JF-17

Pakistan is reportedly offering its Taimoor air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) for export. It may package this ALCM with the new JF-17 Block-3....Read More

By Arslan Khan On 15 September 2021, the Government of Argentina allocated funding for the procurement of 12 JF-17 Thunder multi-role aircraft from China. According to Jane’s, the total procurement cost of the program was set...

As the JF-17 seemingly closes in on its third export sale (to Argentina), this article explores why more countries may seek the Sino-Pak multi-role fighter....Read More

The PAF could upgrade its existing JF-17 fleet to acquire fleet-wide ‘first-shot’ and stand-off range strike capabilities in the next five years....Read More

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) are looking to seal new JF-17 contracts with Argentina and Malaysia....Read More

A recent photo of a JF-17 Block-III prototype (3001) equipped with the PL-10 high-off-boresight (HOBS) air-to-air missile (AAM) shows that weapons integration is underway....Read More

In an interview with Pucará Defense, the Chief of the General Staff of the Argentine Air Force, Brigadier Xavier Isaac, revealed that the country will reconsider the JF-17 Thunder. The disclosure follows Buenos Aires’ inability to...

Part 2 of ‘Pakistan’s 2030 Air Warfare Goals’ series argues that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) should modernize (or expand) its fighter fleet with solely the JF-17. ...Read More

The Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar announced that the NAF will receive its three JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighters in November 2020....Read More

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) selected the NRIET KLJ-7A active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for its forthcoming multi-role combat aircraft, the JF-17 Block-III....Read More

In December 2019, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) rolled-out the first eight of 26 twin-seat JF-17B fighters for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). PAC will produce another 14 in 2020. ...Read More

The JF-17 Block-III is likely to incorporate a dedicated hardpoint for special mission pods, and while the addition of targeting and electronic warfare pods is confirmed, Pakistan should consider fitting the JF-17 with an infrared search...

In December 2019, the prototype of the JF-17 Block-III made its maiden test flight at CAIG’s facility in Chengdu. The Block-III retains the airframe of the preceding Block-I and Block-II, however, though the design will incorporate...

In December 2019, the prototype of the JF-17 Block III conducted its maiden test flight. There are only minor changes to the airframe, most of the upgrades are either internal or subsystem related....Read More

On 29 November 2019, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) announced that it held a ‘command level operation’ exercise – designated ‘Hawk-Eye’ – across all three of its Regional Commands. ...Read More

Marketed as a ‘supersonic anti-ship missile’, the CM-400AKG is among the proposed stand-off range weapon options for the JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role fighter co-produced by Pakistan and China. The CM-400AKG is marketed with a weight of...

On 26 September 2019, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) announced that it rolled-out its first two domestically overhauled JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighters. ...Read More

Though the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is likely to select a Chinese active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for the JF-17 Block-3, the Leonardo Grifo-E is an option. The Grifo-E presents the JF-17 with a Western...

With its maiden flight slated by the end of 2019, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is preparing for the production and induction of the JF-17 Block 3. The JF-17 Block 3 is the first major iterative...

On March 12, 2019 the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) announced that it test-fired a new “extended range” precision-guided weapon from a JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter....Read More

Besides announcing a new lead-in fighter-trainer (LIFT) program, much of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) procurement activity centers on staying the course with a pre-existing, long-term modernization plan....Read More

Turkish defence giant Aselsan confirmed (in its Annual Yearbook for 2017) that its ASELPOD advanced targeting pod was successfully integrated and tested from the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighters....Read More

On 20 June 2018, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari signed the country’s next fiscal budget – i.e. the 2018 Appropriation Bill of the Federal Government of Nigeria – into law. Not only did the final budget retain...

The Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology (NRIET) is integrating its newly-revealed KLJ-7A active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar to the forthcoming JF-17 Block-III. NRIET says that the new AESA radar will provide improved range, target tracking/engagement...

Quwa Premium’s Monthly Report for February 2018 provides a detailed overview of the leading events affecting the development of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter program. It starts with discussing the factors that...

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s (AVIC) 607 research institute announced that it completed the development of an air-cooled AESA radar...Read More

By introducing several key technologies and improvements to the platform, the JF-17B may form the basis of the JF-17 Block-III...Read More

The dual-seat version of the JF-17 Thunder – the JF-17B – is reportedly undergoing ground tests in preparation for a maiden test flight...Read More

The Pakistan Air Force is expected to place its formal order for 50 JF-17 Block-IIIs from the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in the first half of 2017....Read More

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) delivered a total of 70 JF-17 Block-I and Block-II multi-role fighters to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)…...Read More

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex has signed a memorandum of understanding with a French company…...Read More

The availability of the KLJ-7A AESA radar is a very exciting prospect for the Pakistan Air Force, but could it expedite the availability of an AESA radar-equipped JF-17?...Read More

The Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology (NRIET) has unveiled a new active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar for the JF-17 …...Read More

An overview of the JF-17's value to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), mainly as a new backbone fighter for mainstreaming current capabilities to the fleet....Read More

Not a conventional comparison of the JF-17 Thunder and LCA Tejas, but a look at cases where each platform shines in comparative to the other....Read More

Turkey's Aselsan secured a $25 million contract to integrate the ASELPOD advanced targeting pod to an airborne platform of an undisclosed country....Read More

The Nigerian Air Force is readying itself to induct a batch of JF-17 Thunder & Super Mushshak trainers acquired from Pakistan Aeronautical Complex....Read More

The JF-17 Block-III is a significant upgrade of the Thunder, and an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar will be the most important addition. ...Read More

A look at possible high off-boresight (HOBS) air-to-air missile (AAM) options for the forthcoming JF-17 Block-III....Read More

An overview of how Aselsan - Turkey’s leading avionics vendor - could potentially equip the JF-17 Thunder, especially for export purposes...Read More

It has to be asked – what new qualitative capability is the $70-80 million a unit F-16 Block-52+ bringing to the Pakistan Air Force?...Read More

Pakistan's JF-17s have logged over 19,000 operational flight hours, talks are also underway with up to eight countries interested in the Thunder...Read More

The first dual-seat Thunder – the JF-17B – has entered production in Chengdu, the Pakistan Air Force is aiming to induct the fighter by April 2017...Read More

The Government of Azerbaijan invited Pakistan to present the JF-17 at its upcoming ADEX 2016 defence exhibition in September...Read More

The JF-17 Block-III could incorporate an infrared search and track (IRST) system, but what IRST options are available? We take a look....Read More

The Pakistan Air Force is considering the idea of changing the JF-17's engine from the RD-93 to the newer RD-33MK or WS-13....Read More

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif formally handed over the JF-17 Thunder to the No. 2 (“Minhas”) fighter squadron at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Base Masroor. ...Read More

A look at how the Pakistan Air Force could pursue its helmet-mounted display/sight (HMD/S) options for the JF-17 Block-III...Read More

The Pakistan Air Force is interested in acquiring the Thales Damocles targeting pod for the JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter...Read More

Link-17 has given the PAF a network protocol that it can use with a wide range of aerial assets, such as the JF-17 Thunder. ...Read More

The Pakistan Air Force is aiming to retire 190 fighters by 2020. The F-16 & JF-17 will be at the center of these plans, but other fighters may be possible....Read More

In addition to the subsystems slotted for use on the JF-17, it may be prudent for the PAF to incorporate a photo-reconnaissance pod on the Block-III...Read More

Jordan takes delivery of surplus Blackhawk helicopters from the U.S; India clears $3 billion U.S. in arms purchases from Israel; and more ...Read More

A lightweight anti-ship cruise missile offers specific advantages, especially in terms of the JF-17’s limited payload capacity...Read More

Today’s piece will review the JF-17 and its role in forming the mainstay of the PAF fighter fleet, not only in terms of the upcoming Block-III, but beyond as well. We will also take a look...

The JF-17's Chief Project Directo said that Selex was competing for the JF-17 Block-III's AESA radar requirement; could more be afoot in this area? ...Read More

To present the JF-17 Block-III with the latest in munitions technology, such as the Denel Dynamics A-Darter, Raptor-II, Umbani, etc would be a true leap....Read More

Pakistan needs to guarantee the availability of the latest munitions with the JF-17. The ideal country to offer the goods is South Africa....Read More

22-28 January 2016 - JF-17 spotted with alternate refuelling probe; Pakistan looks to expand its shipbuilding capacity; Pakistan’s initiates C-130B/E upgrade & life-extension plan...Read More

Pakistan reportedly closed the sale of eight JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft to Sri Lanka on 05 January 2016. This marks the second finalized overseas JF-17 sale for Pakistan, the first likely being Myanmar...Read More

Nearly 12 years after its maiden flight, the JF-17 was able to secure its first export order during the Paris Air Show in June 2015. At the time the customer was not disclosed, but at this...

Last week an article emerged on Ceylon Today outlining not only a possible sale of 10 JF-17s to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), but additional news about mounting Indian...

  The information below will not be new to most Pakistani defence enthusiasts, especially those following the development of the JF-17 Thunder, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF)’s new mainstay multi-role fighter. That said, all of what...

By Bilal Khan The Pakistan Air Force (PAF)’s No. 2 fighter squadron operating out of Masroor Air Base in Karachi has formally inducted the JF-17 Thunder. The squadron was previously flying the Chengdu F-7P Skybolt, a...

By Bilal Khan The previous part of Quwa’s JF-17 series outlined the major changes coming to the platform via the development of JF-17 Block-3. Whereas the JF-17 of today is a significant improvement for the Pakistan...

By Bilal Khan Previous articles on Quwa discussed why the JF-17 is a significant advancement for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Not only is the JF-17 an effective multi-role platform that is poised to form the...

By Bilal Khan DefenseNews published an interesting article the other day about a Chinese firm, NAV Technology, putting out a marketing document showing a fighter radar that is identical to the Israeli Elta ELM-2052 Active Electronically...

By Bilal Khan In my previous piece I took a high level look at the JF-17 program, and in broad strokes I identified the improvements it brought (and will continue) to bring to the Pakistan Air...

Note: This was Quwa’s very first article, published over four years ago in 2015.  Whether it be wars with its rival India or periods of not-so-great relations with the U.S, the PAF has often suffered as...