Pakistan Aeronautical Complex

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC)

Company type	Military
Industry	Aerospace and defense
Headquarters	Kamra, Punjab, Pakistan
Products	Aerospace equipment Military aircraft Communication equipment Navigation equipment Space systems Unmanned aerial vehicles
Website	www.pac.org.pk

The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (commonly abbreviated PAC) is a facility used to service, assemble and manufacture aircraft for the Pakistani Armed Forces. Located at Kamra, in the Punjab province of Pakistan, it is the world's seventh largest assembly plant.

Operations

The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, in a short PAC, started with three main Ministry of Defence projects designated P-721, P-741 and P-751. The first two digits show the year of project approval and launch, the third digit is a serial designator.

A retired Pakistan Air Force F-6 on display

F-6 Rebuild Factory

F-6 Rebuild Factory (F-6RF), formerly known as P-721, is primarily dedicated to the overhaul and parts manufacture of Chinese aircraft in service with the Pakistan Air force (PAF). The factory is capable of overhauling and parts manufacturing for the Shenyang F-6 (now retired by the PAF), Nanchang A-5 and F-7 combat aircraft, as well as the Shenyang FT-5 and FT-6 jet trainer aircraft.

Mirage Rebuild Factory

The Mirage Rebuild Factory (MRF), formerly known as P-741, is dedicated to the overhaul of French origin military aircraft in service with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), the Dassault Mirage III and Mirage V combat aircraft. Overhaul and manufacturing services were utilized by other countries with French Mirage aircraft in service. This factory also grew to service and overhaul the Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan engines belonging to the F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft of the PAF.

Aircraft Manufacturing Factory

Two JF-17 multi-role fighters during a flypast performance in Islamabad on 23 March 2007, assembled by PAC earlier that month. Serial production of the fighter at AMF began on 30 June 2009.

An MFI-17 Mushshak, produced at AMF, on display at the IDEAS 2008 defence exhibition in Karachi, Pakistan.

Aircraft Manufacturing Factory (MRF), formerly known as P-751, is dedicated to heavy military aircraft manufacturing. The MFI-17 Mushshak basic trainer aircraft built under license for use by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Army aviation wing. This factory project managed the aircraft modification and development venture that resulted in the MFI-395 Super Mushshak basic trainer, based on the MFI-17 Mushshak. Development of the K-8 Karakorum (also known as Hongdu JL-8) intermediate/advanced jet trainer was done in cooperation with Hongdu Aviation Industry Group of China, with AMF manufacturing parts for the aircraft. The JF-17 multi-role combat aircraft (also known as FC-1), a joint project between China and Pakistan, is now being manufactured by AMF. The MFI-17, MFI-395, K-8 and JF-17 are now in service with the (PAF). AMF also designs and manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles for uses such as target practice.

Manufacture of sub-assemblies for the JF-17 light-weight multi-role fighter began on 22 January 2008, while serial production of the fighter began on 30 June 2009.

On August 20, 2009 the PAF announced that it would begin production of its own unmanned aerial vehicles in collaboration with Italian company Selex Galileo. Production of the UAV, named Falco, was to begin soon. They are also considering to manufacture aircraft engines in collaboration with Ukraine.

Kamra Avionics and Radar Factory (KARF)

The Radar Maintenance Centre (RMC), was established in 1983 to overhaul and rebuild ground-based radar systems. In 1989, RMC was expanded to become Kamra Radar & Avionics Factory (KARF). KARF has the facilities to assemble and overhaul airborne as well as ground-based radar systems, electronics and avionics. Currently the only ISO 9002 certified facility among PAC, the factory was involved in upgrading the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chengdu F-7P interceptor fleet by replacing the original Italian built FIAR Grifo-7 radar with the more capable FIAR Grifo-7 mk-II radar, which was assembled under licence by KARF. More recently, radar production involved the license assembly of the latest upgrade variant of the FIAR Grifo-7, the Grifo-7MG radar, which arms the Chengdu F-7PG combat aircraft of the PAF. In mid 2009 it was reported that KARF personnel had completed training on printed circuit board assembly machines supplied by U.S. company APS Novastar, which would be used to make circuit boards for combat aircraft avionics.

As PAC’s capabilities become competitive in the region, commercial ventures from national and international companies are also being undertaken.

Production history

The new JF-17 multi-role fighter, displayed at the IDEAS 2008 Defense Exhibition in Karachi, Pakistan and currently under production by PAC

Aircraft

• JF-17 Thunder
• MFI-17 Mushshak
• MFI-395 Super Mushshak
• K-8 Karakorum

Aircraft parts

• K-8 Karakorum (also known as Hongdu JL-8)

Aircraft maintenance components

• F-16 Fighting Falcon
• Dassault Mirage III
• Dassault Mirage V
• Chengdu F-7
• Shenyang F-6
• Nanchang A-5
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)

• Ubabeel Aerial Drone - A small arms target designed for target practice use by operators of small arms, machine guns. Also used to train operators for the larger and faster Baaz Aerial Drone. Can be very effective for recce missions.

• Baaz Aerial Drone - A recoverable aerial target designed for use with air defence guns and surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. It has a very high rate of accuracy

• SELEX Galileo Falco - A surveillance UAV, production began in August 2009.

External links

• Attockonians
• Official website
• GlobalSecurity.org PAC factsheet