MilitaryCAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder
Fighter Jetconfirmed
The JF-17 Thunder is a lightweight, single-engine multirole fighter jointly developed by Pakistan and China. The Block III variant features a Chinese KLJ-7A AESA radar, HMDS helmet sight, and PL-15 BVR missiles — a significant capability upgrade for the Pakistan Air Force.
Specifications
| Type | Fighter Jet |
| Origin | Pakistan |
| Manufacturer | Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) / Chengdu Aircraft Corp (CAC) |
| Introduced | 2007 |
| Generation | 4th |
| Status | In service |
| Ceiling | 16,920 |
| Range | 3,482 |
| Weight | 6,411 |
| Speed | 1,960 |
| Crew | 1 |
History
Project initiated 1990s after U.S. embargoed F-16 spares. First flight 2003, entered service 2007. Block III unveiled 2019. Used against India in the February 2019 Balakot strike response. Pakistan has 160+ in service, forming the backbone of the PAF.
Operators
| Country | Quantity | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 165+ JF-17 Block I/II/III | confirmed |
Text adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo from Wikimedia Commons; see the Wikipedia article for author and license.
