Kamra (Pakistan), March 12 Two prototypes of the JF-17 advanced multi-role light combat aircraft (LCA) that has been jointly developed with China have arrived in Pakistan for evaluation trials, Online news agency reported.
The aircraft were formally received here Monday at a ceremony attended, among others, by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) head, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed.
The JF-17 is scheduled to make its first public appearance in Islamabad on March 23 during a flypast at the National Day Joint Services Parade.
The first JF-17 prototype flew in August 2003, and four such are currently flying. The third prototype was the first in a fully integrated configuration.
The two aircraft have been sent to Pakistan to speed up the development process.
The flight evaluation to be conducted by PAF will greatly help in improving the performance of aircraft and making it more competitive and reliable, officials said.
At Monday's ceremony, Ahmed inspected the JF-17 aircraft and met the pilots, engineers and technicians involved in its development to complement them on their hard work and devotion in translating a dream into reality.
Air Marshal Khalid Chaudhry, chairman of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Board, and Air Vice Marshal Farhat Hussain, the chief project director of the JF-17, also attended the ceremony.
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