Pakistan Inducts JF-17 Fighter Aircraft

The Pakistan Air Force has inducted 50th JF-17 fighter aircraft, built with Chinese help, as a move towards "self-reliance".

Underlining that the objective situation has undergone a change due to new research and innovations, Sharif was quoted as saying by Press Trust Of India, "Today, one can enter any territory sitting thousands mile away without physically moving one's armed forces. This has been possible only due to the capability of air force and the new technology".

"We know very well that no battle can be won with outdated technology and discarded strategies," Sharif said at the roll-out ceremony of the 50th JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra. "Pakistan's defence strategy is therefore being devised under this scenario".

"The JF-17 aircraft development and production is a major flag bearer in our journey towards self-reliance and industrialisation and adds a glorious chapter in the history of Pakistan's friendship with China," Sharif said.

The PAC JF-17 is a light weight, single engine, and multi-role combat aircraft which has been developed by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAC) of China.

The aircraft is 15 metres long and is said to be able to tackle all kinds of weather.

The Prime Minister stressed that the proficiency of PAF was not limited to the air alone, but it was equally competent to show its mettle in the fields of aircraft manufacture, radar and even the drone technology.

Speaking about ties with China, Sharif said, "We have achieved a number of milestones in a short period during the journey of our enduring friendship with China. These include projects like Gawadar Port, Chashma Power Project, Karakoram Highway, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and the recent Karachi Civil Nuclear Power Plant."