KAMRA: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Thursday inducted 16 new JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to the No 14 Squadron of the PAF, state-run radio reported.
A prestigious ceremony was held at the Kamra where Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was the chief guest while Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman was also present. The defence minister inspected a guard of honour followed by an impressive fly-past. The new fighter jets were also displayed at the ceremony and were inspected by Asif.
The JF-17 Thunder, a single-engine multi-role fighter jet, was jointly developed by China and Pakistan. Development on the aircraft started in 1999, and the maiden flight was conducted in 2003. The fighter jet can be equipped with air-to-air and air-to-ground ordinance. The aircraft mounts both short-range infrared air to air missiles along with longer ranged radar-guided BVR missiles, an essential capability for a frontline interceptor.
The aircraft can carry 8,000lbs of ordinance on seven external hard points, which is an adequate amount of ordinance for any mission profile.