ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to set up a project to manufacture fighter aircraft to enhance the defense capability of its air force, a leading daily reported.
The proposed project would be established at the Pakistan aeronautical complex (PAX) Kamra in place of the Sabre II project which was abandoned as economically unfeasible the “dawn” said quoting official sources.
The Sabre II project had envisaged development of a fighter aircraft with US and Chinese collaboration. The F-7 aircraft supplied by China were proposed to be upgraded with US engines and avionics.
The funds saved from this project would now be used to finance the 60 F 16 aircraft which Pakistan is purchasing from the US the daily said.
The PAC, Kamra is already developing small trainer aircraft, Mushshak, to meet the PAF requirements. They are also exporting them to some countries.
The daily quoting these sources said the PAC would shortly develop a new jet trainer with Chinese collaboration named “Karakoram-8.””
According to these sources, there was no proposal under consideration to develop F-16s with the collaboration of Pakistan and Turkey.
However, negotiations with the manufacturers and subcontractors for production and coproduction in Pakistan of some spares and components of the F-16 were going on the Daily said.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 9, 1990
Article extracted from this publication >>
