By IRNA
Islamabad : Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has recently received six additional Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder from China, a PAF statement said on Friday.
JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft is an advanced multi role single-seat Light Combat Aircraft jointly invested and developed by China and Pakistan.
“They have been inducted in Test and Evaluation flight at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra, where they will be used for further testing and evaluation of the JF-17 development program,” the PAF statement added.
Four JF-17s will participate in March 23 National Day Fly Past.
“It is a key collaboration strategic project between the two countries in the military field,” the statement said.
“The project has made great success through tremendous efforts and contribution by both sides”.
Major milestones, achieved so far, include first flight of Prototype-01 in August, 2003, and that of Prototype-03 in April, 2004, the statement said.
On May 10, 2006, JF-17 Prototype 04 aircraft with fully integrated configuration made its successful maiden flight in Chengdu, China, taking the program to a new height of success.
The Prototype 06, made its maiden flight in September, 2006.
The arrival ceremony of first JF-17 in Pakistan was held on March 21, last year in which President Pervez Musharraf was the Chief Guest.
The inaugural ceremony to launch the manufacturing of JF-17 Thunder Sub-Assemblies was held on January 22, 2008.