The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a South Asian country with a population exceeding 201 million people. It was established in 1947 as an independent nation for Muslims from the regions in the east and west of the Subcontinent where there was a Muslim majority. It’s unique among Muslim countries as it’s the only one to have been created in the name of Islam in a territory previously shared with what is now India and Bangladesh under the dominion of the British Empire. It is a highly militarized nuclear state with the seventh largest army in the world, Pakistan has been marred in constant conflicts with its neighbors since its independence.
Conflict seems to be in their DNA. As such, one would expect Pakistan to have developed or acquired a state-of-the-art fighter jet to boost an air force that’s sub-par compared to the other military powers of the world. The JF-17, Joint Fighter-17, Thunder was supposed to be that kind of fighter jet. Developed in conjunction with China, where the jet is known as the Fierce Dragon, the JF-17 is supposed to match the performance of the American F16 fighter jet. But, does it? With some critics mentioning that the close combat capabilities of JF-17 is below average or average at best, it’s anyone’s guess if the JF-17 fits the bill. You be the judge.
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Is the Pakistanian JF-17 a Thunder or a blunder? Sound off and share your opinions and comments in the section below.
