Beijing, June 13: The Super-7, touted as the next generation fighter aircraft manufactured by China and Pakistan, is expected to make its maiden test flight later this year. A prototype of the "all-weather, multipurpose fighter jet" has just been completed by the Chengdu aircraft industrial group, a branch of the Beijing-based Avic I in southwest China's Sichuan province, 'China Daily' quoted an official as saying.

The Super-7 new-generation fighter aircraft is expected to make its maiden test flight later this year, a senior engineer with the Avic I, Gao Zhicong said.


Gao, who is in charge of the project, said the new model represents China's most sophisticated light fighter for the 21st-century combat environment.

China independently designed and built the fighter, Gao said.

The single-seat, turbofan engine-powered fighter will go into volume production once tests have been successfully carried out, he said.
"The Super-7 aims to gradually replace the J-7, MiG-21 and F-5 series aircraft that are currently in service in both China and some developing countries," he said.

Also code named the Super-7/fc-1, the military aircraft has already won some orders from abroad, according to Luo Ronghuai, president of the Chengdu aircraft manufacturer.

Bureau Report