ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Air Force has been working on the development of afifth generation fighter jet after the successful launch experience of theJF – 17 fighter jet. JF 17 is considered as a modern fighter jet having thelatest Radar and avionics features of the Day.
The need for the indigenous development of a fifth generation fighter jetwas long felt by Pakistan to achieve the self reliance in the field ofDefence and Air Superiority.
With the US delaying supply of spare parts to Pakistan for its F-16 fleet,the Pakistan Air Force has geared up efforts to commence development of afifth-generation JF-17 fighter jet under the banner of “Project Azm”.
The project also envisages development of a medium altitude long-endurance(MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as well as munitions.
Pakistan had to accelerate efforts to go for indigenous option afterdilly-dallying by the United States in honouring its commitment to supplyspare parts for the PAF’s F-16 fleet.
In addition to other items, the issue of supplying spare parts for the F-16fleet remained on top of the list between the US and Pakistan since 2009,but the United States did not honour its commitment.
The PAF link> formally announced its “ProjectAzm” last year to commence development of a fifth-generation fighter jetlink> .
In his speech after inaugurating of the Kamra Aviation City initiative lastyear, the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman had outlined theprogramme objectives of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), thenewly-established Aviation Design Institute (AvDI) and Air University’sAerospace and Aviation Campus. Federal Minister for Planning, Developmentand Reforms Ahsan Iqbal had also attended the inaugural ceremony.
Air Chief Marshal had said “Our engineering and operational staff haveindigenised few core capabilities, which are truly high-tech, theinitiative of Project Azm was thus encouraged, which is the designing ofthe fifth-generation fighter aircraft, MALE UAVs, which are in the finalstages of design, development of advanced weapons few of them alreadyproduced and other key projects.”
Air University Aerospace and Aviation Campus Kamra is an expansion campusof Air University Islamabad, which was founded in 2002.
The air chief marshal said the campus would “provide the desired impetusfor cutting-edge indigenisation programs, strengthen the local industry andharness the demands of foreign aviation industry by reducing … imports andpromoting joint research and production ventures.”