PAC, CATIC discuss JF-17 in radio clip

Came across a clip on Youtube about the Chengdu JF-17 (AKA FC-1 Xialong in China). Owing to the still images I assume this was a radio interview. Interesting to learn that China has 35 staff at Pakistan's Kamra factory to support the joint production programme.

The JF-17 will make its international air show flying debut at Paris next month. Since we are including the JF-17 in our must see aircraft list, one of our UK editors asked me to write 100 words describing the aircraft and its importance. Here is what I sent him:


The Chengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 could be the fighter of choice in developing nations in coming years. With a flyaway cost estimated below $20 million, it was the star of Air Show China in Zhuhai in November 2010.

China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), which markets military aircraft overseas on behalf of the country's manufacturers, said at the show that it was in talks with up to eight countries.

"The JF-17 is a low cost solution for developing countries," said a CATIC executive at Zhuhai. PAC began indigenous assembly of the aircraft last year, and could incorporate western avionics, radars and other systems into the fighter from 2012.