ISLAMABAD – China has recently delivered first overhauled JF-17 Thunderfighter jet to Pakistan under a project that experts said would benefitPakistan’s aviation industry.
Changsha 5712 Aircraft Industry Co Ltd under the state-owned AviationIndustry Corporation of China (AVIC) reassembled the overhauled JF-17 anddelivered it to its Pakistani client in March, Global Time reported whilequoting China Aviation News here on Wednesday.
This is also the first time AVIC has overhauled a made-for-exportthird-generation fighter, or fourth generation according to another widelyused standard, the report said.
“The first overhaul marks an important milestone in the JF-17 project,” FuQianshao, a Chinese air defence expert told the Global Times.
The first overhaul represents the trial-and-error phase of the project andprovided experience in establishing standards for other JF-17 overhauls inthe future, according to Fu.
Jointly developed and manufactured by China and Pakistan, the single-enginemulti-role light fighter jet JF-17 made its maiden flight in 2003.
The first JF-17s were delivered to Pakistani clients in 2007 and a numberof them were later commissioned by the Pakistan Air Force. After a decadeof use, it was time for the first JF-17s to undergo overhauls, militaryanalysts said.
A contract was signed in 2016 and the first overhaul started in November2017. The overhauled aircraft made its first test flight in October 2018.
An overhaul includes major maintenance featuring repairs and replacement ofold components including the airframe and engine said, Fu. While standard,regular maintenance could be done by the military, an overhaul usuallyneeds to be conducted by a designated and more capable supplier due tohigher complexity, he said.
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Such an overhaul could ensure flight safety after years of use, Fu said. Itmight also equip the aircraft with newer technologies that enhance itscapability, or prolong the aircraft’s lifespan, he said.
The experienced overhaul team at AVIC used a reliability-orientedmaintenance model, keeping the maintenance cycle short and costs low.
Pakistan sent dozens of trainees to China, who had close communication andbuilt deep friendships with Chinese engineers during the overhaul process.
Fu said since procedures and standards for the overhaul have beenestablished, future overhauls on other JF-17s could be done by Pakistanipersonnel.
“Under the framework of China-Pakistan cooperation, Pakistan’s aviationindustry will
continue to develop,” Fu noted.
A Block 3 variant of the JF-17 is under development, which is expected tobe much more powerful than the previous two blocks thanks to a newChina-developed active electronically scanned array radar, reports said.
