Pakistan JF-17 Fighter Jet deal going through

The JF -17 is a lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of China. The JF-17 can be used for aerial reconnaissance, ground attack and aircraft interception. Its designation 'JF-17' by Pakistan is the acronym for 'Joint Fighter-17'

Pakistan JF-17 Fighter Jet deal going through
By Gagani Weerakoon
2016-07-10

Sri Lanka will be shortly concluding the purchase deal with Pakistan for supply of 10 JF -17 Thunder multi-role Fighter Jets, developed in a joint Sino-Pakistan venture, with delivery expected early 2017.
Pakistan has stationed Brigadier Muhammad Bashir in Colombo to work out the details of the deal. That will include finance arrangements, sources confirmed.

The deal to purchase this stunning new multi-role fighter from the Pakistan Air Force was held in abeyance under mounting pressure from the highest levels in the Indian Government.

When the deal was first mooted it was expected to be inked in Colombo during Pakistani Premier Nawaz Shariff's visit in early January this year. The deal included the sale of 10 JF -17 s, each priced around US$ 35million through a special Line of Credit (LoC). But Shariff's visit ended with eight Pakistan-Sri Lanka agreements being signed in Colombo during the visit. None were related to defence cooperation or to the JF-17 deal.

SLAF Commander Gagan Bulathsinhala visited Pakistan last year for a reality check on the aircraft at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra, where the PAC and China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) co-manufacture the fighters.
Ceylon Today last December revealed that the Sri Lankan Government was facing mounting pressure from its powerful neighbour India over this specific deal with Pakistan.

A highly placed source in the diplomatic corps said India came out strongly against the deal with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to purchase 10 JF-17 combat aircraft.

Indian National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, had personally expressed India's concerns in connection with the deal to President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Doval had personally telephoned President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and told them outright that New Delhi was against the deal, warning that Sri Lanka will have to face serious repercussions if the deal was sealed with Pakistan.

Sri Lanka made a compromise offer to purchase three naval ships from India as suasion for India to desist from objecting to the deal with Pakistan. This, however, was not favoured by India, and New Delhi maintained the pressure instead.

The Sri Lankan Defence Ministry then asked India for 10 JF-17 aircraft or a similar fighter jet. India came up with a counter deal offering the SL Government a credit line to purchase alternative combat aircraft subject to the condition that Sri Lanka could buy the aircraft from any country other than Pakistan.

Pakistan however maintained a low profile and renewed their offer stating that they would give 10 F-7 combat craft free if Sri Lanka makes an outright purchase on the initial deal.

The finalisation of the deal was gradually put off following the low key visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Dr.Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Colombo ahead of the Pakistan Premier's visit in January 2016.

The deal was apparently opened when former Air Force Commander Jayalath Weerakkody was serving as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Pakistan.

The JF -17 is a lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of China. The JF-17 can be used for aerial reconnaissance, ground attack and aircraft interception. Its designation 'JF-17' by Pakistan is the acronym for 'Joint Fighter-17'