Pakistan Air Force | News & Discussions.

[GriffinsRule]

F-16s issue is that while its great for strike role, but PAF F-16 dont have capability for Maritime strike. If the US is willing to give them that capability then by all means. But you still dont have an aircraft capable of nuclear strike. Same goes for M2K.

Rafale and Typhoon would be great, but PAF cant really afford new builds and used Rafales have been upgraded to F3 (soon to be F4). The used Typhoons available for sale are Tranch 1 which have no a2g capabilities or maritime strike capabilities.

Su-30/34/35 would be perfect but agaim they are not, as far as we know, available to Pakistan. If they are, then by all means the Su-34 or Su-35 would be the very best PAF could ask for.

The issue is that there are no good strike options available to PAF amd the JH-7A is actually a good low cost option until PAF can replace it. The very definition of a stop gap is a low cost adequate option capable of fulfilling your needs for a short time.

First, Pakistan should push for harpoon capability for its F-16s, given that we already have that available for our P-3C Orions. So its not out of the realm of possibility. Secondly, M2K offers both cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles (which btw we can also using JF-17). Having refuelers negates the range advantage more or less anyways. Besides, for targets really out in the gulf or indian ocean, PN will be hard pressed already to find targets and then to deploy fighters to attack them anyways (but thats another matter). And since we are only talking here about a squadron at most, for maritime roles, we can afford both the Rafale and the Typhoon (upgrading with better A2G than existing is not a hurdle). I am actually not in favor of the Su but whatever the PAF chooses amongst these 3 would more than suffice.

Now for the question of nuclear strike, if we are using Mirages now, JF-17 will then be the primary carrier and it can perform the role better if not just as well as the Mirage 3/5s. And in the next 10-15 years, we will have the next gen aircraft from project AZM to take over that role (Mirages are not going anywhere before then anyways).

As for JH-7 being a stop gap and low cost option, both are fallacies. PAF can't afford to buy stop gap, esp for a crap antiquated fighter, as the operational costs, training, infrastructure etc all have to be accounted for. So no thank you.

 

[monitor]

Fighter Squadrons of Pakistan Air Force in 2018-19.
PAF Currently operate 19 active combat squadrons alongside four squadrons of Combat Commander School totaling 23


41

 

[ziaulislam]

F-16s issue is that while its great for strike role, but PAF F-16 dont have capability for Maritime strike. If the US is willing to give them that capability then by all means. But you still dont have an aircraft capable of nuclear strike. Same goes for M2K.

Rafale and Typhoon would be great, but PAF cant really afford new builds and used Rafales have been upgraded to F3 (soon to be F4). The used Typhoons available for sale are Tranch 1 which have no a2g capabilities or maritime strike capabilities.

Su-30/34/35 would be perfect but agaim they are not, as far as we know, available to Pakistan. If they are, then by all means the Su-34 or Su-35 would be the very best PAF could ask for.

The issue is that there are no good strike options available to PAF amd the JH-7A is actually a good low cost option until PAF can replace it. The very definition of a stop gap is a low cost adequate option capable of fulfilling your needs for a short time.

Trench 1 are going through upgrade standard 3 that will give them basic A2G equipment like precision strike and cruise missiles ..
So it is now a full scale MR fighter

 

[MIRauf]

If PAF were to go for JF-7s they would have a while back to replace the A-5s and they didn't. It seems PAF was not interested or didn't see it good enough then. Now if you are to add J-16 style or similar Avionics to make it suitable for PAF / PN needs then it will take time to test, months / years. Time to integrate in PAF, write new syllabus, support and maintenance along with pilot training.

PAF might be better off with studying and looking into height (variable / adjustable ) main & front gear, similar to good o'l A-4 Skyhawk. It just might fix your ground clearance for RAAD deployment, it may not satisfy your ( number of weapon load that you may desire to carry. ) Its a penny for your thoughts.

 

[ziaulislam]

Fighter Squadrons of Pakistan Air Force in 2018-19.
PAF Currently operate 19 active combat squadrons alongside four squadrons of Combat Commander School totaling 23


41

Priority is to get rid of the 4 f-7s squardons..i believe even the f7 pG will go before anything else..than you have 5 mirage sq apart from two for strategic strike rest will be retired too..whther they will be retired before PG is not known..

in short PAF is in need of 150 fighters(9sq) in next 5 years..it desperately needs couple of cheap used/EDA/MLUs f16 squardons so that jf-17 program is not rushed

 

[jupiter2007]

Priority is to get rid of the 4 f-7s squardons..i believe even the f7 pG will go before anything else..than you have 5 mirage sq apart from two for strategic strike rest will be retired too..whther they will be retired before PG is not known..

in short PAF is in need of 150 fighters(9sq) in next 5 years..it desperately needs couple of cheap used/EDA/MLUs f16 squardons so that jf-17 program is not rushed

USA, Turkey and Israel will retire older F-16 with in 2 years.

 

[ziaulislam]

USA, Turkey and Israel will retire older F-16 with in 2 years.

plenty of f16 all over the place, whther usa will allow used f16 is the real question

 

[xbat]

USA, Turkey and Israel will retire older F-16 with in 2 years.

Turkey doesnt have a plan to retire any F16s, instead Block30s will get upgrade and will serve more than 10 years for TurAf.

 

[jupiter2007]

plenty of f16 all over the place, whther usa will allow used f16 is the real question

You are right.. Jordan, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Belgium, Greece and Poland. I think Jordan took delivery of F-16s from Netherlands.
Singapore announced last year that they are looking to replace the aged F-16s in next 5 years.

Turkey doesnt have a plan to retire any F16s, instead Block30s will get upgrade and will serve more than 10 years for TurAf.

If not Turkey, we can get Israeli F-16 via Turkey.

 

[Windjammer]

T-33, B-57 and F-6 with a lineup of F-86s in the background, Masroor AB 1980s.

 

[GriffinsRule]

You are right.. Jordan, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Belgium, Greece and Poland. I think Jordan took delivery of F-16s from Netherlands.
Singapore announced last year that they are looking to replace the aged F-16s in next 5 years.



If not Turkey, we can get Israeli F-16 via Turkey.

Good joke

 

[jupiter2007]

Good joke

Which part?

It’s acceptable to get F-16s from Jordan who acquired Dutch F-16s.
But it’s not acceptable from Turkey, if Turkey acquires them from Israel.

 

[GriffinsRule]

Which part?

It’s acceptable to get F-16s from Jordan who acquired Dutch F-16s.
But it’s not acceptable from Turkey, if Turkey acquires them from Israel.

Yes, since we ourselves tried to get European F-16s back in the day. And the joke part is where you assume Turkey will buy them from Israel in order to sell them to us ... btw their relations are in the dumpster and second, why would we even consider buying Israeli used-up machines? There is no shortage of them within the US

 

[jupiter2007]

Priority is to get rid of the 4 f-7s squardons..i believe even the f7 pG will go before anything else..than you have 5 mirage sq apart from two for strategic strike rest will be retired too..whther they will be retired before PG is not known..

in short PAF is in need of 150 fighters(9sq) in next 5 years..it desperately needs couple of cheap used/EDA/MLUs f16 squardons so that jf-17 program is not rushed

What role Yak-130 can play in PAF?

 

[denel]

First, Pakistan should push for harpoon capability for its F-16s, given that we already have that available for our P-3C Orions. So its not out of the realm of possibility. Secondly, M2K offers both cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles (which btw we can also using JF-17). Having refuelers negates the range advantage more or less anyways. Besides, for targets really out in the gulf or indian ocean, PN will be hard pressed already to find targets and then to deploy fighters to attack them anyways (but thats another matter). And since we are only talking here about a squadron at most, for maritime roles, we can afford both the Rafale and the Typhoon (upgrading with better A2G than existing is not a hurdle). I am actually not in favor of the Su but whatever the PAF chooses amongst these 3 would more than suffice.

Now for the question of nuclear strike, if we are using Mirages now, JF-17 will then be the primary carrier and it can perform the role better if not just as well as the Mirage 3/5s. And in the next 10-15 years, we will have the next gen aircraft from project AZM to take over that role (Mirages are not going anywhere before then anyways).

As for JH-7 being a stop gap and low cost option, both are fallacies. PAF can't afford to buy stop gap, esp for a crap antiquated fighter, as the operational costs, training, infrastructure etc all have to be accounted for. So no thank you.

I am not agreeing with your thought for Jh-7 as a stop gap measure. Between the nightmare of bandaging is required to keep the M3/5s going; JH-7 brings in the credible role that is needed for a carrier for SOW - it is penny wise pound foolish mentality. We are not talking of a huge amount of squadrons, just 2 is all that is needed - just like Mirage 4 provided.