Press reports suggest that the mystery launch customer of the AVIC/PAC JF-17 ‘Thunder’ is Myanmar Air-Force with an order of 10-12 units. AVIC has never officially disclosed the identity of the client.
The PAC JF-17 Thunder, or CAC FC-1 Xiaolong (Fierce Dragon), is a lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by thePakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of China. The JF-17 can be used for aerial reconnaissance, ground attack and aircraft interception. Its designation “JF-17” byPakistan is short for “Joint Fighter-17”, while the designation and name “FC-1 Xiaolong” by China means “Fighter China-1 Fierce Dragon”.
Former attempts to sell the JF-17 to Sri-Lanka, Nigeria and Argentina have so far failed.