(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Pakistani military authorities are determined to acquire 30 to 40 fourth generation stealth fighter (FC-31) aircraft from China with a view to pre-empting the rapidly increasing aerial dominance of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the region.
Conceding that senior Pakistani defence officials were already holding talks with their Chinese counterparts to acquire the fourth generation stealth aircraft (also called Shenyang FC-31 Multi-Purpose Medium Fighter Jets), informed sources in the security establishment said that Pakistan has been made to approach China and Russia to fulfil its defence procurements as the Pak-US defence ties continue to chill, despite General Raheel Shareefs recent visit to the United States.
The Pakistani defence officials are already in the process of inking an agreement with Russia to purchase 20 Mi-35 gunship helicopters which can be operated in the mountainous terrain of the Waziristan region where a military operation is in full swing against the Taliban militants.
The sources said Pakistan wants to procure the Chinese FC-31 aircraft as a part of its ongoing efforts to boost the air combat capabilities of the PAF and offset the growing strength of the Indian Air Force in the region.
International media reports say China is offering its 18 ton J-31 stealth fighter to export customers as the FC-31.
The FC-31 stealth fighter jet reportedly matches a strong need for fifth generation fighters by the Pakistan Air Force, which is already struggling to find an aircraft to go up against the Russian-made T-50 fifth-generation fighter, being acquired by India. The twin-engine FC-31 fighter jet resembles the American Air Force's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, being produced by Lockheed Martin Corporation.
FC-31 is the export version of the Shenyang J-31 which is already flying since 2012 and is powered by two Russian-made engines.
Designed to fly close air support, air interdiction and other missions, the Pakistan Air Force intends to buy FC-31 to replace the American-made F-16s, although it is to employ tactical rather than stealth aircraft in actual missions to support ground troops.
Being produced by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, China's Shenyang FC-31 Fighter Jet is intended to be a rival to the American F-35 and Russian Sukhoi Su-35. The Chinese fighter jet was displayed at the recently held air show in China's Zhuhai city in Guangdong Province.
The show concluded on November 16 after signing of 300 purchase deals worth a record $23.5bn. The 10th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition witnessed sales of 227 aircraft of different types. Over 700 aviation and aerospace manufacturers from 40-plus countries attended the six-day air show where 130 aircraft were displayed.
A high level Pakistani military delegation led by Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt also attended the air show.
According to the sources, after attending the air show, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt also held talks with the Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan and discussed bilateral military ties including cooperation between the air forces of the two friendly neighbouring states.
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