KAMRA: Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed flashes victory signs sitting in the cockpit of Prototype-4 of JF-17 aircraft.
ISLAMABAD: The fourth Prototype (PT-4) of JF-17 ’Thunder’ aircraft, jointly produced by China and Pakistan, on Wednesday successfully completed its inaugural flight in Chengdu, China.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed was the chief guest on the occasion.
Other members of the CAS high profile delegation included Air Marshal Rahat Hussain Khan CPD JF-17 and various high ranking officials of PAF and the MOD. The Chinese side was represented by Vice ministers of CONSTING, Presidents of Aviation Industries Corporation-1 (AVIC-1), CATIC, Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute (CADI), Chengdu Aircraft manufacturing Center (CAC) and other high ranking officials.
Speaking at the occasion, the Air Chief congratulated all members of Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and PAF contingent deployed at milestones achieved for the JF-17 programme so far. He termed that the success of the joint programme as one of the most successful programmes in the recent aviation history.
PT-4 of JF-17 is exclusively developed for avionics and weapons qualification flight testing phase. The advanced 4th generation avionics package of JF-17 aircraft integrates data from multiple sensors using weapons and mission computers and has the ability to evade and degrade the enemy’s sensors using onboard advanced electronic warfare suite.
It would greatly enhance the lethality and survivability of JF-17 aircraft. The advanced man-machine interface helps in presenting the sensors information in an integrated and effective manner, reducing the pilots work load and improving the combat efficiency.
The aircraft is powered by a reliable RD-93 engine, which is equipped with Digital Electronic Engine Control (DEEC) system. High trust to weight ratio and hybrid flight control provide enhance agility and maneuverability in all flight regimes.
JF-17 has a strong night and day surface attack capability including the delivery of PGMs. Its air to air capability includes all aspect Short Range as well as Beyond Visual Rang (BVR) missiles by utilizing Multimode Pulse Doppler Radar.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force said, "the Avionics and weapon qualification flight testing phase on PT-4 would optimize its mission capability aspects in different flight regimes and condition. The finalization of this phase will herald a new era of serial production of aircraft in China and Pakistan."
The first batch of operation JF-17 aircraft would arrive in Pakistan in early 2007 while serial production in Pakistan at PAC, Kamra would start in 2008.
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