By Muhammad Luqman
Pakistan and Malaysia are in preliminary discussions about the sale of the combat aircraft, JF-17 Thunder to the Royal Malaysian Air force , reported international magazine Jane’s Defence Weekly.
JF-17 Thunder is a joint production of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Aircraft Industry Corporation .
“ Two governments have had “primary level talks” about a potential sale of the single-engine fighter in order to meet the air combat requirements of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF),” an official of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) was quoted by Jane’s Defence weekly.
“We are aware of the potential requirements in Malaysia for cost-effective fighter aircraft,” he said. “There have been no serious talks but through government-to-government channels there have been what we can describe as primary level talks about the JF-17 programme.”
In supporting a potential deal for Malaysia, the official said that PAC is willing to enter collaborative partnerships with local industry through which technologies could be transferred to facilitate either localised component manufacturing or maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). “Of course, the industrial engagement would depend on the sale of the Malaysian requirement,” he said.
Malaysia initially expressed an interest in the JF-17 several years ago. Malaysia’s high commissioner to Pakistan said in December 2015 that Malaysia was considering purchasing the JF-17 and might make a decision “very soon”.
Malaysia’s requirement stems from continuing delays in the RMAF’s programme to procure a twin-engine multirole combat aircraft. This programme, which was announced more than a decade ago, has been hindered largely due to a lack of funds, Jane’s Defence Weekly reported.
Sri Lanka had also held talks with Pakistan for the acquisition of the JF-17 Thunder aircraft in recent past.
