SARGODHA: JF-17 Thunder, the multi-role and all weather fighter aircraft, was formally inducted in the prestigious Combat Commanders' School (CCS) of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) here on Monday.
The induction of this indigenous war fighting machine will further facilitate advanced combat training of PAF fighter pilots.
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Operations), Air Marshal Sohail Aman, was the chief guest on the occasion.
When smoke grey camouflaged Thunders landed at the air base, the jubilant crowd gathered at the occasion welcomed them with a thunderous applause.
The smartly turned out PAF ground crew received the aircraft at the tarmac.
As the fighter pilots stepped out of the cockpits, they were presented bouquets by young children. Later on the chief guest met the air and ground crew and had a group.
While addressing on the occasion, the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) said PAF was fully prepared to meet the external and internal challenges.
He said the role of air power had increased manifold and it had become a weapon of first choice.
In his welcome address, Commander Mushaf Base, Air Commodore Sarfraz Khan said the induction of JF-17 Thunder in CCS would open new vistas of training for PAF pilots.
He said so far 50 JF-17 Thunder aircraft had been commissioned in the PAF.
It may be mentioned here that the induction of JF-17 aircraft in the PAF started in 2007. Today, it is operating two JF-17 squadrons, which are actively engaged in all types of operations.
Induction of JF-17 aircraft in CCS is a major milestone towards self-reliance and enhancement of operational capability.
Jointly co-developed by Pakistan and China, JF-17 Thunder is a light weight all weather multi-role fighter aircraft.
Modern state of the art avionics suite, advance cockpit layout with capability to carry a number of air to air and air to ground/seas weapons makes it a formidable, affordable and dependable fighter aircraft.
Integration of a potent BVR missile further makes it versatile fighter aircraft in today's air battle arena.
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