Pak to buy Chinese light fighter planes

The planes are ready for delivery to Pakistan at the Chengdu aircraft industry. The joining of the latest version of the F-7 MG aircraft will augument the strength of the Pakistani air force, the sources said.

According to the NNI report, by the end of this month, Pakistanis also expected to receive from France eight of the 40 upgraded Mirage aircraft equipped with latest avionics. PAF has already received one installment of eight Mirages, and delivery of the remaining aircraft would becompleted by this year end.

Islamabad is also showing interest in a modern fighter aircraft being jointly developed by the European union named as Euro-fighter with latest avionics, the report said.

Pakistan air force already has in its fleet F-16s and light Chinese F-7 purchased earlier. Pakistan still needs some high-tech aircraft, the source said adding "the presence of all these aircraft does not mean that the Air Force does not need high-tech avionics system. The Air Force still needs modern and sophisticated aircraft and the departments concerned are considering the same". Pakistan had earlier tried to purchase ultra-modern French Mirage 2000-5 but the deal could not be finalised due to pressure from United States on France, the report said.

An agreement with China was signed earlier by Pakistan for jointly developing a Super-7 fighter aircraft but the deal fell through due to various problems facing the project, the report said.

United News of India