in Sri Lanka,” he said.

However the highly respected defence magazine ‘Janes Defence Weekly’ had reported that following the first export deal for its JF-17 multirole fighter to Myanmar, Pakistan was expected to be pushing hard for a follow-up agreement with Sri Lanka that would mark an important step in further extending its defence co-operation footprint in the Indian Ocean region.

The report said that efforts to secure an agreement in principle for the sale of the JF-17 Thunder was expected to be high on the agenda during the visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Sri Lanka.''

Sharif’s visit to Colombo followed a mid-November visit to Pakistan by Sri Lanka Air Force commander Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinhala during which the JF-17 was showcased by the Pakistanis. Immediately after the visit AM Bulathsinhala was invited to send an evaluation team of technicians and pilots to PAC’s Kamra facilities near Islamabad, where the JF-17 is produced.

At present the Air Force, according to the Janes Defence Weekly, rely on the Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir, which served as the workhorse of the Air Force ground attack operations during the war.

Currently the JF-17 is flown only by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), with the first squadron of Block 1 aircraft becoming operational in 2010. In late December 2015, PAC rolled out the 16th of a planned total of 50 Block 2 aircraft to complete the PAF’s fourth JF-17 squadron in service.

Phasing out its older Dassault Mirage III/5s and Chinese F-7Ps fighters, the PAF reportedly plans to induct at least 250 JF-17s. By contrast, China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) does not fly the JF-17.

Captain Chandima Alwis said that Sri Lanka needs to secure its airspace and so needs to have jets with advanced technology even if there is no war.

He said that the jets in the Air Force fleet are maintained and flown in order to ensure they are in good condition and ready to be thrown into operation if the need arises.

Among the countries the Sri Lanka Air Force is looking to acquire new jets is India, the Air Force spokesman added.

The Janes Defence Weekly reported that diplomatic and political pressure by India is believed to have stalled the Sri Lankan Air Force plans to procure the JF-17 Thunder fighters from Pakistan. (Colombo Gazette)

Air Force has not ruled out acquiring JF-17 from Pakistan | Colombo Gazette

 

[abdulbarijan]

by Easwaran Rutnam

A much publicized matter when Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was visiting Sri Lanka recently was that Sri Lanka was to sign a deal to purchase JF-17 Thunder Aircraft from Pakistan.JF-17 Thunder is a third-generation fighter co-produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC).However no such agreement was signed, and the Indian media later reported that the deal was suspended owing to pressure from India.The Air Force says nothing has been ruled out and all options are still being looked into and JF-17 still remains an option.

Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Chandima Alwis told The Sunday Leader that Sri Lanka is in need of new jets for it to be on par with the changing world.He said a final decision had never been taken on the JF-17 Thunder Aircraft even at the time Nawaz Sharif was in Sri Lanka.“We have a requirement to improve our fleet and we are studying various options. The Air Force had never informed the Ministry of Defence that we would like to go for the JF-17, so there was never a final decision to purchase the jets when the Pakistan Prime Minister was in Sri Lanka,” he said.

However, the highly respected defence magazine Jane’s Defence Weekly had reported that following the first export deal for its JF-17 multirole fighter to Myanmar, Pakistan was expected to be pushing hard for a follow-up agreement with Sri Lanka that would mark an important step in further extending its defence co-operation footprint in the Indian Ocean region.

The report says that efforts to secure an agreement in principle for the sale of the JF-17 Thunder were expected to be high on the agenda during the visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Sri Lanka.Sharif’s visit to Colombo followed a mid-November visit to Pakistan by Sri Lanka Air Force commander Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinhala during which the JF-17 was showcased by the Pakistanis. Immediately after the visit AM Bulathsinhala was invited to send an evaluation team of technicians and pilots to PAC’s Kamra facilities near Islamabad, where the JF-17 is produced.

At present the Air Force, according to the Jane’s Defence Weekly, rely on the Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir, which served as the workhorse of the Air Force ground attack operations during the war.Currently the JF-17 is flown only by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), with the first squadron of Block 1 aircraft becoming operational in 2010. In late December 2015, PAC rolled out the 16th of a planned total of 50 Block 2 aircraft to complete the PAF’s fourth JF-17 squadron in service.

Phasing out its older Dassault Mirage III/5s and Chinese F-7Ps fighters, the PAF reportedly plans to induct at least 250 JF-17s. By contrast, China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) does not fly the JF-17.Captain Chandima Alwis said Sri Lanka needs to secure its airspace, so SL needs to have jets with advanced technology even if there is no war.He said the jets in the Air Force fleet are maintained and flown in order to ensure they are in good condition and ready to be thrown into operation if the need arises.

Among the countries the Sri Lanka Air Force is looking to acquire new jets is India, the Air Force spokesman added.The Jane’s Defence Weekly reported that diplomatic and political pressure by India is believed to have stalled the Sri Lankan Air Force plans to procure the JF-17 Thunder fighters from Pakistan.The magazine quoted official sources in New Delhi as saying this influence had prevented Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from closing a deal for 10-12 JF-17s for around USD400 million during his visit to Colombo.

During Shariff’s visit, Pakistan and Sri Lanka signed eight bilateral agreements in diverse fields including cooperation in trade, financial intelligence, science and technology, and healthcare.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Maithripala Srisena, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe witnessed the signing of documents at a ceremony held here at the President’s Secretariat.An Agreement on cooperation in the field of health was signed between the Pakistan government and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine.

The MoU on cooperation in the exchange of intelligence related to money laundering and terrorism financing was signed between the Financial Intelligence Unit of Sri Lanka and Financial Monitoring Unit of Pakistan. The Ministry of Science and Technology, and Pakistan signed an MoU with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Research in the field of scientific innovation and cooperation.The Pakistan Science Foundation, and National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka inked a MoU on scientific and technological cooperation. The MoU on sharing statistical and census data was signed between the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, and the Department of Census and Statistics of Sri Lanka.The MoU between the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of International Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs was signed on cooperation in the field of culture.The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Export Development Board (EDB) of Sri Lanka signed an MoU on cooperation in trade.The MoU for cooperation between the Pakistan Institute of Fashion, and Design and the Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute of Sri Lanka was also inked.

Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan, Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi,and Secretary Commerce Muhammad Shehzad Arbab inked the relevant documents.

Pakistan Jets Still Being Considered | The Sunday Leader

 

[araz]

Air Force has not ruled out acquiring JF-17 from Pakistan | Colombo Gazette

It will come about in a little while. There is no other jet in this price range with the relevant capabilities. India does not have anything to offer in turn 8f it wants Sri Lanka to stall the deal. So a little placating has to go on but it will be JFT for Sri Lanka. I strongly suspect we will achieve our target of 300 units sold world wide by 2022.
A

 

[Pomegranate]

Among the countries the Sri Lanka Air Force is looking to acquire new jets is India

what kind of jet would they buy from india ....... Is it tejas they cant be serious ....????

 

[kaykay]

what kind of jet would they buy from india ....... Is it tejas they cant be serious ....????

India is offering Mig-27s for free till Tejas is ready for export in next few years.

 

[Areesh]

India is offering Mig-27s for free till Tejas is ready for export in next few years.

Well Mig27's are not exactly free. We should include the cost of dead SL pilots that would come with those Mig27.

 

[Vapnope]

I would not believe anything unless i see JF-17 flying in other countries.

 

[Hamza913]

India is offering Mig-27s for free till Tejas is ready for export in next few years.

The JF17 is a superior aircraft to the MIG27, also, I doubt India would do that. Even if they did, those MIG's are dying. The JF17's Pakistan are offering are in much better condition.

 

[Basel]

Its time for China to intervene and help SL in reducing / facing Indian pressure. Pakistan should work with China and both should offer more goodies like MBT-3000, Type-54A,Type-56, HQ-16A etc. on soft loans so SL can feel more safe.

 

[shah1398]

Didnt know Indian pressure is non durable just like its cement (as shown in Bollywood movies). Not even a month passed by and it had already depleted on a tiny country like Sri Lanka. I wish Sir Windjammer was around right now.

what kind of jet would they buy from india ....... Is it tejas they cant be serious ....????

Its just a ceremonial statement which we call "India ki Umeed qaim rakna"

 

[Great Sachin]

It will come about in a little while. There is no other jet in this price range with the relevant capabilities. India does not have anything to offer in turn 8f it wants Sri Lanka to stall the deal. So a little placating has to go on but it will be JFT for Sri Lanka. I strongly suspect we will achieve our target of 300 units sold world wide by 2022.
A

count starts from 1.

 

[rockstar08]

It will come about in a little while. There is no other jet in this price range with the relevant capabilities. India does not have anything to offer in turn 8f it wants Sri Lanka to stall the deal. So a little placating has to go on but it will be JFT for Sri Lanka. I strongly suspect we will achieve our target of 300 units sold world wide by 2022.
A

Maybe Sri Lanka is waiting for trainer and two seat Variant ? or until then they want to keep the deal under curtains to avoid any Stupid reactions from India ?

 

[Sinnerman108]

It will come about in a little while. There is no other jet in this price range with the relevant capabilities. India does not have anything to offer in turn 8f it wants Sri Lanka to stall the deal. So a little placating has to go on but it will be JFT for Sri Lanka. I strongly suspect we will achieve our target of 300 units sold world wide by 2022.
A

it will happen; Here is what most probably happened.

a. Sri Lanka and Pakistan wanted to sign the deal.
b. India got wind of it.
c. India applied diplomatic pressure in the following way

• Protested how can a contract be made without fair competetion
• Protested why weren't technical specs floated
  
• threatened ( in diplomatic terms ) that other trade deals with sri lanks may suffer

d. Now, Sri lanks will float and do a selection procedure
e. Indians believe they have learned enough from MMRCA on how to stall a deal as long as Tejas can be ready.

PAF and China will have to play the game smart, and ensure the specs are in accord with JF17.

 

[Al-Taïr]

Now I think srilanka is jist playing the both sides... May be trying to squeeze more/better migs or cheaper thunders.

 

[AMCA]

let them issue an RFI. Let the Chinese and Indians pitch in the products each other's got!! Let the SLAF decide which one do they wanna go for!!