Bolivia to Buy Six K-8 Jets from Pakistan

[fatman17]

So, these planes will be modified for COIN operation...interesting .....what will be the changes ?

the a/c has hard-points so just attach the weapons load

 

[abbasniazi]

No doubt its a news welcomed by pakistanis, at the same time it proves the worth of K-8, this aircraft has made some impression in the world of aviation in its class.

bolivia is not the first country operating this aircraft, some other countries also operate it, specially Egypt which licence produced it.

these small aquisitions may not bring a load of money to pakistan but its a significant step towards establishing the impression of pakistan as a reliable supplier of fighter aircrafts.

this may also win buyers for future sales of JF-17 and other projects by pakistan.

 

[MZUBAIR]

The K-8 has a multi-role capability for training and, with little modification, can also be used for airfield defence. The aircraft is supposed to be as cost-effective as possible, with a short turn-around time and low maintenance requirements. K-8 have different avionics configuration.

Serivce Life.
K-8 airframe structure is designed for an 8,000 flight hour service life.

Cockpit
The cockpit arrangement is designed to be as close to that of a combat aircraft as possible.
This emergency cockpit escape system is made up of two Martin-Baker MK-10L rocket-assisted ejection seats which are zero-zero capable, meaning they can be used safely at zero altitude and zero speed.

Powerplant (Varaints)
1)Ukrainian Ivchenko AI-25TLK turbofan jet engine
2)Honeywell TFE731-2A-2A modular turbofan is used.
3) WS-11 (Future)

Arms
Guns: 1× 23 mm external cannon pod
Hardpoints: 5 (total capacity 1000 kg):

1× under-fuselage (23 mm cannon pod mount)
4× under-wing, capacity 250 kg each
Rockets: 57 mm unguided rocket pods, capacity 12 rounds
Missiles: Short range infra-red homing air-to-air missiles
Bombs:
Drop Tanks:

Current Users

Egypt
Egyptian Air Force - 120 (80 assembled plus 40 to be manufactured in Egypt)

Ghana

Ghana Air Force - 4 [3]

Myanmar
Myanmar Armed Forces - 12

Namibia
Namibian Air Force - 12

Pakistan
Pakistan Air Force - ~40

People's Republic of China
PLA Air Force - ~300

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Air Force - 6 [4]

Sudan
Sudanese Air Force - 12

Tanzania
Tanzanian Air Force - 6

Venezuela
Venezuelan Air Force - 24 on order [5]

Bolivia
Bolivian Air Force - 6 on order [6]

Zambia
Zambian Defence Force - 8

Zimbabwe
Air Force of Zimbabwe - 12

 

[Musalman]

Where will these planes be produced? Pakistan or CHina?

 

[batmannow]

The K-8 has a multi-role capability for training and, with little modification, can also be used for airfield defence. The aircraft is supposed to be as cost-effective as possible, with a short turn-around time and low maintenance requirements. K-8 have different avionics configuration.

Serivce Life.
K-8 airframe structure is designed for an 8,000 flight hour service life.

Cockpit
The cockpit arrangement is designed to be as close to that of a combat aircraft as possible.
This emergency cockpit escape system is made up of two Martin-Baker MK-10L rocket-assisted ejection seats which are zero-zero capable, meaning they can be used safely at zero altitude and zero speed.

Powerplant (Varaints)
1)Ukrainian Ivchenko AI-25TLK turbofan jet engine
2)Honeywell TFE731-2A-2A modular turbofan is used.
3) WS-11 (Future)

Arms
Guns: 1× 23 mm external cannon pod
Hardpoints: 5 (total capacity 1000 kg):

1× under-fuselage (23 mm cannon pod mount)
4× under-wing, capacity 250 kg each
Rockets: 57 mm unguided rocket pods, capacity 12 rounds
Missiles: Short range infra-red homing air-to-air missiles
Bombs:
Drop Tanks:

Current Users

Egypt
Egyptian Air Force - 120 (80 assembled plus 40 to be manufactured in Egypt)

Ghana

Ghana Air Force - 4 [3]

Myanmar
Myanmar Armed Forces - 12

Namibia
Namibian Air Force - 12

Pakistan
Pakistan Air Force - ~40

People's Republic of China
PLA Air Force - ~300

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Air Force - 6 [4]

Sudan
Sudanese Air Force - 12

Tanzania
Tanzanian Air Force - 6

Venezuela
Venezuelan Air Force - 24 on order [5]

Bolivia
Bolivian Air Force - 6 on order [6]

Zambia
Zambian Defence Force - 8

Zimbabwe
Air Force of Zimbabwe - 12

MZUBAIR, sir!
great post, with great news at, a crucial time!
when our "ENEMY" is looking to armed itself , with MRCA, we are already in bussiness, with WORLD, which is trusting our JOINT efforts with our GREAT friend CHINA , in AVIATION industry!
its a way to forward, for both of us, & i hope it will never END.

 

[aimarraul]

when can JF-17 break the record of K-8.....

 

[MZUBAIR]

MZUBAIR, sir!
great post, with great news at, a crucial time!
when our "ENEMY" is looking to armed itself , with MRCA, we are already in bussiness, with WORLD, which is trusting our JOINT efforts with our GREAT friend CHINA , in AVIATION industry!
its a way to forward, for both of us, & i hope it will never END.

K-8 can be used for close troop support along with helos. It could also be used as 3rd line fighter.

 

[wangrong]

 

[IceCold]

With K-8 sale to Bolivia, it could open doors of future sale of JF-17 to Bolivia provided if they show their interest. A good news for our defense sector.

 

[Comet]

Very good news.

 

[Canaan]

good news, all the best for pakistan

 

[Wingman]

MZUBAIR!

Thankyou for the detailed post, it really cleared my doubts about K-8.

 

[Musalman]

manufacture kahan hoon gaay??? Pakistan ya Chinaistan

 

[jamal18]

Six planes for $6o million ? A bit expensive, no? I smell something.

If they are to be used for coin, then it shows that a single-seat cas/coin version is long overdue.

And why wasn't the aircraft first on the Bolivian list, rather than second?

 

[Anton]

"Six planes for $6o million ? A bit expensive, no? I smell something.
If they are to be used for coin, then it shows that a single-seat cas/coin version is long overdue.
And why wasn't the aircraft first on the Bolivian list, rather than second? "

The 57 million were originally allocated for 6 l-159 ALCA's which is a reasonable sum for said aircraft which have radar and a good engine.
this sale however was not approved by the US.

However this sum does not matchup well for 6 K-8's wich in my estimation (around 4 million US) are well below the price of the l-159 even with full support/munitions and spares theres a lot of $$ left over. I Hope these gets cleared up as sales like these have to be as transparent as possible.