New Delhi: After Myanmar and Nigeria, Iraq is likely to become the next country to buy the JF-17 ‘Thunder’ fighter jet, which is a joint venture between China and Pakistan, with media reports from Islamabad putting the number of jets at 12.
This comes at a time when Pakistan is facing a severe economic crisis.
According to Pakistani media, the Iraqi government had approved an outlay of $664 million for the purchase of 12 JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets from the country after two years of negotiations.
The Iraqi News Agency (INA) quoted Major General Yahya Rasool, spokesman for the Commander in Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, as confirming Iraq’s plan to purchase “advanced military equipment from several countries”, but did not specifically mention Pakistan.
In June, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari went on a three-day visit to Iraq.
Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd), director general of the New Delhi-based Center for Air Power Studies (CAPS), told ThePrint that the deal has the advantage of offering Chinese missiles with the JF-17.
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Journey of the JF-17
The JF-17 is a fourth-generation lightweight, multi-role fighter aircraft co-developed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) of China. The jet is powered by Russian engine RD-93MA.
Inducted into its air force in 2007, Pakistan currently operates 50 Block III, the latest model of the JF-17, while the previous versions – Block I and II – number 120.
Myanmar signed a deal in early 2016 to buy 16 JF-17s from China at a cost of $25 million. The first batch of six aircraft was handed over to the Myanmar Air Force in 2018.
Sources in the defense and security establishment said that last year, the Myanmar junta grounded the fleet due to maintenance issues.
One of the reasons for the grounding, he said, was that parts of the electronics and avionics of the fighter aircraft are made in the European Union. After the military coup in February 2021, the European Union imposed several rounds of sanctions on Myanmar.
Myanmar based news portal Irrawaddy Analysts have been quoted as saying that the Myanmar Air Force may not use the JF-17 for combat even four years after commissioning due to “poor accuracy”. Due to this, the country’s air force has to depend on Russian-made Yak-130 and MiG-29 fighter jets and China-made K-8 fighter jets.
Another country operating JF-17 Thunder aircraft is Nigeria. The West African country will buy three JF-17 fighter jets from Pakistan in 2021. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) uses the export version of the JF-17A Block 2.
According to the embassy, in March, Argentina’s defense minister and ambassador to China discussed a possible purchase of JF-17 fighter jets and armored vehicles. India is also want to offer Its indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas in the South American country.
Air Marshal Chopra (retd) said the JF-17 “is doing well despite some problems in Myanmar”.
“Pakistan and China together are trying to increase exports through the sale of this jet. While 58 per cent of the aircraft are manufactured in Pakistan, China contributes 42 per cent. However, the designing has taken place in China, although some minor modifications were done in Pakistan,” he said.
Comparing Tejas with this fighter, he said, “The LCA will be at least half a generation higher than the JF-17, but the number of LCAs in service is only 34. So, numerically we are far behind.”
He said the LCA had flown before the JF-17, but the JF-17’s inclusion is much greater because the Chinese are backing the venture.
“Jet is cheaper than LCA. Pakistan makes about 25 aircraft per year while India still makes about 8 aircraft per year. It makes a big difference,” he said. Air Marshal Chopra said that one of the advantages of this deal is that the Chinese missiles are being offered as a package with the JF 17.
(Edited by Tony Rae)