The Pakistani Air Force (PAF) is to purchase avionics and missiles from China to equip its fleet of 250 JF-17 Thunder jet fighters.

PAF air chief marshall Rao Qamar Suleman said the advanced active radar and middle-range SD-10 missile would become the standard beyond visual range (BVR) weapon of the JF-17 fighters.

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Suleman said the PAF had no plans to install Western devices and weapons on the aircraft for the time being, according to the Global Times.

The PAF chief said the precision-guided bombs developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China Defense were ideal for counterinsurgency operations.

Suleman also said that Pakistan would consider ordering advanced defence missile systems from China, including surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems.

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