Malaysia Eyeing for Pakistani JF-17 Thunder Considerably

Crest of the Royal Malaysian Air Force

Malaysia was considering as one of the option to purchase JF-17 Thunder jet fighters from Pakistan and deal in this regard would be finalised between the two countries after completing required formalities. 

This was stated by the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan, H.E. Dato' Dr. Hasrul Sani bin Mujtabar here on Wednesday in an interview with APP. 

The High Commissioner said that Pakistan and Malaysia were enjoying excellent relations in the defence sector as a result of Joint Committee on Defence of both the brotherly countries which played as a very active forum. 

Responding to a question that Malaysia wanted to purchase how many JF-17 Thunder from Pakistan, the High Commissioner said that "this jet fighter is considered an excellent production of Pakistan in the defence sector and decision about numbers would be taken very soon by the Malaysian government". 

About Pakistan-Malaysia bilateral relations, H.E. Dato' Dr. Hasrul Sani expressed his satisfaction over the existing bilateral relations and said that both the brotherly countries were enjoying cordial and fraternal bilateral relations especially in the field of trade, economy and defence beside others.

Whos Going To Shoot Down "Raptors"

The image in this post was taken from a U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle from the 131st Fighter Squadron, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, during a close range aerial combat exercise against a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor from the 154th Wing, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

You can clearly see the two planes maneuvering at very close range, pulling Gs, with the F-22 releasing flares counter measures against (simulated) heat seeking air-to-air missiles.

The dogfight took place off the coast of Penang, Malaysia, Jun. 16, 2014, during “Cope Taufan 2014″ a biennial LFE (large force employment) exercise taking place June 9 to 20 designed to improve U.S. and Malaysian combined readiness.

Both aircraft are currently deployed to Royal Malaysian Air Force P.U. Butterworth, Malaysia.

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The exercise, that marks the F-22’s first deployment to Southeast Asia, featured also some interesting mixed formation between U.S. planes with Royal Malaysian Air Force MIG-29N Fulcrum, Su-30 and F-18 Hornet jets.

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Image credit: U.S. Air Force

It’s not clear whether the F-22 has flown DACT (Dissimilar Air Combat Training) against Malaysian Migs or Sukhois; if this is the case, it would be interesting to know which ROE (Rules Of Engagement) were applied and the outcome of the confrontations between the Russian multirole planes and the U.S. most advanced fighters.