randomradio
BANNED
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2016
- Messages
- 6,974
- Reaction score
- -17
- Country
- Location
The reason I bring it up, is because PAF is buying second hand mirages and therefore plans to keep at least a portion of the fleet going. The need for a dedicated strike fighter/bomber is still there, and while used F-16s are ideal, they would be prioritized for the A2A role when and if they became available. The JF-17 would be great but it flys slower and has a lower weapons load.
The PAF has the mirage rebuild factory and Atar engine overhaul facility at Kamra. It may turn out they only upgrade a smaller portion of the fleet, as we did with the Rose Mirages, but we need the capability and need to cover it with our limited budget.
If the PAF can afford it, re-engineing the planes with the Rd-93/WS-13 would be better, but we can save money and time just upgrading the components of the Atar to the Super Atar standard. If we carry out these upgrades and have at least 3 squadrons available in the next 3-5 years, and they serve until 2035, then we will have had modern capabilities and can invest that money in other projects like Project AZM, without sacrificing capability.
3 Squadrons would be decent enough if you consider the IAF trusts its Mirage 2000s for the Strike role and they operate the same number: 3 Squadrons of Mirages.
P.S. A lot of the components for the upgrade will be those used in the JF-17 program. We will no longer have to buy French weapons. When these air frames are no longer flight-worthy their components (radar, EW equipement, comms, etc.) can be swapped into another second hand Mirage, and ultimately as spares for the JF-17s.
About 45-50 Mirage Vs could be pushed to 2035. That will give you 3 squadrons.