Islamabad, June 28 (ANI): Pakistan’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, has said that indigenously made JF-17 Thunder fighter aircrafts would start flying by this year-end.

Speaking at a function at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base in Mushaf in Sargodha, Air Chief Marshal Suleman said the JF-17 Thunder programme is heading in the right direction, and the production of the jets would begin from June 30 .

“We will start production of this aircraft from 30th of this month and the first Pakistan-made JF-17 aircraft will fly in the country’s airspace by the end of this year,” The Dawn quoted Air Chief Marshal Suleman, as saying.

He said Pakistan is facing several challenges from within its borders and beyond, and thus its response to them should be looked in a broader perspective.

“The challenges, both internal and external, that confronts us today and our responses to these have to be viewed in the broader perspective of the changes that are shaping the geopolitical landscape of the world,” said Air Chief Marshal Suleman.

“Apart from the traditional hostile adversary, new frontiers of conflict have lately emerged for us in the West and from within. These developments pose a great deal of threat to our national security,” he added.

Commenting on the Swat military operation, Air Chief Marshal Suleman said the air force has been providing support to the troops on the ground, and it would continue to pound the extremists in future also.

“The PAF has extensively flown against militants in Swat and Fata and application of airpower has brought about tangible results. We will continue our contribution towards our national security effort,” he said. (ANI)