The JF-17 Thunder, which was supposed to be a low-cost lightweight and all-weather multi-role fighter with a Chinese airframe, has turned into a liability for Islamabad. According to a media report, the Chinese-designed JF-17 Thunder aircraft has become a problem for the Pakistani air force due to engine cracks, poor serviceability, costly maintenance and diminishing performance. When Beijing and Islamabad signed a pact for collaborative Construction in 1999, the JF-17 was advertised as a combat jet, similar to the SU-30mki MiG-29 and Mirage 2000. But the reality was completely opposite. Much to the displeasure of the Pakistan Air Force. It was planned to be equipped with Western avionics and driven by the Russian Klimov RD 93 Aero engine.
But the jet is far from the promises made by the Chinese epic blunders of JF-17s on February 27, 2019, During an attempted retaliation to the Indian Air Force, which was targeting a Pakistani terrorist organization. The JF-17 showed low endurance, poor accuracy and low weapon-carrying capability against Indian Air Force’s Mirage 2000 and 230s. The JF-17 fighters used all of their range extension kit bombs but failed to hit the targets due to effective jamming and counter-attacks by Indian Air Force fighter jets. Its indigenous data link is not only unreliable in the air defence function; it also lacks sufficient data transfer rate and will never be integrated with the F-16 Fighters link to provide real interoperability capabilities; the Thunder lacks even a functional bvr or Airborne interception, radar, KLJ7, Al radar And weapon Mission management computer are essential components of the JF-17 avionics, and both have issues. The wmmc has limited capacity with a high rate of failure of several modules, including the main computer module, while the KLJ7 radar has poor performance and severe operational and maintenance issues.
The fighter jet also got other issues like noise; landing gear shimmies during taxing, and a number of aircraft experience nose, wheel, and vibrations. Furthermore, cracks were discovered in the ventral Trails indicating an adequate Metallurgy or design. Pakistan is now considering China’s j-10 fighter, which is very affordable at 25 million United States dollars per aircraft. The cost of the aircraft, however, will be high for Islamabad Due to the Pakistan rupees devaluation of about 30
Last year, Pakistan spent over 3 billion on the purchase of these 3.5 generation aircraft, and currently, Pakistan Air Force possesses a fleet of over 100 JF-17 fighter jets, which can be used for multiple roles, including interception ground attack, anti-ship and aerial reconnaissance.
