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Pakistani official confirms Su-35 talks

Farhan Bokhari, Islamabad - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

18 September 2015

A senior Pakistani official has confirmed Russian media reports that the two countries have discussed a potential deal on the Su-35. Source: Sukhoi

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has discussed buying Su-35 'Flanker-E' fighter aircraft from Russia in potentially the largest defence deal between the two countries, but a final decision is yet to be made, a senior Pakistani government official has confirmed to IHS Jane's .

The official was responding to Russian media reports that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had said talks were underway for an unspecified number of Su-35s, which follow a recent agreement to provide Mi-35M 'Hind E' attack helicopters to Islamabad.

While the official said "it's too early to say if a deal will conclude and the terms", the fact that discussions have taken place shows Russia's willingness to sell advanced hardware with Pakistan despite Moscow's longstanding ties with India.

The official said Pakistan's interest in the Su-35 was driven by the PAF's need for a twin-engine fighter "that can fly for a longer range than the JF-17 and penetrate more deeply into the enemy's territory". The PAF flies a mixed fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s, Dassault Mirage-5s, Chinese-manufactured F-7s, and the JF-17 Thunder, which is jointly produced by China and Pakistan.

In November 2014 a senior Pakistani official told IHS Jane's that Pakistan was in discussions with China to buy 30 to 40 FC-31s - the export version of China's J-31 fifth-generation platform. At the time, the official told IHS Jane'sthat Pakistan was interested in the platform partly because it was fitted with two RD-93 Russian Klimov engines, which also powers the JF-17. PAF officials have also told IHS Jane's in the past that they have considered the purchase of up to 40 Chengdu J-10 fighters.
 
MILITARY & INTELLIGENCE
19:04 18.09.2015

"Are short-range American tactical fighters relevant in the Pacific theatre?" US defense expert Dave Majumdar asks, adding that F-22 Raptors and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters could be outperformed by the sheer numbers of Chinese jets.

Left Behind: US Jet Fighters Hold No Candle to Russian, Chinese Rivals
China's J-11 fighter jets were designed as a copy of the Soviet-made Su-27/Su-33 Flanker, however, its new J-11D is considered the most advanced land-based single-seat Chinese aircraft.
Reportedly, the J-11D fighter jet is equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA), an air refueling system, and carries the fifth-generation PL-10 air-to-air missiles. Chinese media outlets claimed that it made its first flight in April 2015.

"China's Shengyang J-11 unlicensed derivative of the Russian-developed Su-27 Flanker has become the mainstay of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). While the Chinese-built jets are not able to match US-built fighters one-for-one, China is building a lot of them," US defense expert Dave Majumdar pointed out in his article for the National Interest.

Harsh Reality: USAF Admits F-35 Can't Fight at Close Range
According to the expert, the J-11D "is very comparable" in a lot of respects with the Russian Su-35S. Last year Majumdar carried out a brief review of the Sukhoi Su-35S Flanker-E dubbing it "an extremely dangerous foe to any US fighter."
The expert elaborated that the J-11D is purportedly using radar absorbent materials in order to "reduce the jet's signature" and is equipped with an infrared search-and-track system (IRST) and revamped electronic warfare systems. In addition, the J-11D boasts China's most advanced WS-10 jet engine.

Majumdar insists that the US F-22 Raptors and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters are superior to their Chinese counterparts. However, US fighter jets need bases to operate from or tankers to refuel from, and that is where the shoe pinches, the expert noted.

"If there were to be a war in the Western Pacific, the massive air battles that many might envision, are not likely to take place because the United States and our allies have few bases in the region to host tactical fighters like the F-35," Majumdar pointed out, adding that in the event of a direct conflict China is almost certain to destroy these airbases.

"Further, without intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, those jets couldn't be properly supported — and it becomes even more difficult when the Chinese attack the space assets and data networks that hold America's fighting forces together," the expert added.

Majumdar underscored that instead of mocking the F-35's chances of surviving in a dogfight, experts should answer the question: "Are short-range tactical fighters relevant in the Pacific theatre?"



Read more: Thorn in Pentagon's Side: China's New J-11D Jets Boast Advanced Features

Why buy the SU35 when one can get the J11D from China
 
Badeber was a SIGINT post in the 60s to monitor the soviets. U2 used to operate from Peshawar AB. No locals were allowed into badeber when it was under US control.
 

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Guys who uses the PAF Gulfstream G-IV with registration number J-755 ? Saw this one flying with a PAK1 callsign.
 
Beginning to like this more and more J11D
 

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"The latest image (September 2015) indicated that an improved WS-10B with FADEC has been installed onboard a J-10B testbed, which flew for the first time on September 22, 2015, suggesting the engine has finally overcome some reliability issues and is ready to power the future batches of J-10B/Cs."
 
"The latest image (September 2015) indicated that an improved WS-10B with FADEC has been installed onboard a J-10B testbed, which flew for the first time on September 22, 2015, suggesting the engine has finally overcome some reliability issues and is ready to power the future batches of J-10B/Cs."
PAF is going for J-31, I guess.
 
Picture deleted as it turned out to be PS.
 
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Joint air exercise of Pakistani and Chinese air force concludes in China
joint-air-exercise-of-pakistani-and-chinese-air-force-concludes-in-china.jpg

For first time three different types of front line fighter aircraft from various Squadrons of PAF participated in exercise
  • APP
  • October 03, 2015, 9:10 pm





ISLAMABAD - A Joint Air exercise Shaheen IV between Pakistan Air force (PAF) and PLA Air force, concluded on Saturday at Yinchuan Airbase, China.

PAF Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Operations) Air Vice Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan and PLA Air Force Deputy Commander Lt Gen Zheng Qun Liang were also present in the closing ceremony of the exercise. According to PAF press release issued here, the exercise was aimed at enhancing bilateral relationship and defence cooperation between both friendly neighbouring countries.

It was the fourth exercise of Shaheen series which commenced on 12th September, 2015. It was for the first time that three different types of front line fighter aircraft from various Squadrons of PAF participated in the exercise.

Which Squadron ?

No.2 Sqn

History of PAF Badaber

Ali Ashraf Khan

Monday, October 05, 2015
- Badaber has a long history connected to the US- Pakistani military relations. It was called ‘Camp Badaber’ in 1959 when it served as CIA - United States Air Force Security Service listening post (Communication base) mainly as a spying centre during the cold war against the Soviet Union. Ultimately, America had to vacate the base in July 1970 after its failure to get the agreement renewed amidst increased anti-US public sentiments, especially after the 1965 Indo-Pak war and US arms embargo on Pakistan. The US hold over Badaber was a result of a communication agreement that was negotiated by the US and signed in 1957 by Prime Minister Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy with Gen. Iskander Mirza as President.

The Pakistani government at that time was hoping for US diplomatic help with regard to a resolution of the Kashmir conflict. The agreement included the American use of Badaber base as a spying station and of Pakistani air space and a portion of Peshawar airport for spying flights by the famous U2 spy plane designed to carry out aerial reconnaissance. When in 1958 Ayub Khan came to power as a result of a military coup he strengthened Pakistan’s military and economic alliance with the US against the Soviet Union who was eying on India to become their strategic partner against US. Pakistan’s policy for a short while led to major economic aid from the US and Europe.

Camp Badaber started operating in 1958. It grew into a small American town that was called “little US” with a population of 800 personnel at the air base and an additional 500 support personnel for cooking, medical care, teachers etc. It was equipped apart from administration buildings, barracks and dining hall with elaborate leisure facilities like a movie theatre, and a gym. Later construction added a bowling alley, golf course, dependent living, and school. These facilities are still there and used by the Pakistan Airforce and their families. In 1960s Badaber drew international attention when one of the U2 spy planes flown by CIA pilot Gary Powers was shot down by a Soviet surface-to-air missile and crashed near Sverdlovsk. The pilot survived and was captured as were the photos that had been taken by the pilot.

The incident became a major embarrassment for the US when they had to admit to spying and a wake-up call for their air force that was not aware of the Russian military capabilities. Powers was indicted and convicted in a Russian court and later exchanged for a Russian imprisoned in the US. It was after the infamous U2 incident took place and after a Red Circle was placed on Peshawar city on Pakistan’s map by Nikita Khrushchev that predestined Pakistan into an open hostility with the USSR that gave a three day ultimatum to cancel this agreement with the US or be prepared for the consequences.

President Ayub Khan on the advice of Bhutto cancelled this agreement with US and asked them to vacate Badaber base. Later US President Johnson and others had tried utmost to get this communication agreement revived but it was not done as long as Ayub Khan remained in power.

Among others the U2 incident is an unfortunate legacy of the past in the relations between Pakistan and Russia that Pakistan is working hard even today to overcome. An interesting incident happened in same period was when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who was acting foreign minister in Ayub’s government; He planned a tour of Peshawar and conveyed his desire to arrange a visit to Badaber Base as well.

The Commissioner Peshawar contacted the Base Commander to inform about the forthcoming inspection visit to base of our acting foreign minister but the Base Commander immediately communicated with Pentagon and informed the Commissioner that we will receive Mr. Bhutto in the Cafeteria where he can enjoy our hospitality over a cup of coffee with sandwiches only but not see the installations inside the base. When Bhutto was informed he cancelled his program under protest that was also conveyed to the Base Commander by Commissioner Peshawar.

—Karachi
 

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