Revamped Pakistan JF-17 jet fighter key to country’s aim of boosting defence exports
Published on Dec 7, 2014 3:21 PM
Visitors look at a PAC JF-17
Thunder multirole combat aircraft, conceived and initially developed
with the help of China, on static display at the International Defence
Exhibition and seminar (IDEAS) in Karachi on Dec 3, 2014. A
revamped version of the JF-17 jet fighter took centre stage at the
defence exhibition as the restive nuclear-armed state looks to boost its
role as a military exporter on the world stage. — PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI (AFP) – A revamped version of Pakistan’s JF-17 jet fighter took centre stage at a defence exhibition in Karachi this week, as the restive nuclear-armed state looks to boost its role as a military exporter on the world stage.
Pakistan’s large, well-funded military has long been a major importer of defence equipment, particularly from key ally China.
But Pakistan is hoping the updated JF-17, conceived and initially developed with the help of China, along with Pakistani-made tanks and surveillance drones, will help grow military exports and bring in much-needed foreign exchange revenue.
Pakistan’s forex reserves are slowly recovering after falling to just US$3 billion (S$4 billion) in November 2013, from nearly US$15 billion in 2011. But the economy is still shackled by a long-running energy crisis and growth remains sluggish, predicted at 4.3 per cent this financial year.
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