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INDO-PACIFIC The Development of ’s JF-17 Fighter

OE Watch Commentary: While the majority of attention from media in and Pakistan over the past several weeks reported on the recent clash “The development and production of JF-17 between the two countries, particularly the ’s strike on Block 3 are underway aimed at enhancing its Balakot on 26 February and the downing of an Indian aircraft by Pakistan a day later, the accompanying excerpted articles report on a recent missile test informatised warfare capability and , by Pakistan’s Air Force and the continuing development of the JF-17 fighter Chief Designer of the -Pakistan co- and they provide some insight into the status of the air forces of both countries outside of the recent clash. developed fighter jet, Yang Wei said.” The article from The News International, an English-language newspaper in Pakistan, reports on the missile test and how it was “developed, integrated and qualified solely through indigenous efforts of Pakistani scientists and engineers.” The article also discusses how work on the latest variant of the JF-17, the “Block 3” (Pakistan’s current inventory of JF-17s are the Block 1 and 2 variants) is “underway” and that a Chinese source is claiming it will include a “whole combat system” that will allow it to better communicate with other platforms. The article from Zee News, an English-language news website in India, also reports on the ongoing development of the JF-17 and while it was published before the recent clash, it notes how “the Pakistani Air Force is in the process of adding 62 JF-17 jets before India gets the 36 Rafale jets.” The article reports on the potential timeline for additional JF-17 Block 2, “by 2019,” and JF-17 Block 3, “by 2020,” and that the Indian government “will only be getting 36 Rafale jets by 2020.” It is worth remembering that while the Rafale controversy in India has resulted in a significant delay in the government’s efforts to acquire a multirole fighter, the deal signed with will result in the delivery of 36 fighters. Ultimately, the government of Pakistan appears to be making more strides than India in the development of its inventory of fighters and with support from China, this could likely continue. End OE Watch Commentary (Stein)

Source: Mariana Baabar and Muhammad Anis, “New lethal Source: Manish Shukla, “Pakistan eyes 62 JF-17 jets from China as Rafale missile tested,” The News International, 13 March 2019. continues in India,”Zee News, 7 January 2019. https://zeenews. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/443168-new-lethal-missile- india.com/world/pakistan-eyes-62-jf-17-jets-from-china-as-rafale-dogfight- tested continues-in-india-2168320.html The (PAF) and scientists achieved another While the opposition is targeting the NDA government on the Rafal fighter milestone on Wednesday with successful test-firing of an plane deal, neighbouring Pakistan is engaged in taking full advantage of indigenously-built extended range smart from JF-17 the opportunity. The Pakistani government has approached China to make multi-role . the JF-17 (Block 3) Jet fighter plane available for the Pakistani Air Force The successful trial has provided JF-17 Thunder with a (PAF) as soon as possible. very potent and assured day and night capability to engage a According to the Indian Air Force (IAF) intelligence report accessed by variety of targets with pinpoint accuracy, the PAF announced… Zee News, the Pakistani Air Force is in the process of adding 62 JF-17 jets the weapon has been developed, integrated and qualified before India gets the 36 Rafale jets…The Pakistani government is keen to solely through indigenous efforts of Pakistani scientists and induct most advanced version of JF-17 series -- the new JF-17 Block-3 -- to engineers… make its air force match its Indian counterpart. The development and production of JF-17 Block 3 are According to the report, Pakistan has asked Chengdu Aircraft underway aimed at enhancing its informatised warfare Corporation of China to deliver 13 JF-17 (Block 2) to Pakistani Air Force capability and weapons, Chief Designer of the China-Pakistan by July 2019. They have also asked the Chinese firm to deliver the more co-developed fighter jet, Yang Wei said. advanced two seater- JF-17 Block-2 jets by 2020… …Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military analyst told Global According to intelligence reports, Pakistan and China are also jointly Times that the JF-17 Block 3 is likely to be fitted with an active developing JF-17 (Block-3) jets which is a fourth generation fighter jet. electronically scanned array , which can gather more Pakistani Air Force is expecting the new variants of JF-17 (Block-3) to be information in combat, enabling the fighter jet to engage from a delivered from 2020 which will be more powerful than the already existing farther range and attack multiple targets at the same time… JF-17 series… Pakistan, the main user of the JF-17, could further share While the Indian Air Force requires a total of 126 new Medium Multi Role information between the fighter and other platforms taking Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) plane, it will only be getting 36 Rafale jets advantage of the whole combat system to effectively defend by 2020. With Pakistan upping its efforts in getting the 62 new jets for its against strong opponents…JF-17, or the FC-1, is a single- air force, the Indian Air Force seems to be looking at a tough challenge engine multi-role jet jointly developed by China ahead… and Pakistan for export.

OE Watch | April 2019 30