i dont disagree with this, but ONLY heavy deep strike fighters are not the solution to the DEFENSE of the coastal areas.. which is the PAF's primary task.. reason being that these air superiority/deep strike fighters are primarily an OFFENSIVE weapon.. they are more expensive to maintain with greater turn around times.. it would be more prudent to use these strike aircraft for the OFFENSIVE operations and keep the JFT for regular CAP operations and "protection of Karachi and its assets" with support from the Heavies on a need by need basis.. keeping the JFTs "WORKHORSE" status, for which it was originally intended..
with no aircraft to support them at such ranges? JFT would not be able to do that and the F-16s would be hard pressed on the eastern front.. therefore the need for multirole aircraft instead of dedicated strike platforms.. the Chinese have their SUs and Jxx supporting them in this configuration..
Hi,
A good defense is a good offence-----. With this aircraft you are able to strike Mumbai and surrounding areas-----with Babur ALCM----you got all southern india at your finger tips----with AShM CM400---you can strike back at the enemy flotilla----with raad----you can choose smart targets----but this fight needs to go halfway down india.
You can have support aircraft to give them coverage up to certain extent------. But you are using standoff weapons over here----. But basically---you are sending your aircraft on first strike missions on a way way trip permit---.
JFT is not a work horse----it is a fill in type of aircraft for the type of enemy it is facing. It will be the work horse of many an air force-----where the nation is not facing 300 SU30's and 100 +++Mig 29's etc etc etc----.
The work horse of Pakistan is the F 16 and another heavy aircraft the paf might procure----.
If paf is naming JFT as a work horse-----then they do not understand what a work horse is----. JFT is a worker Bee-----.
Work horses are massive beasts in size----almost twice as big as the horses we have in Pakistan---and perform heavy tasks. So---to name the little Dinkle JFT as a work horse is incorrect.
The issue of expensive to maintain and expensive to operate is a mute issue by now---. If Pakistan wants to operate Gwadar port---it needs the protection of heavy aircraft----.
If the enemy strikes---you can also go down and strike deep at its core---. The enemy will destroy Karachi and Gwadar----we must be able to destroy Mumbai and poona amongst other cities-----but Mumbai is a must----and that cannot be done without the heavies----.
An aircraft like the JH7B would also be capable of launching every missile that is in the Chinese arsenal WVR---BVR whatever---PL5--SD10 A & B---PL15---what ever is coming---.
When I say a flying range of 2000-2500 miles---it s not straight one way---most of the trips are going to be 500---800 miles dog leg journey---launch their stuff from a distance and fly back----.
