Myanmar's Junta angry over troubles with Pakistan's JF-17 fighter jets

The acquisition of JF-17 Thunder, a Third-generation fighter as per China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), from Pakistan by the Myanmar military junta has become a significant problem, as all 11 planes supplied between 2019 and 2021 have been declared unfit for operations due to malfunctions and structural flaws. Pakistani engineers' attempts to fix the issues have failed, causing frustration within the junta, as reported by Myanmar's local media.

History of problems looms over Pakistan’s Chinese ‘pride’ JF-17 

The Chinese aircraft, which Pakistan claims is a joint venture, has high maintenance costs and technical challenges have raised doubts about its utility and the logistical issues of Line Replacement Units (LRUs). Pakistan claims it's a joint venture, but only a few parts of the jet's fuselage are assembled in Kamra, and it can't even manufacture the LRUs for its "claimed" pride of Pakistan. Back in 2021, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra was struggling to keep the production line afloat. In a telefax, Imran Afzal Janjua, the former Managing Director of PAC Kamra, said, "The non-availability of these items (LRUs for JF-17) is badly hampering our (PAC’s) production." The list of LRUs even includes minor springs, which Pakistan had to request acquisition from China. This itself speaks to what percentile the JF-17 is Pakistani.

List of LRU's PAC requested from China for JF-17's production line in 2021. | Image: PAC

According to ANI reports, the JF-17 aircraft faced critical issues, notably with its avionics, including the problematic KLJ-7 Al radar and unreliable Weapon Mission Management Computer (WMMC). These issues affect combat effectiveness, hindering beyond visual range missile launches. The limited weapon load and reliance on Russian RD-93 engines further limit its performance. Technical problems, such as landing gear issues, added to its woes. 

The JF-17 has persistently faced a range of technical and reliability issues, particularly with its avionics and engine, substantiating the reason why Pakistan, a country with incessant economic troubles, went to purchase the J-10 instead of keeping its 'pride,' the Chinese and, to some extent, Pakistani Thunder.

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

The Junta stands isolated by the West, with only minor interactions with its neighbours. The JF17's 'failure to fly' might result in the end of Pakistan's ambition to sell more of its weapons to Myanmar. India, back in 2020, had gifted the submarine INS Sindhuvir, a Russian Kilo-class submarine, to Myanmar, with some other small purchases made by the junta earlier, as a move to sway China's influence in Myanmar, along with India's own strategic goals in Myanmar. 

According to local reports, Myanmar has sought China's intervention in the matter. Pakistan is reportedly trying to renegotiate the deal with updated versions of the JF-17s, but it's unclear if the junta will agree. This crisis has also hindered Pakistan's efforts to sell similar aircraft to other countries. The JF-17 has failed to impress Malaysia, and its deal with Iraq looks long lost. Uncertainty looms quite imminently, and, likely, the JF-17 can now stop dreaming of an Argentinian livery after HAL officials visit Argentina.

 In January 2023, the NAF Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, confirmed that NAF JF-17s have seen military action only in anti-insurgency operations in Nigeria, but NAF operates only three JF-17s. Instead of opting for more Chinese Thunders, it instead went on to purchase eighteen attack helicopters.

Current engagements of the JF-17 

Right now, the 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," in which a contingent of the Indian Air Force is also taking part with their Mig 29 UPGs, which interestingly use the original Klimov RD-33 engine from which the JF17's engine is derived. The interaction between the IAF and PAF is the first since the 2019 airstrike and Pakistan's subsequent attempt at retaliation, which resulted in the loss of its F-16 Falcon after it lost a dogfight to an Indian Mig 21 within its own airspace, where an entire strike package and more jets scrambled were already present.

(With inputs from agencies)