In 2 yrs, Pak builds 26 JF-17 jets with China

The Pakistan Air Force has completed the production of 26 JF-17 Thunder combat jets in collaboration with China during a period of two years, an official said on Tuesday.

The senior PAF official, who was briefing the Public Accounts Committee of parliament, said while replying to a query that the air force had achieved the target set for producing the JF-17 jets in the country.

The parliamentary panel was informed that Pakistan began the serial production of the jet in collaboration with China two years ago.

The JF-17 was jointly developed by Pakistan and China.

The PAF plans to induct 250 JF-17s in the coming years.

Defence Production Secretary Shahid Iqbal told the parliamentary committee that two P-3C Orion anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft were destroyed in a recent terrorist attack on a naval airbase in Karachi and efforts were being made to replace them.

The committee raised some objections to the audit reports of the defence ministry for 1998-1999, 2002-2003 and 2003-04 and directed authorities to submit reports on this issue within a month.