PAF JF-17s to participate in Paris Air Show

E-Paper | May 01, 2026

ISLAMABAD: At least three Pakistan Air Force (PAF) JF-17 Thunder fighter aircrafts along with a contingent, comprising pilots and technicians, departed for Paris today, to participate in the upcoming Paris Air Show 2015.

PAF spokesperson Air Commodore S M Ali said, "The 51st Air Show organised by French Aerospace Industries Association will start on 15 June, 2015 at the Le Bourget Parc des Expositions and would continue till 21 June, 2015."

The spokesperson also said one JF-17 fighter aircraft will perform in the flying display and another will be on static display throughout the Air Show.

The JF-17 Thunder has already participated in various air shows around the world including Farnborough Air Show (UK), Zhuhai Air Show (China), Turkish Air Show (Turkey) and Dubai Air Show (UAE).

The aircraft is also poised to become the mainstay of PAF, as the PAF plans to replace its ageing fleet of fighter aircraft with JF-17s.

The JF-17 Thunder has been jointly co-developed by Pakistan and China — is a light weight, all weather multi-role fighter jet. It is equipped with a modern state-of-the-art avionics suite and an advanced cockpit layout.

The fighter jet has the capability to carry out air-to-air and air-to-ground strikes, and can be fitted with beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles.

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Qamar

Jun 07, 2015 03:23pm

Congratulation PAF.

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Pakistani

Jun 07, 2015 03:37pm

Proud of PAF

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Baba bandook

Jun 07, 2015 03:42pm

Good luck shaheens. Show the world what you got. :-)

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Awais ali

Jun 07, 2015 03:45pm

Fantastic PAF proud of you.

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Atif Amin

Jun 07, 2015 03:46pm

Proud of PAF. Pakistan Zindabad.

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Sohail

Jun 07, 2015 04:02pm

Congratulations PAF.

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S. A. M.

Jun 07, 2015 04:08pm

great show PAF. Way to go

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Hakali

Jun 07, 2015 04:22pm

PAF Zindabad Pakistan Paindabad

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Blue Saffron

Jun 07, 2015 04:38pm

Well Done!

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AQJ

Jun 07, 2015 04:44pm

Good luck. Long Live Pakistan. Long Live PAF.

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Maqsood

Jun 07, 2015 04:49pm

Good News.

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Fiaz Mohammed

Jun 07, 2015 04:50pm

Proud day for Pakistan and it airnautical industries, Pakistan zindabad

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hashim_it@hotmail.com

Jun 07, 2015 04:51pm

Hopefully, they will also be able to get an export order. Good going PAF.

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SAQ

Jun 07, 2015 05:02pm

Awsome! Congrats Pakistan.

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Shiraz

Jun 07, 2015 05:09pm

I sincerely wish and hope for a breakthrough for a firm order from potential customers for this aircraft at the Paris Air Show 2015.

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PakFirst

Jun 07, 2015 05:16pm

Lets hope there are sales order. Any African country would do but the breakthrough is needed. This poor country can not affords these sort of projects with poor chances of success. There should be some cost benefit analysis of participating in these shows. Lets be honest the engine is Russian 1950s technology which can not compete in the modern day technology.

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KHALID SOAHIL

Jun 07, 2015 05:24pm

Pakistan ARMY is capable to achieve all objectives.

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Strange

Jun 07, 2015 05:28pm

pakistan needs a more modern aircraft in addition to jf t 17 in order to maintain the cutting edge fighting capability.

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N.S

Jun 07, 2015 06:03pm

@PakFirst No this is an updated technology. Don't have to reinvent the wheel. JF-17 Thunder currently uses Klimov RD-93, a variant of RD-33 Engine. It has been reported that a Chinese engine Guizhou WS-13 Taishan is under development to replace RD-93 eventually. RD-93 has been developed by Klimov Design Bureau in St. Petersburg. It is a variant of Klimov RD-33 Turbofan Engine which powers the MIG-29 Fulcrum. The most significant difference being the repositioning of the gearbox along the bottom of the engine casing.

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Nadeem

Jun 07, 2015 06:07pm

Felicitations for everyone who played a role in this achievement/ production of the JF-17!!!!!!! Maza aa gia!

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Ahtesham

Jun 07, 2015 06:09pm

This is called Power. Power of Pakistan to show world!

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Nasir

Jun 07, 2015 06:18pm

Zero orders so far , we need better marketing

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Last Word

Jun 07, 2015 06:18pm

Not a single JF-17 sold for the past four years does not augur well as millions spent on its manufacture have gone waste. The Chinese have yet again dumped its obsolete stuff on Pakistan and performance wise IAF is rather pleased that it has much superior jets to deal with them.

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someguy

Jun 07, 2015 06:21pm

I hope you guys realize that the JF-17 is some outdated model. Even though the chinese have produced it, they have refused to induct it .. and working on the JF-10 ... nothing to be proud of. This is one of the cheapest fighter plane and it out dated.

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narejo

Jun 07, 2015 06:26pm

Participated in various air shows......dat cost converted into how many orders??

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Mustafa

Jun 07, 2015 06:46pm

Another reason to smile about. Pakistan zindabad!!! :D

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Einstein Babar

Jun 07, 2015 06:48pm

Good work, waiting for J20 also

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Riaz Murtaza

Jun 07, 2015 06:50pm

PAF has to look for much more bigger future challenges.

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Syed Ali

Jun 07, 2015 06:51pm

Better to have some thing; concentrate on improving. Well done.

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Zak

Jun 07, 2015 06:56pm

@Nasir no, so far about 40 have been sold on trial basis. Egypt, Saudi, Nigeria are some.

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Shehz

Jun 07, 2015 07:07pm

Last paragraph is alarming ...... can be fitted with BVR; meaning they still don't have BVR capability? In the times of tech we aren't up to date, this is alarming.

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Sarcastic

Jun 07, 2015 07:32pm

Any aircraft manufactured only for one air force is not sustainable. We to sell it to other air forces to keep it in business. Lets see when and how much business it gets from abroad

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Gautham

Jun 07, 2015 07:59pm

Good

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Rashid Sultan

Jun 07, 2015 08:17pm

@KHALID SOAHIL It's the airforce that flies not the army!

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Abbas khan

Jun 07, 2015 08:27pm

Good news but I will be glad if the engines are also made in Pakistan

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FYI

Jun 07, 2015 08:28pm

@Shehz It simply means you can attach BVR missiles, or laser guided bombs etc. these things are attachable and arent fixed to the aircraft. lighten up please.

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Moham

Jun 07, 2015 08:42pm

Love JF-17 really

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Sonny Afridi

Jun 07, 2015 08:55pm

Nice! Good work PAF!

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Asim

Jun 07, 2015 08:57pm

All the best....I wish we get 1-2 good orders of 10-20 planes.

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Sonny Afridi

Jun 07, 2015 08:57pm

@Shehz yes they do - we have the SD10 BvR missile - it's had this capability for years now even on earlier Block-1 version

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M Jamal

Jun 07, 2015 09:19pm

It is a long way to go but you have to take the first step.Sincerity,knowledge,direction and hard work will bring results.

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lafanga

Jun 07, 2015 09:21pm

@PakFirst It would cost way less than one Saudi trip by the PM. It's not the cost it's the prestige of being invited to participate in a premier world air show which may lead to some lucrative sales orders. JF 17 is not meant for EU or American markets obviously, it is meant for African, ME or South American small countries. Good that PAF is thinking positively to market this to the world.

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MJK

Jun 07, 2015 09:36pm

Hope our pilots put up a good show in maneuverability against competition. International market is a tough nut to crack but it is worth trying, exposure is a main thing.

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Ganga Wasi

Jun 07, 2015 09:53pm

What does Shaheen means?

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Maratha

Jun 07, 2015 09:54pm

Don't be proud of weapons..they only destroy..food for thought...:)

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adnan

Jun 07, 2015 11:37pm

how many orders have been placed?

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Ahsan gul

Jun 08, 2015 12:29am

Congratulations PAF. Positive step towards Pakistan's security and global recognition. Majority of the public about 95% want to see Pakistan moving economically ahead with peace and tranquility. Very few want to pull it back to 15th century- because they are the losers and they are Taliban, head of mudras, and head of religious parties. Public has awareness now to some degrees and those days are not far when big countries will respect Pakistan.

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Zak

Jun 08, 2015 12:57am

The J 17 awed the visitors at the Dubai air show, the compliments were excellent by English competes.

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Zak

Jun 08, 2015 01:14am

Pakistan showing its regional power muscle to the world.

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kirther

Jun 08, 2015 01:33am

Excellent, Good luck.

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PATRAS

Jun 08, 2015 01:50am

Bravo! a confident step which shows the degree of self reliance.

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Goga Nalaik

Jun 08, 2015 01:52am

This year, I'll be a proud visitor at 'Le Bourget Air Show'. Because of its cheap cost, I'm sure Pakistan will find some buyers, especially from east european block. It's latest Equipment makes it anytime better than the french Rafale... Geo Pakistan

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faisal

Jun 08, 2015 02:38am

good for PAF but it wont sell in global market. Russia who is the provider for RD-93 engine is also a direct competitor with its Mig-29 for the same market. Unless you can find a reliable source of engine supply , its useless expecting that Russia will happily sell engines for a 3rd party at the expense of its own plane.

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faisal

Jun 08, 2015 04:46am

@Goga Nalaik Its avionics wont work with western equipment so i doubt eastern european countries will go for it. they may try to court some south american countries but they will most likely prefer Russia (Mig-29) over it. you have a bigger supplier who can offer you big range of weapons and deals compared to JF-17 which is using Russian Engine and Chinese avionics.

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Not Surprised

Jun 08, 2015 06:34am

@Maratha if all countries started to think like this we wouldn't have wars or inequality. Unfortunately that is not going to happen anytime soon...so with that said Pakistan needs to maintain its membership in this dubious club

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proud-winner

Jun 08, 2015 07:01am

Long live Pakistan.

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rehan

Jun 08, 2015 09:15am

Congratulations and best of luck PAF :-)

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rehan

Jun 08, 2015 09:19am

It seems that JF-17 is only being gauged in terms of "number of orders" . Let's not forget that this is a largely indigenous fighter plane and has helped Pakistan a lot in relying less on other countries.

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rehan

Jun 08, 2015 11:08am

Congratulations PAF :)

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N.S

Jun 08, 2015 11:54am

Anyone who has questions about the capabilities of Pakistan manufacturing a fighter plane can go through this eye-opener documentary about the capabilities of PAC(Pakistan aeronautical complex) and about 5 other subsidiaries within the complex. https://vimeo.com/65576464

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Kalimullah

Jun 08, 2015 12:56pm

@PakFirst If you don't know any technical know how then better not speak about it RD93 engine is series of RD33 engine's and widely used in 4 gen to 4.5 gen fighters. I don't know why people degraded our country?. By the way JF17 first appear in Paris Air show on year 2013

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rehan

Jun 08, 2015 01:52pm

Nice to see so much support for PAF .. I am sure our Indian readers are enjoying the love and pride we have for our Air Force :-)

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rehan

Jun 08, 2015 01:55pm

All those comments about JF-17 being a viable "business" are really amusing .

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Akram

Jun 08, 2015 02:02pm

which day is it performing?

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