Pakistani Air Force Inducts 50 Indigenous JF-14 Fighter Aircraft

Pakistan has reportedly taken delivery of 50 indigenously-built JF-17 Thunder fight jets into its airforce.

According to Air Marshal Javed Ahmed, chief of the state-owned Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had already received 50 of the home-made aircraft and that the supply of the second block would start this month.

"The five aircraft of the next block would be inducted (into PAF) this year," Air Marshal Javed Ahmed, told AFP on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition And Seminars (Ideas) in Karachi, an arms fair that brings together dealers from all over the world.

In 2009, Pakistan began manufacturing the JF-17 aircraft in collaboration with the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation of China (CACC).

"JF-17 is a modern aircraft, it fulfils all the needs of PAF, it is affordable, the cockpit is very user friendly, all beyond visual range attack capabilities as well as stand of deliveries are available at this aircraft," Ahmed was quoted as saying.

"A lot of international customers from developing countries have shown interest in the aircraft and we are in active negotiations with many countries," he added.