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Could Pakistan's JF-17 Be A Cheaper Alternative To Jets Like the F-35?

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This is opinionated source.

DSI was introduced in Block II.

While Block III is a leap from Block II on many counts, it is not cheap anymore.

F-16 offer superior range, speed, and payload capacity in comparison. The latest Block 70/72 is very advanced variant and reasonably priced.

Half-baked comparison here.
Block 70/72 cost is around 160 to 200 million dollars. Whereas cost of one JF-17 Block 3 is no more than 40 million dollars.

In fact PAF can buy +4 JF-17 Block 3 from the money to buy on F-16 Block 70/72.
 
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Continuation of introductory statement in post # 1 of this thread.

I humbly request all Pakistani members to seriously discuss this topic.

Keeping in view current geopolitical situation, specially Israel's relationship with UAE and India, there is a possibility, that PAF facing Israeli F-35s.

We all are comparing IAF Rafales, but if Israel decide to attack our nuclear sites using F-35 parked in IAF/UAE bases, this will be a greater challenge. Israelis are good pilots and can exploit the capability Israeli F-35 to the fullest.

What should be PAF strategy to counter this threat?

Appreciate that Israeli Air Force F-35 already flew undetected over Iranian Air Space.
 
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Block 70/72 cost is around 160 to 200 million dollars. Whereas cost of one JF-17 Block 3 is no more than 40 million dollars.

In fact PAF can buy +4 JF-17 Block 3 from the money to buy on F-16 Block 70/72.
No jet fighter is that expensive (assuming unitary cost).

F-16 Block 70/72 is equipped with latest technologies in its class. It offers noticeably superior range, speed, and payload capacity while retaining impressive kinematics. Its radar system is very powerful. Airframe life and component MBTF is on another level in comparison to that of majority of jet fighters in existence. Customer has to pay more for these qualities.
 
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I humbly request all Pakistani members to seriously discuss this topic.

Keeping in view current geopolitical situation, specially Israel's relationship with UAE and India, there is a possibility, that PAF facing Israeli F-35s.

We all are comparing IAF Rafales, but if Israel decide to attack our nuclear sites using F-35 parked in IAF/UAE bases, this will be a greater challenge. Israelis are good pilots and can exploit the capability Israeli F-35 to the fullest.

What should be PAF strategy to counter this threat?

Appreciate that Israeli Air Force F-35 already flew undetected over Iranian Air Space.

Why will Israel attack Pakistan? Is Pakistan planning on helping Iran develop nuclear weapons?
Is Pakistan planning on attacking Israel? Is Pakistan a threat to the state of Israel? You may as well imagine scenarios in preparation for attacks by PLAAF J-20s or Martians.
 
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Why will Israel attack Pakistan? Is Pakistan planning on helping Iran develop nuclear weapons?
Is Pakistan planning on attacking Israel? Is Pakistan a threat to the state of Israel? You may as well imagine scenarios in preparation for attacks by PLAAF J-20s or Martians.

Seconded.

Our only problems are with India, our weapons are meant for them only. The Joos can rest easy.
The F-35s are really nice by the way, it's a platform that's really growing on me, every comment on capability we hear is more impressive than the last.
 
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Why will Israel attack Pakistan? Is Pakistan planning on helping Iran develop nuclear weapons?
Is Pakistan planning on attacking Israel? Is Pakistan a threat to the state of Israel? You may as well imagine scenarios in preparation for attacks by PLAAF J-20s or Martians.
There are number of reasons why Israel cannot be considered as low threat country.
1. Pakistan is Muslim country supporting Palestinian cause.
2. Pakistan did not and will not recognize Israel as a legitimate state as it was founded by ejecting the Palestinian people from their land.
3. Pakistan being a nuclear state, it has become a threat to Israel. Pakistan possess the capability to launch nuclear attack on Israel.
4. As Israel did in Iraq and Iran, they may try to take out important nuclear sites inside Pakistan. Interestingly and very fortunately, their efforts in the past were declined by our clandestine operators.

This is not an imaginary scenario, this is a real threat. PAF must prepare themselves to counter this threat.
 
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Seconded.

Our only problems are with India, our weapons are meant for them only. The Joos can rest easy.
The F-35s are really nice by the way, it's a platform that's really growing on me, every comment on capability we hear is more impressive than the last.
With due respect, I do not agree with your statement.

Pakistani weapons are for its defense from any external threat.

What level of preparedness against a particular kind of threat is something we have to realize.

Just after 9/11, we being supporter Afghan Talibans were at verge of a war against the most powerful Armed Forces.
This war was avoided by sacrificing a lot.

Indian threat is known, it is not a surprise. Our armed forces are very much prepared to counter this threat.

But a third country such as Israel entering the war arena cannot be ruled out. They did against Iran and Iraq. They tried in the past to take Pakistani nuclear sites using their F-16s. Now they have F-35s. If they enter Pakistani air space, this will be a devastating surprise.

Now the level of threat has already increased. Our aerial reconnaissance, ground radar coverage should be effective enough to track such aircraft.

In absence of locating and tracking capability of an unfriendly stealth aircraft, what should be the alternative strategy to protect these sites?
 
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lol @ phus phusi V F35 lightening :lol:
I know when IAF inducted SU-30 MKIs in late 90s, similar comments were heard. At that time PAF pilots were working out on tactical strategies to counter Su 30 MKI threat.

This so called "phus phusi" will one day shuff a missile in the engine of Israeli F-35 as we did to Su-30 MKI on 27 Feb. Then we will recall your statement.
 
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Block 70/72 cost is around 160 to 200 million dollars. Whereas cost of one JF-17 Block 3 is no more than 40 million dollars.

In fact PAF can buy +4 JF-17 Block 3 from the money to buy on F-16 Block 70/72.

Not sure if that is accurate, even most, if not all variants of the F-35 would be less than $160 mn per jet now. In fact, based on this article, the cost is down to $80 mn:

 
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Not sure if that is accurate, even most, if not all variants of the F-35 would be less than $160 mn per jet now. In fact, based on this article, the cost is down to $80 mn:

US and its allies are buy about 500 F-35s. Due to bulk demand the overall production cost was reduced.
This plane cost around 70-90 million a piece.
 
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No doubt thunder is very good machine for medium roles still i think paf is not thinking versatlity in their arm we have all jets singke jet and multirole we need ets for air superiority and EW roles no mater how much paf upgrades it remains limited due to its sizes

I dont know how oaf changed it policy from quality to quantity paf always underestimate IAF lessons should be learn from arantique incident and siachin war we have no jets which counter iaf ecen block 52 looj AZ old these days they dont have AESA radars

We should buy 50 jets from west grioen or SU 35 need

Forget those chinese stealth jets they need time

We won recent fights because of their stupid decisions sending migs to fight a leap of generatiin jets no onedoes it

Next time tgese idiots will cone prepare we need to prepare ourselves too


If swdeen can sell more sophisticated awacs they can sell gripens to make a big gain in market of jets paf is very goid airforce than brazil and south africa they will happy to sell us
 
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US and its allies are buy about 500 F-35s. Due to bulk demand the overall production cost was reduced.
This plane cost around 70-90 million a piece.

Yes, so logically, the F-16 production process is much more matured and the jet itself is less advanced than the F-35, so the production cost and therefore purchase price of the jet should be less than for the F-35.

The link below details a FMS contract to Bulgaria for 8 Block-70 F-16s for $512 mn, that's around $64 mn per jet - so cheaper than the F-35, but still almost double the speculated cost of the JF-17 Block 3:

 
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