BEIJING: The JF-17 fighter, jointly developed by China and Pakistan, notched its first sale at the Dubai Air Show and may receive additional orders in the future, the China Daily said on Wednesday, citing a Chinese executive.

Aviation Industry Corp of China (Avic) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex closed the deal with an unidentified buyer at the air show, the newspaper said, citing an Avic statement. It did not say when the contract was signed or how many jets were sold.

“Several potential buyers have expressed to us their strong intention of introducing the aircraft,” Liu Yu, deputy head of Avic’s military aircraft sales division, was quoted as saying.

Also read: Pakistan wins first jet order at Paris Air Show: spokesman

China’s weapons exports jumped 143 per cent in the five years to 2014 compared to the previous five-year period, but still only account for about 5pc of the global arms market.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2015