I don't want to divert your thread into discussing aircrafts so im quoting you here - if we just say that instead of increasing Ground formations, follow a different model, an approach similar to USA and Israel, which leads to doubling the PAF combat Squadrons from 16 to 32. How would that affect future Operations of Pakistan Military and how would India react to it ? what resources and in how much time can the airforce be doubled ? How can it give edge to Pakistan in war ? Bear in mind that AF gives cover to ground and naval forces so its always in demand for providing cover and keeping friendly skies clear. Its difficult to match Indian Army divisions on 1 to 1 basis and remote chances of PN operating an aircraft carrier or destroyer.
That is an interesting thought. Perhaps it doesn't have to be one or the other, but a balanced response with increases in all services. Conscripting say 1 in 10 matriculating graduates would be a low cost way to increase infantry divisions. If not 1:1 at least it can be 1:.8 It also solves the relative lack of reserves problem.
About increasing air force units - I think this will be expensive but a definite force multiplier. PAF has already increased JF-17 production rate to perhaps 25 a year. They may end up with a 500 fighter air force.
Maintaining these aircraft and manning them are quite expensive. The JF-17, mainly due to the engine costs more CPFH than the F-16 (or so I've gleaned). How can this be lowered?
What are some other ways that PAF capabilities can be enhanced?
Here are some ideas:
1. Buy all the Mirage 3/5/50 there is in the world. Continue this as long as possible to increase numbers.
2. Get a LIFT to lower the JF-17 costs - keep a portion of the pilot flight hours from a simulator and a LIFT, and minimize use of the actual jet. This would lower costs significantly.
3. Let's think a step further: Why not build a "JF-17 Lite" that would essentially be a LIFT? A low cost, low CPFH JF-17.
Thinking along this third line, such a LIFT may not need to pull 8.5 Gs. Maybe 4 Gs is enough. The most expensive element in the JF-17 is the RD-93 engine (and also the cause of higher CPFH). Build a simplified local RD-93 / WS-XX). Instead of using expensive alloys and materials, make a simplified version of the RD-93 / WS-13 with steel and aluminum (7x series aircraft aluminum).
I think if Elon Musk was in charge that is what he would do. His philosophy is, if something is too complex they inevitably create problems and is a poor engineering choice. This is why Space X is now building engines with Steel.
Do an Elon with the RD-93 or WS-xx. Get a team to use the Elon model of engineering R&D with constant building and testing, creating rapid iterations until you perfect it.
This engine would not need to be the most expensive or best engine. Just a good enough engine for a LIFT. Get the JF-17 Lite to the 0.8 - 0.9 mach range.
With low cost and simplified solutions (given only 4 Gs are needed), this JF-17 would be lighter and significantly cheaper (with the low cost local engine).
They would probably sell like hot cakes to any country looking for a low cost multirole aircraft.
Better yet, such a JF-17 would be able to bomb IA formations just as easily (you don't need 8 Gs and supersonic for ground pounding missions). They would be able to support "real" JF-17s in air combat by having missile racks that could be qued by data link.
They would be able to keep the "real" JF-17 pilots current by acting as the near perfect low cost LIFT. Since they would share parts with the "real" JF-17s, in war time when long MTBF is not needed, their parts would often be able to be used in a hurry.
As PAF's finances improve, parts from the JF-17 Lite could be retired in favor of "real" parts - increasing their capability. For instance, first thing changed would be perhaps the steel / aluminum fan blades for single crystal blades...
So, this perhaps could be a way that PAF could be made to significantly increasing the capability of a-2-a and a-2-g at a relatively low cost, keeping economic conditions in view.
This JF-17 Lite would sell like hot cakes in Africa and South America. Modern combat aircraft are just too expensive to buy for a large number of countries. We saw with the Nigeria order that each Block 2 JF-17s, with support, parts, etc costing 60 million per plane.
What is the JF-17 Lite cost 5 to 7 million? With the low cost of steel / aluminum / plastic parts, what is the price point we could offer the world?
How then, would a successful export aircraft help PAF? As money comes back in, and as increased production lowers unit costs, the sky would perhaps be the limit to however many JF-17s Pakistan needs, in whatever configuration.
Post Script: By the way, Israel uses conscription. Bringing this up since you noted Israel. They have about 600,000 soldiers 80% of them conscripts. The also have a large air force. So, for them its not one or the other, but a balance of both. Why conscription isn't being used in Pakistan is a logic that is not understandable to me. The only explanation is that PA does not wish to leave its colonial legacy.
