Czech Media : Pakistan shows interest in buying L-159

[Incog_nito]

I took some time to understand this.


PAF already has K-8 which lies under the role of Basic & Intermediate Jet trainer
L-159 will be added in the role of Intermediate & Advance Jet Trainer, along with light attack roles near border areas!

JF-17B will be a true LIFT - Lead in Fighter Trainer for PAF and other forces

I think it would be Super Mushak or even could be HURKS

A true replacement for Super Mushak - I guess?

But better if TAI and PAC will make something similar together.

 

[mrrehan]

(1) can Pakistan afford to undertake development and (2) would the cost of a K-8 LIFT actually be less than the L-159? There's also the issue of Hongdu, which had designed the K-8. Their LIFT is the L-15, can we expect them to help in developing a competitor to their newer project?

Well if K-8 is not actually suitable/viable option for upgrade then we should look forward in the same direction towards Chinese L-15 that has better option. We can configure L-15 with "Ivchenko-Progress AI-222-25F" an after-burning version, (also available with thrust vectoring) which is a quite mature Ukraine engine (No strings attached). Started development in 1999. Russians "Saljut" is producing this engine by themselves since 2015. And we have good defense ties with Ukraine too. The same engine is in Russian Yakovlev Yak-130 aircraft as well.


L-15's Low bypass turbofan Ivchenko-Progress AI-222-25F producing: 2 x Power plant
================================================================

24.7 kN (5,552.78 lbf) in takeoff mode (non-afterburning)
41.2 kN (9,262.13 lbf) afterburning.
Bypass ratio: 1.19:1

Speed: Mach 1.4 (924.1 mph)


L-159's Low bypass turbofan Honeywell F124-GA-100: 1 x Power plant
================================================================

28.2 kN (6,330 lbf) is non-afterburning engine
Bypass ratio: 0.49:1

Speed: 960 km/h (518 knots, 596 mph)

Where Honeywell is after all an American company (with all strings attached).

In view of this I wonder what PAF bosses are thinking, I would prefer L-15 as we got liberty to configure in many ways, weapon integration, Radar and most importantly TOT can be possible too. Why we cannot go out of American and European boxes. Pakistan seriously need R&D specially in engine development and air defense SAM and radar development as well. I don't see any serious measures regarding that long term long waiting goals.

If It's time for K-8 to be replace, then be it. A more powerful L-15 aircraft which can be deployed in light attack aircraft roll as well.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

Well if K-8 is not actually suitable/viable option for upgrade then we should look forward in the same direction towards Chinese L-15 that has better option. We can configure L-15 with "Ivchenko-Progress AI-222-25F" an after-burning version, (also available with thrust vectoring) which is a quite mature Ukraine engine (No strings attached). Started development in 1999. Russians "Saljut" is producing this engine by themselves since 2015. And we have good defense ties with Ukraine too. The same engine is in Russian Yakovlev Yak-130 aircraft as well.


L-15's Low bypass turbofan Ivchenko-Progress AI-222-25F producing: 2 x Power plant
================================================================

24.7 kN (5,552.78 lbf) in takeoff mode (non-afterburning)
41.2 kN (9,262.13 lbf) afterburning.
Bypass ratio: 1.19:1

Speed: Mach 1.4 (924.1 mph)


L-159's Low bypass turbofan Honeywell F124-GA-100: 1 x Power plant
================================================================

28.2 kN (6,330 lbf) is non-afterburning engine
Bypass ratio: 0.49:1

Speed: 960 km/h (518 knots, 596 mph)

Where Honeywell is after all an American company (with all strings attached).

In view of this I wonder what PAF bosses are thinking, I would prefer L-15 as we got liberty to configure in many ways, weapon integration, Radar and most importantly TOT can be possible too. Why we cannot go out of American and European boxes. Pakistan seriously need R&D specially in engine development and air defense SAM and radar development as well. I don't see any serious measures regarding that long term long waiting goals.

If It's time for K-8 to be replace, then be it. A more powerful L-15 aircraft which can be deployed in light attack aircraft.

The PAF (at least the current CAS) stepped away from the L-15 because the operating costs were pretty close to the JF-17. The L-159 - being a single-engine plane with a thrust-rating in the 27 kN range - has the potential of being that fighter conversion bridge without having the high costs of a JF-17-class fighter (a major issue with the L-15, T-50, Yak-130 and M-346).

 

[BATMAN]

The PAF (at least current the CAS) stepped away from the L-15 because the operating costs were pretty close to the JF-17. The L-159 - being a single-engine plane with a thrust-rating in the 27 kN range - has the potential of being that fighter conversion bridge without having the high costs of a JF-17-class fighter (a major issue with the L-15, T-50, Yak-130 and M-346).

It was no surprise.

They should continue advance pilot training with jF17B

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

It was no surprise.

They should continue advance pilot training with jF17B

Seemed like that was the idea but then recently Alan Warnes said the PAF decided to use FT-7 for LIFT and that the JF-17B was not meant for LIFT (but for export customers).