Myanmar junta angry over problems with Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jets

The acquisition of the JF-17 Thunder, a China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) third-generation fighter, from Pakistan by the Myanmar military junta has become a major issue, as the 11 aircraft supplied between 2019 and 2021 have been declared unfit for operations due to malfunctions and structural failures. Attempts by Pakistani engineers to fix the problems have failed, leading to frustration within the board, local Myanmar media reported.

A story of trouble hangs over Pakistan’s Chinese JF-17 ‘pride’

The Chinese plane, which Pakistan claims is a joint venture, has high maintenance costs and technical challenges have raised questions about its usefulness and logistical problems for Line Replacement Units (LRUs). Pakistan claims it’s a joint venture, but only a few parts of the plane’s fuselage are assembled at Kamra, and it can’t even make the LRUs because of its “supposed” Pakistani pride. In 2021 Pakistan Kamra Aviation Complex was struggling to keep the production line afloat. In a telefax, Imran Afzal Janjua, former director general of PAC Kamra, said: “The non-availability of these items (LRU for JF-17) is severely hampering our (PAC) production.” The LRU list includes even minor springs, which Pakistan had to request to purchase from China. This in itself speaks to what percentile the JF-17 is Pakistani at.

List of LRU PACs requested from China for the JF-17 production line in 2021. | Image: CAP

According to ANI reports, the JF-17 aircraft faced critical problems, particularly with its avionics, including the problematic KLJ-7 Al radar and the unreliable Weapons Mission Management Computer (WMMC). These issues affect combat effectiveness, making it difficult to launch missiles beyond visual range. The limited weapons loadout and reliance on Russian RD-93 engines further limit its performance. Technical problems, such as those with the landing gear, added to their problems.

The JF-17 has persistently faced a number of technical and reliability issues, particularly with its avionics and engine, which supports why Pakistan, a country with relentless economic problems, bought the J-10 rather than keep its “pride”. the Chinese Thunder and, to some extent, the Pakistani.

Pakistan fails to woo countries to get their JF-17s

The Junta is isolated from the West, with only minor interactions with its western neighbors. The “flight failure” of the JF17 could result in the end of Pakistan’s ambition to sell more weapons to Myanmar. India, back in 2020, had gifted the INS Sindhuvir submarine, a Russian Kilo-class submarine, to Myanmar, with some other small purchases made earlier by the junta, as a move to influence China’s influence in Myanmar, along with the India’s own strategic objectives. in Burma.

According to local reports, Myanmar has sought Chinese intervention in the matter. Pakistan is reportedly trying to renegotiate the deal with updated versions of the JF-17s, but it is unclear if the board will agree. This crisis has also hampered Pakistan’s efforts to sell similar aircraft to other countries. The JF-17 has failed to impress Malaysia and its deal with Iraq seems long overdue. Uncertainty looms rather imminently and probably the JF-17 can now stop dreaming of an Argentine livery after HAL officials visit Argentina.

In January 2023, the NAF Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, confirmed that NAF JF-17s have been the target of military action only in anti-insurgency operations in Nigeria, but the NAF operates only three JF-17s. Instead of going for more Chinese Thunder, he bought eighteen attack helicopters.

Current JF-17 engagements

Currently, operational JF17s are participating in two different exercises: one is a bilateral exercise with China called SHAHEEN-X, and the other is Egypt’s multilateral exercise “Bright Star,” which also involves a contingent from the Force. Indian air. with their Mig 29 UPG, which interestingly uses the original Klimov RD-33 engine from which the JF17 engine is derived. The IAF-PAF interaction is the first since the 2019 airstrike and subsequent retaliatory attempt by Pakistan, which resulted in the loss of its F-16 Falcon after it lost a dogfight to an Indian Mig 21 inside of their own airspace, where an entire strike package and more deployed aircraft were already present.

(With agency contributions)