Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is likely to visit China early next month to formally launch the test flight of the 'Super-7' fighter aircraft, being jointly developed by Beijing and Islamabad.
The new-generation fighter aircraft is expected to make its maiden test flight later this year. A prototype of the 'all-weather, multi-purpose fighter jet' has just been completed, Pakistan's official news agency reported on Saturday.
The single-seat, turbofan engine-powered fighter, which will go into volume production once tests have been successfully carried out, aims to gradually replace the F-7, MiG-21 and Q-5 series aircraft, currently in service in China and some developing countries.
Compared with the F-7, Q-5 and other fighter aircraft series currently in use in China, the Super-7 features a larger weapon-load capacity and a greater radar-detection range and it is stealth-capable.
Its maximum external storage weight is 3.8 tons, and a radar-detection range of up to 100km, compared with current jets which have a range of 30km.
Pakistan has 50 per cent share in developing the Super-7, both in terms of financial contribution and technical know-how.
The venture was planned after both countries failed to acquire new fighter aircraft from Russia, United Kingdom, France and the United States.
The project was also delayed after Russia last year declined to supply MIG-27 engines to boost the speed of the aircraft.