Beijing: China has agreed to expedite the delivery of 50 fighter jets to Pakistan, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
The newspaper quoted a high-ranking Pakistani Air Force official, in Beijing with Gilani, as saying the jointly developed JF-17 jets would be in addition to another batch of the same aircraft that is currently being assembled in Pakistan. “We’re getting the 50 jets, on top of the ones we already have. The official added
The JF-17 “Thunder” programme dates back to 1999 and is aimed at reducing Pakistan’s dependence on Western companies for advanced fighters.
The jets are a single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft costing an estimated $15 million each. The Pakistani Air Force has ordered 150 “Thunders”, which it may increase to 250. The 50 mentioned in the report are likely part of the larger order.
In February 2010, Pakistan fielded its first JF-17 squadron with 14 aircraft. The close ties between China and Pakistan reflect long-standing shared wariness of their common neighbour, India, and a desire to hedge against U.S. influence across the region.
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