The head of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) said Tuesday that Pakistan had introduced 50 home-assembled multi-role JF-17 Thunder fight jets into its airforce.

Air Marshal Javed Ahmed, chief of the state-owned Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), said the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had already received 50 of the home-made aircraft and that the supply of the second block would start this month.

Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder jet

“The five aircraft of the next block would be inducted (into PAF) this year,” Air Marshal Javed Ahmed, told AFP on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition And Seminars (Ideas) in Karachi, an arms fair that brings together dealers from all over the world.

Pakistan has been manufacturing the JF-17 aircraft since 2009 with the help of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation of China (CACC).

“JF-17 is a modern aircraft, it fulfils all the needs of PAF, it is affordable, the cockpit is very user friendly, all beyond visual range attack capabilities as well as stand of deliveries are available at this aircraft,” Ahmed said.

Pakistan’s defence budget sucks up about 20 percent of its national income annually, leaving a meagre share for education and health facilities.

Pakistani ordnance factories have recently been making attempts to develop arms to meet domestic needs, as well as seeking to tap into the export market.

“A lot of international customers from developing countries have shown interest in the aircraft and we are in active negotiations with many countries,” the PAC chief said.