Pakistan Air Force to Purchase SD-10A BVRAAM for JF-17 fighter jets

Pakistan Air Force has confirmed that it will purchase SD-10A beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) to equip its planned force of over 250 JF-17 fighter jets. This has been stated by the Rao Qamar Suleman, air chief marshal of the Pakistan Air Force.

Chinese SD-10A BVRAAM were displayed alongside two Pakistan Air Force (PAF) JF-17 Thunder fighters at the Farnborough Air Show 2010. Model of JF-17 Thunder was displayed at the Farnborough Air Show 2010 with six air-to-air missiles incorporated in its wings four of which were SD-10A BVRAAMs.

Chinese SD-10A/PL-12 is an active-radar guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile which is already operational with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). So far Chengdu J-10, Shenyang J-8F, Shenyang J-11 have been seen using this BVRAAMs and missile will be integrated with the JF-17 Thunder by the end of 2010.

S-10A BVRAAM is 3934 mm long and weights 199 kg. SD-10A has a range of greater than 70 km. Its performance is comparable the USAAF’s AIM-120A AMRAAM and Russian R-77 which is sometimes also called AA-12 Adder.

Pakistan Air Force which in past lacked BVRAAM capability has recently inducted the US AIM-120 C-5 AMRAAM along with F-16 C/D Block 52+ and is also upgrading its 45 F16 A/B to F-16AM/BM through MLU package that will enable them to use all the modern weapons used by the F-16 C/D Block 52+.

He has also confirmed that Pakistan Air Force is no longer planning to purchase western avionics and weapon systems for the JF-17 Thunder fighter jets. JF-17 Thunder fighter jet is being jointly developed and produced by the Chengdu Aircraft from China and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.

Three JF-17 Thunders from the Pakistan Air Force are participating in the airshow to attract the customers. Officials from China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) have said that they are in talks with about eight countries for sale of the JF-17 Thunder.

Both countries are offering the JF-17 Thunder fighter jets as cheap but highly capable aircraft to the countries looking to replace their Russian Mig-21, French Mirage-III, Mirage-V, US F-5 and Chinese A-5 and F-7 fighter aircrafts.

So far People’s Liberation Army Air Force has not placed any orders for this fighter jets but both PAC and CATIC are positive that PLAAF will place orders at the later stages as currently main focus of the project is to meet the requirements of Pakistan Air Force.