China and Pakistan have conducted a joint-air exercise called
Shaheen-1, which saw the first ever deployment of a Chinese air force
contingent to Pakistan.
"A contingent of Chinese PLA air force comprising combat aircraft,
pilots and technicians arrived at an operational base of the Pakistan
air force," the latter service says. "The exercise has been designed to
share mutual experiences, hone professional skills, and accrue maximum
benefits from the expertise of the two air forces."
Pakistan has not disclosed details about the types of aircraft
involved, the missions performed, the location of the exercise, or the
total number of personnel involved. The only official image shows 24
officers, 12 Pakistani and 12 Chinese.
The exercise took place over two weeks in March.
China and Pakistan have a long history of defence collaboration. Most
recently the two countries co-developed the Chengdu/Pakistan
Aeronautical Complex JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter. The Pakistan air
force also had a prominent presence at 2010's Air Show China in Zhuhai,
with a large chalet and several aircraft on display.
At the November show Zeng Wen, vice-president of the China National
Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation, said Pakistan had 50 firm
orders for the JF-17, but could end up buying 200. The nation's first
two full-strength JF-17 squadrons are in the process of becoming fully
operational.
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