ISLAMABAD: China is to start production of a small batch of JF-17 (Thunder) combat aircraft by June-July for their induction in the Pakistan Air Force in 2007, a PAF official said on Saturday.
"We hope to induct a first small batch of four aircraft in our air force in early 2007," the official said.
He said the fourth prototype of JF-17 jet successfully carried out its test flight in China Friday, paving the way for commencement of the aircraft's production by June-July this year.
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 September 2003.
Pakistan may also begin serial production of the JF-17s by June 2007 as part of its plans to replace ageing aircraft from the inventory of the PAF.
The serial production will start at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, which is responsible for overhauling all the combat aircraft of the US, Chinese and French origin, in PAF's inventory.
Known as the "third generation aircraft", JF-17s is basically a lightweight multi-role aircraft, which can fly at a speed of mach 1.6 with an operational ceiling of 55,000 feet.
It will be equipped with Beyond Visual Range capability, a state-of-the-art avionics package to provide an all weather navigation, attack and jamming capability to track and destroy multiple targets.
The jets will also have an integrated avionics and weapons delivery system based on an advanced data bus concept.
The PAF is presently flying US-origin F-16s and C-130 military transport planes, French-made Mirages, Indonesian transport CASA CN-235 planes and Chinese-made F-7s and F-7PGs, also known as "Fishbeds", ground attack fighter aircraft A-5s and Karakoram-8 jet trainers.