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JF-17 Thunder a morale booster
Sultan M Hali Comment
THE atmosphere was charged, the onlookers held their breath and
suddenly the silence was shattered by a crescendo of “Allah-o-Akbar”
as the first JF-17 Thunder produced in Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
Kamra rolled out, marking a historical moment of Pakistan joining
the august club of nations, which are capable of designing and
producing their own fighter aircraft.
The scene was reminiscent of May 28, 1998, when the first nuclear
tests were carried out; marking Pakistan’s crossing the nuclear
threshold, after being goaded into it by a belligerent and saber
rattling hostile neighbour India, which had executed its own nuclear
tests only two weeks earlier. It was so certain that Pakistan did
not have the technology to match that it was cackling a hen that has
perhaps laid an asteroid and was threatening Pakistan of dire
consequences. Once Pakistan unleashed its fury as the Chaghai Hills
turned white with the power, energy and force released with
Pakistan’s tests, India had to eat a humble pie. Pakistan was
sanctioned and its defence procurements embargoed but its resolve to
defend itself against a hostile, many times more powerful and armed
to the teeth neighbour did not weaken. International sanctions
affected Pakistan and not India because Pakistan was totally
dependent on western sources for its defence needs. Indian planners
had made long term strategic alliances with the Soviet Union and
later its successor Russia so any amount of sanctions did not affect
it one iota.
The adverse circumstances affected Pakistan’s defence capabilities
in general and Pakistan Air Force’s fighting capacity in particular
because the air force is a technology specific force where
obsolescence sets in rapidly and its has to keep abreast of the
latest developments and the state-of-the-art technology. Adversity
breeds courage and the defence planners of Pakistan accepted the
challenge and pressed forward with plans of indigenous production.
Pakistan Army went on to produce Main Battle Tanks, Guns and
ammunition, while the Navy opted for destroyers, frigates,
submarines and gun boats. The case for Pakistan Air Force was tricky
since designing and producing an aircraft from a scratch is highly
complex and the sanctions made it doubly difficult. Our time tested
friends the Chinese came to our rescue and Pakistan opted for a
joint venture. Having learnt lessons from India’s Light Combat
Aircraft (LCA) Tejas disastrous experience, which is fifteen years
behind schedule and has consumed billions of dollars and the Euro
Fighter, which despite being based on western hi-tech industrial
base, took 21 years to develop. Pakistan opted for a less ambitious,
cost effective but hard hitting fighter aircraft, which would be
achievable within the resources yet, have the necessary bite.
Pakistani engineers and technicians were put to the test along with
their Chinese mentors.
The result of the sweat, blood and toil was visible in the first
prototype being launched in 2003, a record three years within the
launch of the project. The teething glitches were addressed to and
the skies of Islamabad reverberated for the first time with the roar
of JF-17 Thunder on the auspicious date of 23 March 2007, Pakistan
Day Parade Fly Past. The nation was thrilled by the sight of the two
JF-17s draped in Pakistan Flag colours, saluting the nation as they
dipped low and then climbed high disappearing in the skies, their
afterburners glowing in the misty sky.
November 23, 2009 culminates in the beginning of a new era, where
the first JF-17 produced in Pakistan was inducted in the PAF’s
inventory. The first JF-17 Thunder squadron will be formulated in
2010. It will gradually replace the A-5s, F-7s and subsequently the
Mirages and become the mainstay of Pakistan Air Force. Pakistan will
no longer be bullied and sanctioned by western sources and will have
the option to upgrade the current JF-17 platform and design and
produce even more advanced in future generations, with the
invaluable experience gained. Any reference to JF-17 would be
incomplete without a mention of the Aviation Industries of China,
especially M/s CATIC – the company that co-developed the aircraft
and the astute and reliable Government of the Peoples’ Republic of
China, for their vision and whole-hearted support both technically
as well as financially for the project.
Successive PAF leadership of PAF and Pakistan must be credited for
having the vision to plan and execute the project and continue when
each baton pf command changed.
The nation deserves praise for its sacrifice and tenacity to
surmount each difficulty. In these tumultuous moments of trial and
tribulation, the JF-17 is a morale booster for the nation as it has
brought cheer and pride for the achievements of its engineers,
technicians and aircrew. Pakistan Zindabad. |
