First JF-17 squadron forms
Local, Pakistan Saturday, February 20th, 2010The first squadron of new JF-17 fighters has been formally activated in Pakistan.
The first squadron of new JF-17 ‘Thunder’ fighters, No.26 Squadron ‘Lightning Thunders’, was formally activated in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) at “one of the PAF’s operational bases”, though to be Kamra-Minhas.
Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff was chief guest on the occasion. “We are a peaceful nation with no aggressive designs and want to maintain peace with honour in our region,” he said in a statement. “We are inducting new systems to keep pace with technology and maintain credible conventional balance of force, without which peace cannot be ensured in South Asia.”
The JF-17 will be used in Exercise ‘Hi-Mark 2010’ during September. It is thought that 14 aircraft are in service with 26 Squadron with another 24 to be delivered from the initial production contract batch. The PAF’s total requirement for the type is estimated as being as high as 250.
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on Feb 20 2010. Filed under