KARACHI: The 9th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar IDEAS-2016 is a combined effort of Pakistan armed forces and Government of Pakistan for self-dependence by growing the local defence production industry instead of looking towards others for the country's defence requirements.
Talking to media during his visit to IDEAS-2016 exhibition on Thursday, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief , Air Marshal Sohail Aman said that all legal formalities, including acquiring of land, for the aviation city had been completed. The aviation city, being set up at Kamrah, would be a complete education and research city. It would emerge as the centre of excellence for entire South Asia. There would be the best facilities for research on air defence capacity, he said.
About Pakistan-made Supper Mashak aircraft, the Air Chief said it had gained popularity in the world. Many countries had shown interest in it. Nigeria, Qatar and Turkey had entered deals to purchase Mashak aircraft.
On Wednesday, the second day of IDEAS-2016 exhibition, Turkey signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pakistan Aeronautical Complex to purchase fifty two Super Mashak aircraft from PAC.
" Soon, we are going to engage in talks with some countries and hope, there may good deal on JF-17," he revealed to the media.
He said PAC was also upgrading JF-17 Thunder to make it more effective for the country's defence; rather to get a good share in international defence market.
Air Marshal Sohail Aman said these new developments in defence production sector would further strengthen Pakistan's relations with its friend countries. " We will stand together with our friend countries," he added.
He informed that there were the best training facilities at PAC in air defence sector. Foreigners, even Europeans, were getting training at PAC.
PAF's Chief reassured the nation that Pakistan Air Force was very much capable and ready to respond to any hostile activity. Similarly, he continued, Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy were fully equipped and in high spirit and the enemy should understand our capacity and courage.
Then, PAF Chief had detailed visit of the exhibition and interacted with the local and foreign exhibitors.
At Pakistan Aeronautical Complex stall, Air Marshall Sohail Aman witnessed the ceremony of signing MoU between PAC and a French Company manufacturing defence production.
Air Commodore Waqar Haider and French company's representative Julius signed the MoU.
Under the agreement, the French company extend technical support/expertise to upgrade PAF's air-buses and other aircraft etc., to French standard.
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