Pakistan handed over first two of 12 ordered MFI-17 Super Mushak trainers to Iraq’s Air Force.
The two countries signed the $33 million deal in February 2021. Aircraft maker Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) produced them at its factory in Kamra, Punjab. They were delivered to Iraq this week, as per reports.
The PAC MFI-17 Super Mushak is a basic trainer aircraft built to military specifications. The aircraft can also operate from short, unprepared strips. It has an easy-maintenance piston engine, state-of-the-art glass cockpit suite, environmental control system and dual control Elevator and Rudder trim systems, allowing for aerobatics training to be performed as well.
The aircraft has sufficient capacity to be configured with surveillance equipment for ISR missions, as well as weapon pylons to carry small combat payloads, including small laser-guided missiles, for light ground attack. Other roles beside primary training, ISR and light ground attack include forward area support, artillery fire observation and border patrol.
The aircraft has also been exported by Pakistan to Nigeria, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and Syria.