JF-17 Thunder makes Pakistan Air Force invincible
The third prototype made its maiden flight in May 2004
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan s JF-17 Thunder is equipped with over-sighted and infrared short-range missiles.
The JF-17 is also capable of using anti-ship missiles, laser-guided bombs and cluster bombs. With the incorporation of Block III into the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), the strength of the Pakistan Air Force has become invincible.
Under the Defense Self-Reliance Policy, an agreement was reached between Pakistan and China in 1998 for the joint production of JF-17 Thunder aircraft. The production of first prototype aircraft was completed in a short period of 30 months and took off in September 2003.
The third prototype made its maiden flight in May 2004, and the next two prototypes flew test flights in May and September 2006, respectively. On March 2, 2007, the first consignment of two small-batch-production (SBP) aircraft arrived in a dismantled state in Pakistan. They flew for the first time on 10 March 2007 and took part in a public aerial demonstration during a Pakistan Day parade on 23 March 2007.
The JF17 Thunder is an all-weather aircraft and is capable of flying at a speed of Mach 1.6. Due to the Digital Electronic Engine Control (DEEC), the JF-17 Thunder can fly in small and dangerous airfields and is on par with the F-16 in its features.
Work on the JF-17 Thunder Block Two began in December 2014. The aircraft was equipped with advanced air refueling capability, short-range missiles and infrared short-range missiles. Upgrading the airborne radar greatly increased the JF-17’s air superiority.
Now the dual seat JF-17 Thunder Block 3 had also been inducted to the Pakistan Air Force. The JF-17 is capable of using anti-ship missiles as well as bombs, laser-guided bombs, runway destroyers and cluster bombs.
