China, Pakistan to upgrade their jointly produced fighter jet: Report
March 12, 2019 19:14
China and Pakistan plan to upgrade their jointly- produced JF-17 Thunder fighter jet to enhance the its "informatised warfare capability and weapons which experts says could effectively defend against strong opponents like India.
The development and production of the JF-17 Block 3 are underway, Yang Wei, a Chinese legislator and chief designer of the China-Pakistan co-developed fighter jet, said.
The Pakistan media claimed that JF-17 aircraft was used to carry out an attack along the Line Of Control (LOC) on February 27. The Indian Air Force, however said a US made F-16 has been shot down during the attack.
The up-gradation of JF-17 is aimed to enhance the jet's "informatised warfare" capability and weapons, the state-run Global Times reported on Tuesday.
"Informatised warfare is often used by the Chinese military which broadly refer to use of information and communication technology in modern wars.
The JF-17, which was previously referred as FC-1 Xiaolong, a single-engine multi-role light fighter was being jointly produced by the two countries for several years with engines supplied by Russia.
It is mostly used by Pakistan than by China as the Chinese Air Force has acquired new generation aircraft like Russia's Sukhoi as well as array of home grown new planes including stealth aircraft.
The JF-17 is currently contending with India's Tejas and South Korea's FA-50, the Global Times report said.
"All related work is being carried out," for JF-17 Block 3 Yang was quoted as saying by the daily.
"The third block will see the JF-17's informatised warfare capability and weapons upgraded," Yang said. -- PTI
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