JF-17 fighter debuts at air show in Paris

The JF-17 fighter, co-developed by Aviation Industry Corp of China and Pakistan's Air Force, made its debut at the 51st Paris International Air Show, which opened on Monday, attracting more than 30,000 visitors from 47 countries.

During five minutes of aerobatics on Monday afternoon, the aircraft went through an impressive display of its capabilities, which delighted the watching crowd.

More than 50 JF-17s, an all-weather multiple-role light fighter, have been delivered to PAF, AVIC Vice-President Li Yuhai said at a joint news conference. He said that in China, the fighter is named FC-1 Xiaolong, and in Pakistan, it is the JF-17 Thunder.

The performance of the aircraft has won attention in many countries, said Yang Ying, a high-ranking official of AVIC, predicting that in the next 10 to 15 years, between 200 and 300 JF-17s will be sold globally.

In the future, the fighter will have more advanced capabilities, such as air-to-air refueling, data links and electronic weaponry, and will be integrated with new guided weapons.

The dual-seat JF-17 trainer is also under development, AVIC said in its news release.

Apart from the fighter jet, Commercial Aircraft Corp of China presented its 158-to 174-seat narrow-body twin-engine civil aircraft.

Meanwhile, China Great Wall Industry Corp was promoting Long March rockets, Fengyun meteorological satellites, resource satellites, oceanic satellites and other satellite platforms at the show.