Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has received 14 dual-seat JF-17 Block-3 aircraft from China, which would also be used for pilots’ training.
The jointly-produced dual seater JF-17 fighters were added to the air force’s fleet during a ceremony held today where the jets were officially handed over to PAF.
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Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, attended the grand ceremony which was also graced by Chinese Chief of Air Staff, Chinese Ambassador, Nong Rong, and Nigerian officials.
The significant development will increase PAF’s operational capabilities and potential for national defense as Block 3 is 4.5 generation with 2 Mach speed. These jets are more advanced than the F16 currently available to Pakistan.
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Features
Here are some of the features of JF-17 Block 3:
- New and a larger holographic wide-angle head-up display.
- Integrated cockpit display similar to J-20 aircraft.
- Advance active electronically scanned array radar system.
- Advance weapons capability.
Integrated with PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles, JF-17B3 will outrange all of India’s existing air to air missiles including MICA used by Rafale.
It may be recalled that the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra had achieved a significant milestone by rolling out the first batch of eight dual-seat JF-17 aircraft in December last year.
