Myanmar government is said to be furious with Pakistan because the 11 multi-role fighter jets it purchased were stuck in the hangar due to defects. The Myanmar military junta government is said to have sent a firm message to the Pakistani government and demanded that they take responsibility for this mess.
Quoted from Business Today , a total of 11 JF-17 Thunder Myanmar fighter jets delivered between the 2019-2021 period were declared unfit to fly and had to be idled in the hangar. A total of 11 aircraft were said to have experienced technical problems and structural defects that could potentially endanger the pilots.
The leader of the Myanmar military junta, General Min Aung Hlaing, is said to have expressed his displeasure over this to former Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and Pakistan Army Chief of Staff (COAS), General Asim Munir.
According to the Economic Times , the Myanmar military junta is deeply disappointed that the jet’s malfunction has hampered much of its plans to increase its air power to confront Myanmar’s resistance groups fighting under the banner of the People’s Defense Force.
Myanmar’s anger is said to have received a response from China as the developing country of the JF-17 Thunder. The recent visit of the Chinese envoy to Naypyitaw (Myanmar) reportedly brought a message from the top leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to General Min Aung Hlaing.
For your information, the JF-17 Thunder purchased by Myanmar is a fighter jet product of a collaboration between the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation. Myanmar procured this aircraft in 2016 with a total of 16 units. Myanmar became the first country outside of China and Pakistan to use the multirole aircraft.
With the many problems that befell the JF-17 Thunder, Myanmar is said to have refused to hold new talks regarding procuring aircraft from Pakistan. On the other hand, Pakistan is said to be renegotiating this contract by providing Myanmar with a newer version of the fighter aircraft.
Source : Detik Oto
