Pakistan Air Force | News & Discussions.

[fatman17]

Air Platforms

US approves additional F-16 sale to Pakistan

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

16 February 2016

Pakistan will receive additional Block 52 F-16s, similar to those operated by other countries such as Poland (pictured). Source: Polish Ministry of National Defence

The US government has approved the sale to Pakistan of additional Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft.

The approval, which was given by the state department and announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 12 February, is valued at USD699.04 million and covers aircraft, engines, systems, training, and support.

Specifically, the DSCA notification lists two single-seat F-16C and six twin-seat F-16D aircraft fitted with the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 increased performance engine; 14 Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing Systems; eight AN/APG-68(V)9 radars; and eight ALQ-211(V)9 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites.

"The proposed sale improves Pakistan's capability to meet current and future security threats. These additional F-16 aircraft will facilitate operations in all-weather, non-daylight environments, provide a self-defence/area-suppression capability, and enhance Pakistan's ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations," the DSCA notification said, adding, "This sale will increase the number of aircraft available to the Pakistan Air Force to sustain operations, meet monthly training requirements, and support transition training for pilots new to the Block 52."

The notification did not disclose delivery timelines.

 

[fatman17]

PLA's fighter jets go up for sale

China Daily, February 18, 2016

A large-scale model of the FC-20, the export version of the J-10 fighter jet, on display at the Singapore Airshow 2016 on Tuesday. The airshow runs through Feb 21.[Xinhua]

China appears to have given the green light for its domestically-developed J-10 fighter jet to be exported as the country looks to attract buyers at an overseas air show.

A large-scale model of the FC-20, the export version of the J-10, is on display at the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp booth at the six-day Singapore Airshow 2016, which kicked off on Tuesday.

It is an unspoken rule in China's defense sector that weapons solely designed for the People's Liberation Army are never displayed at foreign exhibitions, so the model's appearance in Singapore carries a clear indication: that China now wants to promote the warplane to the international market.

The J-10 is a third-generation, multirole combat aircraft designed and produced by Aviation Industry Corp of China. It features a canard delta wing design, a fly-by-wire flight control system and is regarded by military experts as one of the best fighter jets in the world.

First entering service as the J-10A with the PLA Air Force in 2004, the plane was declassified in 2009 and by February 2014, the PLA Air Force and PLA Navy's aviation units had at least 260 of the jets in operation, British think tank the International Institute for Strategic Studies has estimated.

The country has also developed at least two upgraded versions of the aircraft－the J-10B, which has started to be delivered to the PLA Air Force, and the J-10C that is still in the testing stage, Chinese media reported.

Speculation has been rife in recent years among Chinese military observers and their foreign counterparts about when the J-10's export would be approved. Potential buyers named by foreign media include Pakistan, Iran and Argentina, but none have been reported to be in substantial negotiations with China so far.

Ma Zhiping, former general manager of China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp, said in September 2013 that several foreign countries from Asia, Africa and South America had "expressed interest" in the J-10, with his company expecting a huge market for the plane.

Wang Ya'nan, deputy editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine and an expert in aviation, said selling fighter aircraft was never an easy task as such arms sales were often influenced by a host of geopolitical factors.

"Land arms such as tanks or even short-range surface-to-surface missiles have limited impact on geopolitics, but fighter jets can perform strikes far away from their home country and thus are considered to have stronger prowess," he said.

"In addition, a contract for fighter jets usually means a large amount of profit because their life span is very long, so the value behind the aircraft and the after-sale services involved would be very high. Therefore, every major player in the aviation industry will spare no effort to scramble for the contract."

A weakness in China's efforts to sell its fighter jets is the fact that they are unproven in combat, according to Wang.

"Fortunately, the PLA Air Force has many air combat drills each year, which can enable foreign clients to know the capabilities of Chinese aircraft."

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[mingle]

@fatman any chance for PAF the FC20

 

[fatman17]

@fatman any chance for PAF the FC20

PAF planners believe JF 17 can fill that role. J10 / FC 20 is on the back burner now with additional F16s on the way.

 

[fatman17]

Red in Tooth and Claw: China Arms L-15 AFT Trainer

By Wendell Minnick, Defense News

Wendell Minnick

SINGAPORE – What began as a simple lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) has evolved into an aircraft armed to the teeth.
At the Singapore Airshow this week, the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp. (CATIC) displayed the supersonic Hongdu-built L-15 Falcon attack/fighter/trainer (AFT) aircraft armed with new weapon systems not seen outfitted on the Falcon before.
The Nanchang-based Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation is a subsidiary of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
Richard Fisher, an International Assessment and Strategy Center senior fellow, said the L-15 is now being marketed as a multirole combat aircraft in addition to its original LIFT mission.
The model at the air show was outfitted with the KG600 jamming pod, a Luoyang SD-10 self-guided medium range air-to-air missile (AAM) and PL-5 short-range AAM, and a precision guided bomb.

Outfitting options include 800L drop tank, gun pods, dummy bomb, PL-5EII and SD-10A AAMs, KG600 jamming pod, unguided 250kg/500kg bombs, HF-18D rocket launchers, and 250kg LS-6 and 500kg LS-6 laser guided bombs, according to a CATIC brochure.
“As the chined nose of the L-15 has not been modified on this model, it could also be that AVIC/Hongdu intend to equip the L-15 with a small active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which would boost its combat potential,” Fisher said. At present, it comes with pulse-doppler radar.
Fisher said there is some irony that CATIC is marketing the L-15 at the Singapore Airshow. The L-15 is now the primary competition for the subsonic Russian Yakovlev Yak-130 multirole combat and LIFT aircraft, and Yakovlev had played a decisive role in helping Hongdu refine the L-15 design. The Russian’s are also exhibiting a model of the Yak-130 at this week’s show.
The Singapore Airshow is being held at the Changi Exhibition Center from Feb. 16-21.
Email: wminnick@defensenews.com

 

[fatman17]

DW Focus

India’s storm in a teacup over Pakistan’s F-16s

BY SULTAN M HALI



Indian coercive diplomacy to stop the sale of F-16s to Pakistan is akin to a storm in a teacup. India is disappointed that the United States has approved the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan and summoned the US Ambassador to New Delhi, Richard Verma, to ‘convey its displeasure’ regarding the Obama administration’s decision to notify the sale of the aircraft to Pakistan. Indian External Affairs Ministry disagrees with the US rationale that such arms transfers help combat terrorism.

Indian aversion to the US providing eight F-16s comes in the backdrop of India having browbeaten Sri Lanka to backtrack from acquiring JF-17 Thunder fighter aircrafts from Pakistan. According to The Indian Express, the procurement process was in the advanced stages, after the Sri Lankan Air Chief had visited Pakistan and later sent an evaluation team to study the aircraft and a green signal had been given to go ahead.

The Indian Express discloses that the Indian government delivered a non-paper — diplomatic parlance for a white sheet of paper without a letterhead or signature — to Colombo at the highest levels about three weeks ago after reports that Pakistan was seriously engaging the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) on the Chinese fighter aircraft to replace the SLAF’s ageing fleet of Israeli Kfirs and MiG-27s.

New Delhi has opposed SLAF plans to buy the JF-17s on the ground that Sri Lanka does not need fighter aircrafts. Sri Lankan sources said India also put forth a technical argument that the Russian engines of the JF-17 were not the best, that even China does not use these aircrafts. Earlier, some Sri Lankan reports had said India had offered its own Tejas to the SLAF instead. India is also concerned that the deal, if it goes through, will enable Pakistan, and perhaps China, to set up a facility in Sri Lanka for maintenance and training, and increase and widen contacts between Pakistan and Chinese security forces and Sri Lanka.

It may be relevant to mention that in 2014 the then Sri Lankan government had cleared a proposal for China to set up a maintenance-cum-servicing facility for its aircrafts that are part of the Sri Lankan fleet in Trincomalee. The SLAF fleet also comprises the Chengdu F-7 fighter aircraft, and the Y-12 and MA60 transporters. India had raised concerns then about the plan and the Sri Lankan government had said it would be manned only by SLAF personnel. With the change in government, that plan was shelved.

Pakistan Air Force requires the additional all weather capable F-16s equipped with precision guided munitions to beef up its effort to combat terrorism but India is bent upon denying this capacity to Pakistan with the plea that the eight aircraft will upset the balance of power in the sub-continent. Interestingly, India itself has opted to acquire 126 French Dassault Rafale fighter aircrafts, is eying Russian MiG-35 fighters and concluded a number of recent defence deals. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Report 2015, India was the highest recipient of arms. India claims that its fighter strength is at an all time low. As against the sanctioned strength of 45 squadrons it only had 34 squadrons. A recent parliamentary panel finding has put the squadron strength at 25 squadrons. This is alarming news for any defence personnel. Of the 25 squadrons, about 14 comprise MiG 21s and MiG 27s which are slated for decommissioning in 2020-25. By 2025, if India does not have sufficient Rafale aircrafts, its squadron strength would be at a dangerous 11. The delay in the Induction of Tejas which is already obsolete before it became operational and the stalling of the Indo-Russian FGFA means India has to make do only with 190 Sukhoi 30MKIs that it currently has. The MiG 29s and Mirage 2000s are slowly being upgraded. Hence, their operational availability will not be reliable. As an interim measure, IAF plans to order more Su-30MKI apart from the originally sanctioned 272. This may not be as effective as hoped. It makes the composition of the fighter fleet predominantly Su-30 which compromises the element of surprise in case of hostilities. Also, the technologies transfer with the Rafale aircraft are needed by India for its own indigenous fighter programmes such as LCA MkII and AMCA.

While unearthing its own ambitious plans, India grudges Pakistan acquiring the eight F-16s, which it knows will only enhance its war on terror capability and make no dent in the balance of forces ratio, which is already heavily tilted in India’s favour.

On the one hand, India is waving the olive branch by inviting Pakistan to a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue for peace; on the other, it is sabotaging every defence deal of Pakistan, however infinitesimal it may be. Our foreign office mandarins or the current political dispensation occupying the corridors of power in Islamabad, who got swayed by Modi’s Raiwind yatra on Mian Nawaz Sharif’s birthday bash, should think deep and hard regarding the real agenda of the Modi government. Irrespective of what political dispensation occupies the mantle of power in New Delhi, the mantra is the same; Pakistan bashing is its foremost priority.

Although US Congress is now going through a 30-day notification period after which it will be finalised. The F-16 aircrafts along with training, radar and other equipment would allow Pakistan’s Air Force to operate in all kinds of weather, as well as “enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations,” the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency, which coordinates such foreign arms sales, said in a statement. Each country plans its force goals in accordance with its threat perception. Currently, PAF, which is engaged in targeting the miscreants with precision guided munitions is likely to retire about 200 of its aging F-7 and Mirage Fighter aircrafts and needs at least 24 F-16s to meet the threat at hand. The addition of the 8 F-16s from USA under Foreign Military Financing will offset the balance to some extent.

Sultan M Hali

The author is a retired Group Captain and author of the book Defence & Diplomacy. Currently he is a columnist, analyst and TV talk show host.

 

[Cool_Soldier]

Nice development.

PAF is not much interested in FC20 because it hopes that JF 17 block 3 would be something same or even better than this bird.
Hopefully, 3rd block will roll out in 2018.

 

[Quwa]

Currently, PAF, which is engaged in targeting the miscreants with precision guided munitions is likely to retire about 200 of its aging F-7 and Mirage Fighter aircrafts and needs at least 24 F-16s to meet the threat at hand. The addition of the 8 F-16s from USA under Foreign Military Financing will offset the balance to some extent.

So ... Retired Group Captain Hali is saying the PAF is looking to build the F-16 fleet to around 100

 

[Danish saleem]

we will keep looking at f-16's, the purchase of J-10's i think abandoned.
we still not learned any lesson from our past.

 

[Cool_Soldier]

This is matter of technology and a solid answer to to your opponent.we need to see whether available option is capable of competing future requirements and also need to look into what adversary in neighbour is acquiring.

If available option is not meeting requirements, then it is wastage of resources.
Quality matters more THAN quantity.

 

[Sulman Badshah]

 

[fatman17]

US State Department approves F-16 sale to Pakistan



14 FEBRUARY, 2016 BY: JAMES DREW WASHINGTON DC

The US State Department has approved the potential sale of a further eight Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 52 aircraft to Pakistan, but whether the $700 million deal can survive a 30-day Congressional review process remains to be seen.

The requested foreign military sales package includes two F-16C fighters and six twin-seat D-models powered by Pratt & Whitney F100-229 engines. These would bolster the Pakistan air force’s counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations and enhance fighter training, according to a 12 February notification by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently threatened to block the sale in a letter to US secretary of state John Kerry, citing US subsidies and Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorist elements in neighbouring Afghanistan. The same committee had also threatened to postpone Pakistan’s original Block 52 procurement, but ultimately that multibillion-dollar deal for 12 F-16Cs, six F-16Ds and hundreds of precision-guided bombs and missiles went ahead.

If realised, the new deal could extend production of the F-16 in Fort Worth, Texas beyond 2017. Assembly fell from 17 aircraft in 2014 to 11 last year: a 35% reduction. P&W would also cease F100 production without new orders.

Pakistan’s original F-16 Block 52s were delivered between 2009 and 2012. Iraq has since procured 36 examples for its air force, with its first examples arriving in country last year.

Islamabad will pay $70 million per aircraft under the proposed follow-on sale, including the latest F100-229 “increased performance engine” and 14 joint helmet-mounted cueing systems. Other equipment includes eight Northrop Grumman APG-68(V)9 mechanically-scanned, long-range radars and eight Exelis ALQ-211(V)9 advanced integrated defensive electronic warfare suites.

“The proposed sale improves Pakistan's capability to meet current and future security threats,” the DSCA notice says. “These additional F-16 aircraft will facilitate operations in all-weather, non-daylight environments, provide a self-defence/area suppression capability and enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.”

Flightglobal’s Fleets Analyzer database records Pakistan as operating 46 single-seat F-16A/Cs and 31 twin-seat F-16B/D trainers.

 

[fatman17]

September 11/15: Pakistan and Russia are reportedly in talks over the supply of Su-35 fighters and Mi-35M helicopters, according to both Pakistani and Russian press reports Thursday. The sale of Mil Mi-35M helicopters was also reported in August, with it unclear whether current negotiations are a continuation of this previous contract or a new one entirely. The two countries signed a bilateral military cooperation agreement last November , with the fourth-generation Sukhoi Su-35 also eyeing potential export customers in China and Indonesia.

 

[Asifkamal]

Are you still hoping , su35???

 

[Cool_Soldier]

Yes, we still hope for that as Su 35 was offered to us.Now it is our job to evaluate it according to our requirement.
As Russian President is going to visit Pakistan this year hopefully in June but date is not yet decided.
May be these formal agreements will be finalized during his visit to Pakistan.