NEWTOWN, Conn. - Sources within Pakistan's Ministry of Defense have informed Taiwanese media that a sale of the JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter to Myanmar has been concluded. Myanmar evinced interest in procuring the JF-17 (also known as the FC-1 Xiaolong) back in June 2014 according to the Myanmar Times.
Jointly developed by China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, the JF-17 is a lightweight, single engine fighter armed with bombs, missiles, laser guided munitions and countermeasures. Myanmar has sought to acquire the necessary technology transfer from China and Pakistan that would allow it to license-produce JF-17 multirole combat aircraft at its own Myanmar Air Force Aircraft Production and Maintenance Base in Meiktila. In the past Myanmar defense cooperation with China allowed it to locally produce the Chinese Q-5 Fantan close air support and ground attack aircraft, 22 of which are still operated by the Myanmar Air Force.
While Pakistani sources claim the sale of the JF-17 to Myanmar has been inked, there has yet to be confirmation of the rumored sale emanating from Myanmar government officials. If true, the new fighter will be used to augment 24 MiG-29 combat aircraft procured by Mynmar between 2001 and 2009.
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