ISLAMABAD – The Malaysian government is in preliminary talks with Pakistanfor the export of JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, reported *Janeslink>*.
The disclosure was made by an official from Pakistan Aeronautical Complexon the sidelines of the Defense Services Asia 2018 exhibition in KualaLumpur. According to the British publication, the governments of the twocountries were engaged in “primary level talks” about the sale of thefighter jets.
The aircraft is expected to cater to the combat requirements of the RoyalMalaysian Air Force.)
“We are aware of the potential requirements in Malaysia for cost-effectivefighter aircraft,” the official was quoted as saying. “There have been noserious talks but through government-to-government channels, there havebeen what we can describe as primary level talks about the JF-17 programme.”
The British publication also revealed that Pakistan had expressedwillingness to enter into a possible deal with the local industry inMalaysia to facilitate localised manufacturing, as well as maintenance,repair and overhaul.
“Of course, the industrial engagement would depend on the sale of theMalaysian requirement,” the official told *Janes*.
In 2015, the same news agency reported that a high ranking Malaysianofficial had confirmed that the country was considering the purchase ofJF-17 jets from Pakistan, but Kuala Lumpur had swiftly denied the reportthe following day.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force has been looking to procure a twin-enginecombat aircraft for more than a decade, but a lack of funds has hamperedthe search.
*The Diplomat*link>reportedthat the Malaysian forces intended to purchase 18 new fighter jets toreplace its existing fleet of Mig-29 aircraft.
The procurement was expected to support the fleet of F/A-18D and Su-30MKMfighter jets already in service with the air force. However, budgetaryconstraints in 2017 put a damper on their efforts.
According to the Tokyo-based magazine, Sweden, China and Russia are alsointerested in selling aircraft to Kuala Lumpur, but the Pakistani JF-17Thunder is the cheapest option for the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
The production of the JF-17 has been split up into three blocks: Block I,Block II, and Block III. Malaysia would receive the Block III variant ofthe aircraft with production slated to kick off in 2019. (50 Block I and 50Block II aircraft have been produced so far with 12 more of the latter tobe rolled out in 2018.)
“Powered by a Russian designed but Chinese license-built Klimov RD-93 (anRD-33 derivative) turbofan engine, [the JF-17] can reportedly reach a topspeed of up to Mach 1.6 and has an operational range of up to 1,200kilometres without refuelling,” the author of the report in *The Diplomat*underlined.
The fighter jet, featuring seven hardpoints, can be armed with a variety ofweapons including air-to-air, air-to-surface, and anti-ship missiles.
Interestingly, JF-17 is a feasible option for Malaysian forces because theengines in the Pakistani jets are also used in the Mig-29, and service andmaintenance facilities for it are already in place.
*This article originally appeared on**Janes*link>