Myanmar’s JF-17 Fighter Jets Grounded Amid Conflict and Maintenance Woes

Reading Time: 3 minutes The Myanmar Air Force (MAF) has grounded its fleet of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, raising questions about the viability of the Sino-Pakistani aircraft and casting a spotlight on the operational stresses faced by the military amidst the country’s ongoing civil conflict. Originally introduced into Myanmar’s inventory in 2018, the JF-17 — a lightweight multirole fighter co-developed by China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex — was heralded as a cost-effective solution for developing air forces in need of modern combat capabilities. Designed for both air superiority and ground attack roles, the fighter jets were quickly integrated into Myanmar’s aerial order of battle. However, by late 2023, all JF-17s in Myanmar’s fleet were reportedly grounded due to a series of technical and mechanical issues. These included reported airframe fatigue, unreliable avionics, and challenges with the aircraft’s Russian-made RD-93 engine. Yet some defence analysts caution that