ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is keen to procure China’s forth generation stealth fighter FC-31 and deal is under discussion with the Chinese authorities.
There were speculations about the procurement amid the 10th edition of the Zhuhai Air Show in China, where the aircraft was on display.
China is developing the FC-31 mainly for exporta, as several countries have expressed interest in the aircraft believed to be comparable to US F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
A prototype of the aircraft, designated as J-31, has been flown by the Chinese aircraft research and development firm Shenyang Aviation Company for a couple of years now.
What particularly interests the PAF is that FC-31 prototype (J-31) and JF-17 use the same Russian Klimov RD-93 engines. Pakistan is increasingly relying on China as a reliable source for its defence procurements.
China and Pakistan had earlier co-produced JF-17 Thunder. Pakistan has been eagerly trying to market this fighter aircraft.
Meanwhile, Dawn newspaper quoted Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain the deal was under-discussion with Chinese authorities.
Pakistan, which is at present producing Block-2 of JF-17 at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, is eyeing orders from countries in the Middle East and Africa. “We have nearly confirmed orders from seven countries for JF-17,” the newspaper quoted the minister as saying.
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