Pakistan Test-Fires Extended Range ‘Smart Weapon' from JF-17 Fighter Jet

The Pakistan Air Force has test-fired a new domestically developed extended range air-to-surface smart weapon from JF-17 fighter aircraft.

No details of the new missile were released by the Pakistani Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) other than calling it a ‘smart weapon’.

A short video of the test was released online, capturing a Pakistani Air Force JF-17 Thunder jet dropping the missile in the desert. An enormous explosion bursts out across the arid landscape as a powerful shockwave punches through the sky. The test comes amidst immensely strained relations between India and Pakistan, after the two nuclear powers almost erupted into full-blown conflict last month, Express UK news portal reported Wednesday.

The test comes amidst immensely strained relations between India and Pakistan, after the two nuclear powers almost erupted into full-blown conflict last month.

Pakistan will be adding more capabilities to the JF-17 aircraft in 2019. The JF-17 is made in Pakistan with technology supplied by Chengdu Aircraft Co., of China. The Block III version, which has been in development for over 2 years now is characterized by an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, helmet-mounted targeting system, an advanced targeting pod, data links and beyond visual range weapons.

(Correction:The earlier lead in the article, mentioned the smart weapon to be a surface-to-air missile. It has been corrected to air-to-surface missile.) Edited on Mar. 18, 2019.