TSAMTO, July 11. According to Pakistani media, the Iraqi Armed Forces command intends to purchase JF-17 Thunder light combat aircraft in Pakistan. Thus, Iraq became the fifth country to initiate the purchase of fighter jets from Pakistan.
According to sources Thenews.com.pk, the Iraqi government approved the allocation of $664 million for the purchase of 12 JF-17 Thunder Block 3 aircraft in Pakistan.
Earlier it was reported that Iraq has already signed a contract with a Pakistani company for the purchase of an unspecified number of aircraft, presumably JF-17. Negotiations on the sale of aircraft continued for more than two years.
It is reported that Iraq is interested in acquiring JF-17 aircraft, first of all, to use them against UAVs, since it constantly faces this threat. According to the sources of the publication, the purchase of aircraft in Pakistan will be the largest defense deal between the two countries.
The JF-17 is a single–engine multi-purpose combat aircraft developed by the Chinese Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) with the participation of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). The flight range is 1,200 nautical miles (2,222 km), but can be increased by external fuel tanks. The aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 13.5 tons on seven suspension nodes can carry a combat load weighing up to 4,600 kg and use air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons at any time of the day.
Option Block.3 will be equipped with the KLJ-7A radar developed by the Chinese corporation CETC (China Electronic Technology Group Corporation) with an active antenna array with electronic scanning (AESA), advanced electronic warfare systems, will be able to carry more payload, as well as use a wider range of weapons.
As reported, about 58% of the JF-17 airframe is manufactured in Pakistan, and 42% – in China, the final assembly takes place at the PAC enterprise in Pakistan. The buyers of the JF-17 are the Air Forces of Pakistan, Nigeria and Myanmar. Negotiations on the sale of the fighter were also conducted with Azerbaijan, Argentina, Qatar, Malaysia, Morocco, Sudan and Sri Lanka.
