the visiting Pakistani PM Shaukat Aziz has asked Malaysia to import the JF-Thunder aircraft. “Pakistan is making the aircraft with China’s cooperation,” the prime minister told a gathering of overseas Pakistanis on Friday.(Full report:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-5-2005_pg1_1 )
Consider Malaysia seems already a happy buyer of certain Pakistani weapon like anti-tank missile and expressed interest to acquire more arms from Pakistan. It's make sense for the Pakistani to present more of their products to earn back hard cash.
It also may make sense for Malaysia to import some "Volume" products to accomplish their higher end Su30MKM/F18/Mig29 fleet in future. I got the information of the JF17 manufactured in Pakistan is ONLY priced at most 15 million USD while the F15K sold to Korea is 80 Million USD. The F15T would be more expensive than the Korean 1.
Though it's cheap in price, however, based on many sources, the JF17 does get many goodies:
1). It's engine is RD93- an upgraded Turbofan of RD33 currently powered Malaysia's Mig29.
2). It can carry 2 BVR AAM like active radar guided SD10 provided by China and said the performance is better than the early version of Russian's R77 which is also being aquired by Malaysia.
3), The Pakistani Version of JF17 may most possibly equipped the Italian Grifo7
which is the upgraded version of the radar installed in Italian F16MLU fighter.
here is the JF17 introduction:
http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/fighter/fc1.aspThe JF17 is going to enter Pakistani AF in 2006, and the factory is formally openned in Pakistan this year. SO the deal is still at very early stage and no matter how, the Malaysia still don't have the AWACS to control all its air jets in Sky.
How will be the next step? Let's have a close look in its development