JF-17 Thunder – Lightning Strikes Twice | Aviation International News

JF-17 Thunder – Lightning Strikes Twice

The JF-17 is playing a significant role in Pakistan's air defense.

The Pak-Sino JF-17 Thunder has flown over 40,000 hours in service with six squadrons, including 2 ‘Minhasians’ Sqn. The fighter is set to mature even more rapidly with the integration of an AESA radar in the Block 3 JF-17s. (Photos: Alan Warnes)

By AIN Staff • AIN Staff

June 15, 2019

Three Pakistan Air Force (PAF) JF-17s are attending this year’s Paris Air Show. The type will be making a welcome visit after the Pak-Sino-developed Thunder visited the event in 2015, and a lot has happened to the program since then.

Right now the last three Block 2s are on the Aircraft Manufacturing Factory (AMF) final assembly line at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra, which will eventually help to equip a seventh operational unit later this year. Meanwhile, the first JF-17 has undergone a major overhaul at PAC Kamra’s Aircraft Repair Factory, and there is a dual-seat JF-17B, 17-601, undergoing test and evaluation in Pakistan. A decision from the PAF leadership on a new AESA radar for the Block 3 JF-17s is pending and is expected by November, followed by its first operational sortie early next year. Then, in deals that were signed in late-2017, AMF will assemble 50 Block 3 JF-17s and 26 JF-17Bs. Next year Air Engineering Depot 102 at PAF Base Faisal will start overhauling the jet's Klimov RD93 powerplant.

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