A high-level Pakistan air force (PAF) delegation visited the Zhuhai international airshow in South China recently and reportedly concluded a deal for sale of F-7MG aircraft, the upgraded version of the Chinese F-7, they said.

The Pakistani decision follows the Us move to call off the controversial F-16 deal with Islamabad and return around 324.3 million dollars taken as advance payment for it.

Further details regarding the deal are not available.

The F-7MG, one of star attractions at the airshow, is a much better aircraft than the F-7PS, currently flown by the PAF, experts said.

It has more manoeuvrability and has an engine with increased thrust, advanced avionics equipment and modern cockpit configuration. Further, it has night combat capability, they said.If Pakistan orders theF-7MG, it will get an aircraft that will have, over the F-7PS, 43 per cent more in integrated manoeuvrability, 83.9 per cent in close-in combat effectiveness and 10 per cent increase in operational radius, analysts said.

Experts noted that the PAF considers the acquisition of new fighter aircraft vital for maintaining a semblance of balance with the Indian Air Force.

With Washington unwilling to lift the arms embargo on Islamabad, the Sharif government has limited options for purchasing fighter jets from other sources, they said.

The PAF's current fleet of 40 American F-16s bought in the early eighties have worn out due to lack of spare parts and adequate servicing.

Sources also said the PAF is also scouting around for other fighter planes currently being developed by China. This includes the FC-1 fighter, which is touted as an advanced multi-role fighter.

The FC-1 is likely to fly in 2000. A leading Chinese aeronautical firm is developing the airframe of FC-1 while its avionics, engine and weaponswill come from foreign sources.

Sources also said in view of the recently signed India-Russia defence deal, Islamabad would press Beijing for a wider defence co-operation that inlcudes joint production of conventional weapons.