PAK TO BUY 48 DRONES IN LARGEST SUCH AGREEMENT

BEIJING : China is likely to sell 48 military-grade drones to Pakistan, state media reported on Tuesday, adding that the drones will be manufactured jointly by the two countries in the future.

The value of the deal wasn’t disclosed but Chinese military experts told state media that it could be the largest arms deal of its kind. The Chinese state media report comes within days of India’s move to acquire S-400 sophisticated missile defence systems from Russia.

The deal was finalised during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi last week. President Xi Jinping told Pakistaniarmy chief, General Qamar Ahmed Bajwa, during the latter’s recent visit to Beijing that the two countries should strengthen military ties.

“Wing Loong II, made by Chengdu Aircraft Industrial (Group) Company, is a high-end reconnaissance and strike multirole endurance unmanned aircraft system,” the tabloid, Global Times reported on Tuesday.

In a separate report, official news agency Xinhua said the drone made its maiden flight in February last year.

“The largest overseas order for Wing Loong IIS was obtained even before the maiden flight”, Xinhua reported.

The report did not specify which country was the buyer.

Announcing the deal on its official Facebook account on Sunday, the Pakistan Air Force’s Sherdils Aerobatic Team did not reveal how much it was worth, when it was struck or when the Wing Loong IIS will be delivered,” the newspaper report said.