Pakistan Air Force | News & Discussions.

[Windjammer]

PAF's Typhoon killer.

 

[fatman17]

Country Risk

Air forces hone real-world combat skills at 'Anatolian Eagle' exercise in Turkey

Alan Warnes, Konya Air Base, Turkey - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

14 June 2016

Pakistani, Saudi, and Turkish jets on the flightline during 'Anatolian Eagle', which took place at Konya Air Base in southwest Turkey from 24 May to 9 June. Source: Alan Warnes

Italy, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey came together at the recent 'Anatolian Eagle' exercise for joint training related to the needs of their ongoing real-world combat operations.

The exercise, which took place at Konya Air Base in southwest Turkey from 24 May to 9 June, saw the Turkish Air Force (TuAF) deploy nearly 40 Lockheed Martin F-16s, including the latest Block 50 aircraft and eight McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantoms. The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana: AMI) contributed six Panavia Tornado IDS platforms; the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) six F-16AM/BMs; and the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) eight Tornado IDSs.

All of the participant nations are involved in real-world combat operations - the TuAF against Kurdish PKK separatists; the PAF against militants in its Federally Administered Tribal Areas; Saudi Arabia against Houthi rebels in Yemen; and Italy against the Islamic State in the Middle East.

As noted by TuAF exercise commander Lieutenant Colonel Ilker Kurt, the focus of this year's event was "dynamic and time-sensitive targeting, as well as the usual close-air support [CAS] missions. We tailor-made the scenarios to ensure they met the objectives of the participant's requirements. It is not the first time we have done dynamic targeting, but this time we made it a special focus".

Lt Col Kurt, an F-16 pilot, explained a particular exercise scenario. "An F-16 equipped with a Sniper [advanced targeting pod] would record the mission unfolding on the ground and then datalink it to the command and control centre [at Konya], while at the same time a terrorist leader in a car, plotting an attack, was being tracked," he said.

While most of the aircraft were flying in multirole missions, the AMI and RSAF Tornados flew suppression of enemy air defences and CAS sorties in particular. The AMI, which is flying intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions out of Kuwait in support of the international Operation 'Inherent Resolve' against the Islamic State, also brought a Joint Terminal Attack Controller, as did the Turkish marines and TuAF.

Konya line up.

 

[fatman17]

Pakistan is to drop its attempts to purchase F-16s from the US , instead opting for a deal to source second-hand aircraft from Jordan. Last month, the potential sale of eight F-16C/D aircraft was brought into question after US Congress objected to using the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program to subsidize the deal, requiring Islamabad to pay the full amount of $699 million. Speaking to the Senate Standing Committee on Defense and Foreign Policy on Monday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Aizaz Chaudhry bemoaned the often strained relations between the two countries commenting “the US has spent 16 years fighting the war on terror. If only it had given six years to the peace process things would have been different.”

 

[fatman17]

Pakistan, spurned by U.S., considers offer of Jordanian F-16 jets

By REUTERS

June 14, 2016

Pakistan is considering buying used F-16 fighter jets from Jordan, media reported on Tuesday, after a plan to buy eight of the aircraft from the United States fell through because of the refusal of the U.S. Congress to finance the deal.

Some of Pakistan's fleet of F-16 jets are due to be decommissioned in the next few years (incorrect information ) and the government says it needs the aircraft to fight Islamist militants in remote mountains near Afghanistan.

The military also sees the aircraft as vital in case of war against old rival India. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947.

"We are now going for a third-party transfer of F-16s and have an offer from Jordan," Defence Secretary Alam Khattak told a joint sitting of the Senate defence and foreign affairs committees on Monday, newspapers reported.

An air force spokesman declined to say how many F-16s Pakistan has but the number of the aircraft in service is believed to be about 70.(incorrect information )

Jordan had offered to sell Pakistan 16 used F-16s of the Block-30 variant, an older version than the Block-52s that Pakistan would have obtained from the United States, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The U.S. deal, valued at $699 million, came unstuck after the U.S. Congress refused to authorise the use of U.S. government funds to pay for the aircraft under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme.

Members of the U.S. Congress, led by Republican Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker, demanded that Pakistan stop harbouring militant groups like the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network, which are leading an insurgency against a U.S.-backed government in Kabul.

Pakistan say it is acting against the militants, citing military operations in lawless ethnic Pashtun lands that border Afghanistan.

Pakistan says the F-16s, with their precision strike ability and night-flying capability, are essential for that fight.

The difficulty over the F-16 deal was the latest sign of increasingly frayed ties between Pakistan and the United States.

Last month, a U.S. drone killed Mullah Akhtar Mansour, then chief of the Afghan Taliban, on Pakistani soil.

Pakistan condemned the strike as a violation of its sovereignty, and as not being conducive towards encouraging the Taliban to enter talks with the Afghan government.

Pakistan has bought Jordanian F-16s before, procuring 13 of them in 2014, Dawn reported. The current batch on offer were manufactured between 1988 and 1990, and were upgraded in 2001/02.

 

[araz]

Pakistan, spurned by U.S., considers offer of Jordanian F-16 jets

By REUTERS

June 14, 2016

Pakistan is considering buying used F-16 fighter jets from Jordan, media reported on Tuesday, after a plan to buy eight of the aircraft from the United States fell through because of the refusal of the U.S. Congress to finance the deal.

Some of Pakistan's fleet of F-16 jets are due to be decommissioned in the next few years (incorrect information ) and the government says it needs the aircraft to fight Islamist militants in remote mountains near Afghanistan.

The military also sees the aircraft as vital in case of war against old rival India. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947.

"We are now going for a third-party transfer of F-16s and have an offer from Jordan," Defence Secretary Alam Khattak told a joint sitting of the Senate defence and foreign affairs committees on Monday, newspapers reported.

An air force spokesman declined to say how many F-16s Pakistan has but the number of the aircraft in service is believed to be about 70.(incorrect information )

Jordan had offered to sell Pakistan 16 used F-16s of the Block-30 variant, an older version than the Block-52s that Pakistan would have obtained from the United States, the Dawn newspaper reported.

The U.S. deal, valued at $699 million, came unstuck after the U.S. Congress refused to authorise the use of U.S. government funds to pay for the aircraft under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme.

Members of the U.S. Congress, led by Republican Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker, demanded that Pakistan stop harbouring militant groups like the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network, which are leading an insurgency against a U.S.-backed government in Kabul.

Pakistan say it is acting against the militants, citing military operations in lawless ethnic Pashtun lands that border Afghanistan.

Pakistan says the F-16s, with their precision strike ability and night-flying capability, are essential for that fight.

The difficulty over the F-16 deal was the latest sign of increasingly frayed ties between Pakistan and the United States.

Last month, a U.S. drone killed Mullah Akhtar Mansour, then chief of the Afghan Taliban, on Pakistani soil.

Pakistan condemned the strike as a violation of its sovereignty, and as not being conducive towards encouraging the Taliban to enter talks with the Afghan government.

Pakistan has bought Jordanian F-16s before, procuring 13 of them in 2014, Dawn reported. The current batch on offer were manufactured between 1988 and 1990, and were upgraded in 2001/02.

I still think there is a mistake. PAF went for 13ADFs last time out of a total of 28. My hunch is it is those fighters which are being procured. Please advise.
A

 

[Quwa]

I don't even know where and how the Block-30 came into the discussion. Not only does Jordan *not* operate Block-30s, but the PAF will never get Block-30s, they use GE turbofans. If anything, it'd go for Block-32, but those are only available at AMARC in Arizona - in other words, it's something the PAF has to take up with the U.S.

 

[ghazi768]

I don't even know where and how the Block-30 came into the discussion. Not only does Jordan *not* operate Block-30s, but the PAF will never get Block-30s, they use GE turbofans. If anything, it'd go for Block-32, but those are only available at AMARC in Arizona - in other words, it's something the PAF has to take up with the U.S.

Yes mention of block 30 is surprising.
Even if the offered jets are of Belgian and Dutch origin than they will be MLUed to M3 level and were the ones going through latest 6.5 upgrade so I doubt that these are the ones on offer.
Offered one should be the ADF models which went through M5 MLU upgrade, and these are the ones which remained almost in storage all the time practically from their delivery from US and mentioned at times to be awaiting a sale.

 

[Arsalan]

I don't even know where and how the Block-30 came into the discussion. Not only does Jordan *not* operate Block-30s, but the PAF will never get Block-30s, they use GE turbofans. If anything, it'd go for Block-32, but those are only available at AMARC in Arizona - in other words, it's something the PAF has to take up with the U.S.

Something that only cooked in the brains of our super foreign office guys perhaps.

 

[HRK]

I don't even know where and how the Block-30 came into the discussion. Not only does Jordan *not* operate Block-30s, but the PAF will never get Block-30s, they use GE turbofans. If anything, it'd go for Block-32, but those are only available at AMARC in Arizona - in other words, it's something the PAF has to take up with the U.S.

'blk-30' is is used as general term to show the technological standard of Jordanian F-16 (If I am not wrong below blk-30 no F-16 was able to use BVR)

 

[ghazi768]

'blk-30' is is used as general term to show the technological standard of Jordanian F-16 (If I am not wrong below blk-30 no F-16 was able to use BVR)

May be but I do not think this is correct.
Jordanians have two lots of F-16s. One is which were ADF version of US national Guard, that was capable of firing AIM-7 sparrows. But they have been upgraded to be able to fire AIM-120C and I think US had also provided them AIM-120Cs as well.
Second is a Belgian, Dutch lot which already were capable of BVR and AIM-120s.
There may be slight differences in radar's upgraded version depending upon when each got MLUed and what LRUs in radars got replaced at that time.

 

[fatman17]

Terrorism & Insurgency

Pakistan mulls purchasing used Jordanian F-16s

Farhan Bokhari, Islamabad - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

15 June 2016

Pakistan is considering buying at least 16 used Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 30 Fighting Falcon fighters from Jordan following the collapse of a deal for the purchase of eight new F-16C/D Block 52s from the United States.

Pakistan's defence secretary, Lieutenant General Alam Khattak (retd), told members of the Senate's Standing Committees on Defence and Foreign Affairs on 13 June that the plan to buy F-16s from the US at a subsidised rate was a closed chapter. Instead, he said, "We are now going for a third party transfer of F-16s and have an offer from Jordan."

The statement comes after the US State Department told reporters on 3 May that Pakistan would have to "put forward national funds" to buy the fighter jets after members of the US Congress objected to using the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme to subsidise the deal.

 

[fatman17]

ACM visits FOB Skardu

 

[fatman17]

Manufacture of First Prototype Two-Seat JF-17B Thunder Begins

Posted on 28 April, 2016

Single-seat Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder 07-102 taxies out for take-off from PAF Base Kamra-Minhas on March 23, 2007. During a ceremony yesterday in China, manufacturing of the first two-seat JF-17B prototype got under way. AFD-Alan Warnes

PAKISTAN AND China have jointly launched manufacturing of the first prototype of a two-seat version of the JF-17 Thunder. During an induction ceremony held at the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC) facility in Chengdu, China, yesterday, April 27, sub-assembly work on the JF-17B was formally launched.

Air Marshal Muhammad Iqbal, Chief Project Director JF-17, Project Management Office, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), was the chief guest at the occasion. Also attending were the President of CAC, Vice President of CATIC, Vice President of CADI, senior representative of AVIC, related Chinese personnel and PAF officials.

Speaking at the occasion, Air Marshal Muhammad Iqbal highlighted the fact that the dual-seat aircraft will be of great value for the PAF, not only in enhancing training, but also improving operational capability. The induction of dual-seat JF-17B aircraft would also improve its export market prospects in the future. He thanked Chinese leadership for their continuous support in the design, development and manufacturing phases of the JF-17 development project. Chinese leadership paid tribute to the higher authorities of the PAF for making the aircraft operational and expressed their resolve to continue support for development work on the JF-17 project.

The prototype JF-17B is expected to make its maiden flight by the end of this year. It is planned to be formally inducted into PAF service by April 2017. AFD-Dave Allport

 

[Signalian]

@Quwa

maximum number of AAM that PAF F-16 ADF can carry?

 

[khanasifm]

F16 ADF

Modifications included Bendix King (now Allied Signal) AN/ARC-200HF/SSB radios with Have Quick II Secure Speech Module and the Teledyne/E Systems Mk.XII Advanced IFF system (APX-109). The APG-66 radar was modified (designated APG-66A) to provide look down/shoot-down capability, enhanced small target detection, and CW (Continuous Wave) illumination for AIM-7 guidance.

A 150,000 candlepower night identification spotlight was installed on the port side of the nose (below and in front of the cockpit) to aid in the identification of nighttime intruders. The aircraft were equipped to carry 600 (US) gallon (2,271 liter) external drop tanks, and to carry 6 BVR missiles such as the AIM-7 Sparrow or AIM-120 AMRAAM.

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article14.html

AAM Load
On the F-16, AIM-120 AMRAAMs can be loaded on stations 1 and 9 (1 missile each, wingtip), 2 & 8 (1 missile each) and 3 & 7 (1 missile each).

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_armament_article3.html

Jordanian F16 Inv

Program

Model Block Qty. Serials Delivered
Peace Falcon I F-16A Block 15 ADF 12 220/231 1997-1998

F-16B Block 15 ADF 4 232/235 1997-1998 (with PAF 19 Sqn)
Peace Falcon II F-16A Block 15 ADF 16 Aircraft 671/686 2003(Up for Sale??)

F-16B Block 15 ADF 1 A/c 670 2003 (Up for sale??)
Peace Falcon III F-16A Block 20MLU 12 140/150, 152 2008-2009
F-16B Block 20MLU 4 136/139 2008-2009
Peace Falcon IV F-16B Block 20MLU 6 133/138 2009
Peace Falcon V F-16A Block 20MLU 6 153/158 2011
F-16B Block 20MLU 3 159/161 2011
Peace Falcon VI F-16A Block 20MLU 13 XXX 2016
F-16B Block 20MLU 2 XXX 2016