General Juan visited Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra, where he was briefed on the capabilities of the JF-17 Thunder Block III 4+ generation multirole fighter aircraft.
He was also informed of PAC’s world-class fighter aircraft production capabilities, as well as the company’s previously shown ability to produce aircraft on schedule and to the customer’s requirements.
General Juan also invited the top administration of PAC Kamra and key Pakistan Air Force personnel (PAF).
He also visited Pakistan earlier this year, in June. During his tour, he met with the PAF’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar.
Both top officials talked about bilateral military cooperation, including the purchase of JF-17 fighter planes.
Argentina chose to purchase JF-17 Thunder fighter planes in December 2020 after South Korea declined to give Argentine Air Force FA-50 fighter jets owing to diplomatic pressure from Argentina’s geopolitical foe, the United Kingdom.
Argentina’s relations with the United Kingdom have been tense since the 1980s when the latter invaded British Overseas Territories (BOTS), especially the Falkland Islands and its territorial dependency South Georgia, as well as the South Sandwich Islands. The move triggered a 10-week undeclared Falkland War, which concluded with a British triumph.
Defense analysts believe that the AAF’s procurement of JF-17 Block-III fighter planes might have significant political and military repercussions for the UK, particularly in relation to the Falkland and South Sandwich Islands.
The Argentine government formally designated $664 million in the country’s 2022 budget for the acquisition of 12 JF-17 Thunder fighter planes, ten of which would be single-seaters and two of which will be dual-seaters, in September 2021.
About the JF-17 Block-III
The JF-17 Block III is a supersonic, multi-role fighter aircraft of the fourth generation. Combat air patrol, air interdiction, beyond visual range integrated battle, long-range maritime attacks, standoff range precision ground strikes, anti-radiation SEAD/DEAD operations, and electronic warfare are all capabilities.
The PL-15 active radar-guided long-range air-to-air missile with an operating range of more than 180 km is its primary armament. Its secondary weapon is the PL-10 IR missile, a short-range air-to-air missile with a 20-kilometer operating range.
The JF-17 has a Mach 2.0 peak speed, a service ceiling of nearly 55,000 feet, and a newer and far more powerful engine than its predecessors.
It also has improved sensor fusion and avionics (particularly electronic warfare systems), a huge HUD and Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) targeting systems and 8 missile hardpoints.
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