Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad and Chinese Ambassador H.E Luo Zhaohui witnessing signing contract for co-production of JF-17 SP (Serial Production) aircraft and avionics equipments. — APP

ISLAMABAD The Pakistan Air Force and a Chinese firm signed an agreement on Saturday to produce a series of JF-17 (Thunder) aircraft for PAF.

The agreement, signed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex chairman Air Marshal Khalid Chaudhry and CATIC president M.A. Zhiping, will be on the basis of `seller`s credit`. Under the agreement, 42 fighter jets will be produced jointly for PAF.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed and Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui attended the signing ceremony.

Talking to reporters, the air chief said `in the beginning we will produce 15 aircraft annually and the number will later increase to 30. The programme will be carried out in phases.`

He said the first squadron of the fighter jets would be inducted into the PAF fleet by the middle of this year, adding that PAF had been using eight jointly produced aircraft for the past couple of years. The fleet would be raised in Peshawar, he added.

About the delivery of AWACS system to Pakistan, the air chief said an agreement had already been reached with a Chinese firm for start of delivery by 2010.

`On the delivery of first AWACS system, Pakistan will pay 10 per cent cost of the aircraft while the remaining amount would be paid on instalments,` he added.

He said the agreement between Pakistan and China for the delivery of the J-10 aircraft was intact and these aircraft would be delivered to PAF in 2014-15. The aircraft were being modernised in accordance with PAF`s requirements and would be delivered under the title of FC-20.