ISLAMABAD – The Pakistani government has decided to equip PAF with fourthgeneration JF-17 (Block 3). Pakistani Air Force is in the process of adding62 JF-17 (Block 3).

Pakistan’s JF-17 is a Multi Combat Aircraft which is jointly developed byPakistan’s Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.

The Pakistani government is keen to induct most advanced version of JF-17series — the new JF-17 Block-3 — to make its air force match its Indiancounterpart.

PAF will receive 13 JF-17 (Block 2) by July 2019. More advanced twoseater- JF-17 Block-2 jets will be added by 2020. Pakistani Air Force plansto induct 22 JF-17 (Block-2) jets before 2020.

Pakistan and China are also jointly developing JF-17 (Block-3) jets whichis a fourth generation fighter jet. Pakistani Air Force is expecting thenew variants of JF-17 (Block-3) to be delivered from 2020 which will bemore powerful than the already existing JF-17 series. Pakistan plans toinduct 28 new JF-17 (Block-3) till 2022.

Two JF-17 (Block-3) jets would be delivered by China’s Chengdu AircraftCorporation and the remaining 26 will be made in Pakistan.

JF-17 (Block-3) has feature of avionics advancement such as helmet displayand sight system, a new single panel multi-functional display, an activeelectronically scanned array (AESA) radar paired with an infrared searchand track system. JF-17 (Block-3) will have cockpit with a flight controlstick on the side and a two seater cockpit option with a top speed of 2.00plus mach.