Pakistan Aeronautical Complex

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex is a facility used to service, assemble and manufacture aircraft for Pakistan located at Kamra, Punjab, Pakistan.

It is the world's third largest assembly plant. It is also Pakistan's largest developer of military aircraft. PAC produces almost 40 % of aircraft in the region, competing with arch-rival, HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited). It is currently the world's fifth largest aircraft producer.

[edit] Operations

The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, in 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. Aeronautical factories started to get built and completed on time to start licensed production under the supervision of principal manufacturers.

P-721 is primarily dedicated to the overhaul and parts manufacture of in service with the Pakistan Air force. Air forces of other countries became customers as the factories progressed. The factory is capable of overhauling and parts manufacturing for the F-6, FT-5, FT-6, A-5 and F-7 aircraft. P-741 is dedicated to the overhaul of French origin military aircraft in service with the Pakistan Air Force. Overhaul and manufacturing services were utilized by other countries with French Mirage aircraft in service. This factory also grew to service and overhaul the F-100 turbojet engine belonging to the F-16 aircraft with the PAF.

P-751 is dedicated to heavy military aircraft manufacturing. MFI-17 is built under license for use as a trainer known as “Mushak” by the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force. Built to MIL-Spec and fully aerobatic it is used in other ground support roles. This factory project manages a number of development and modification ventures, to include the K-8 design, development and manufacturing project, the modification of the Super Mushak and the development of the JF-17/bomber.

A Radar, avionics and electronics overhaul / assembly factory was added to the capabilities of PAC, and it is currently the only ISO 9002 certified facility among PAC. The factory was involved in upgrading the Pakistani Air Force F-7MP/P fleet by replacing the original Italian built Grifo-7 radar with more capable Grifo-Mk-II radar, which was also designed by the same Italian firm FIAR, but the radar was license assembled locally in this Pakistani factory. The current radar production involves the license assembly of latest upgrade of the Italian FIAR Grifo radars for Chengdu J-7, the Grifo-MG radar, which arms the F-7PG ordered by Pakistani Air Force.

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