Sri Lanka drops JF-17 jet fighter deal

Amidst diplomatic moves and manoeuvres, Sri Lanka has decided to call off its intended purchase of JF- 17 Thunder Fighter Aircraft from Pakistan for US$ 400 million, authoritative sources confirmed.

The decision has come to light following the low key visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Colombo.

Indian sources remained tight -lipped when asked about the deal, except to admit that a possible purchase from Pakistan was a concern, though not raised officially during Jaishankar’s visit.

Authoritative sources confirmed that India has made representations to Colombo to drop the purchase plan. As things stand, plans are shelved, at least for the time being.

It is also learnt that India has highlighted a current negative technical assessment on the aircraft –with their Russian engines – under review and Sri Lanka’s current air security assessment not needing fighter jets.

There was some expectation that the deal would be sealed off in Colombo during Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif’s visit. The deal included the sale of 10 JF -17 s, each priced around US$ 35 through a special Line of Credit (LoC) but Pakistan signed eight agreements that did not include any on defence cooperation.

SLAF Commander Gagan Bulathsinhala visited Pakistan last year to personally check the aircraft at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra, where the PAC and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) co-manufacture the fighters.