Production of the JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft started on 22 January at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) at Kamra near Islamabad.rnThe JF-17 has been developed under a joint Sino-Pakistani venture for a lightweight multirole combat aircraft powered by a single engine - the Klimov RD-93, a derivative of the RD-33. The manufacture of parts for the aircraft began at the PAC Kamra facility in 2005.rnKnown as the Fighter China-1 in China, where it is built by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC), the JF-17 should have an initial operating capability by the end of 2008. According to Pakistan's Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mah-mood Ahmed, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) expects to receive its first eight aircraft of an initial production run of 16 within the next few months.
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