Pakistan F-16 Discussions 2

[Last Hope]

Pakistan to Purchase Additional F-16 Fighters

19 July 2011

Pakistan is preparing to place an order for 18 additional F-16 block 52+ fighters, which would double its Fighting Falcon's advanced variant fleet, Pakistan Military Consortium think tank Haris Khan has said.

The nation is in the final stages of exercising an option to buy the fighters under a contract awarded in 2006, according to Defence News.

The F-16A/B block 15 aircraft will be put under a planned upgrade to bring the aircraft to the block 40 standard through the Falcon structural augmentation roadmap (STAR) programme.

The aircraft are undergoing mid-life update (MLU) at Turkish Aerospace Industries in Turkey.

The upgraded aircraft will also be equipped with the ITT Systems AN/ALQ-211(v)9 advanced integrated defensive electronic warfare suite (AIDEWS) electronic warfare pod under US foreign military sale programme.

this news is now 8 months old without any further progress!

I was informed that, 14 of these would be F-16C and the rest 4 would be F-16D, all equipped with CFTs.
I guess it's time to believe that 36 Block 52s are operational.

 

[Donatello]

Pakistan to Purchase Additional F-16 Fighters

19 July 2011

Pakistan is preparing to place an order for 18 additional F-16 block 52+ fighters, which would double its Fighting Falcon's advanced variant fleet, Pakistan Military Consortium think tank Haris Khan has said.

The nation is in the final stages of exercising an option to buy the fighters under a contract awarded in 2006, according to Defence News.

The F-16A/B block 15 aircraft will be put under a planned upgrade to bring the aircraft to the block 40 standard through the Falcon structural augmentation roadmap (STAR) programme.

The aircraft are undergoing mid-life update (MLU) at Turkish Aerospace Industries in Turkey.

The upgraded aircraft will also be equipped with the ITT Systems AN/ALQ-211(v)9 advanced integrated defensive electronic warfare suite (AIDEWS) electronic warfare pod under US foreign military sale programme.

this news is now 8 months old without any further progress!

If acquiring another 18 f-16s, then this means there are serious issues at hand with regards t0 j-10 acquisition and PAF desperatelly needs a stop gap measure.

 

[nomi007]

i think we 1st normalize the us-Pakistan relations
2nd increase the fleet of f-16 more than 126
try to get those codes which allow us to install our our weapons on f-16s like sd-10 that's is very important
we also try to access old refurnished kc-135 for air refueling

 

[Last Hope]

i think we 1st normalize the us-Pakistan relations

Sure must do, too much 'friendship' with US is dangerous and too much 'rivalry' is dangerous too.

2nd increase the fleet of f-16 more than 126

That's a poor suggestion. Once the NATO troops leave Afghanistan, and the 'War on Terror' ends, it is highly likely that USA will stop the spare-parts supply of F-16s to Pakistan, which means they will be scrap metal in hangars, like they were prior to the WoT. The Block-52 were bought, as per agreement and strings, 'to be used in war on terror' and '..PAF will not use these F-16s in any war breakout against India..'. Why waste the resources, invest wisely into FC-20 and JF-17 program.

try to get those codes which allow us to install our our weapons on f-16s like sd-10 that's is very important

I'm sure that Pakistan Aeronautical Complex can do that, but warn you, this is breach of the terms of contract.

we also try to access old refurnished kc-135 for air refueling

No comments on it, as I am no expert in aerial refueling planes. What I can say is, we must go for more C-130s, and upgrade a dozen of them with Air-to-Air refueling capabilities, like India.

 

[White Lightning]

Pakistan Air Force Receives First Three Upgraded F-16s



PAF F-16 Block 15 Aircraft Arrive After Mid Life Upgrade. First batch of three F-16 Block 15 MLU (Mid Life Upgrade) aircraft have arrived from Ankara, Turkey. The aircraft were earlier sent to TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) for Mid Life Upgrade and have been delivered to PAF on time.

In October 2010, PAF had signed a contract with TAI to upgrade all its F-16 Block 15 aircraft. Under the Peace Drive II program, TAI is performing avionics and structural modernization of F-16 aircraft that are on the inventory of Pakistan Air Force since 1982-83 and the project is planned to be completed by September 2014.

 

[Aamir Hussain]

A clue is to check the number of new dispersal pens built at Shahbaz Airbase. This gives a fair idea of number of aircraft that the base has been designed to house and handle. Caution, do not count the ready alert pens right ner the edge of runways. Those are not semi-permanent a/c housing structures.

The permanent type of dispersal pens are 32 and 8 ready alert pens. Accounting for emergency dispersal during wartime on disused or old pens, maintenance (Generally maint. work is done in hardened pens during wartime.)facilities etc. and apron areas, the base seems to be capable of not more than 32 aircraft at the most.

I do not, as yet see the peacetime parking structures (shielding from sun and heat for the glass cockpit equipped Block 52's) on the main apron areas.

This means that atleast two full strength F-16 squadrons will be housed at the base on a permanent basis. However, the main apron area does not support the parking for 20+ aircrafts.

Generally, this has been the rule with PAF airbases -- the main bases have permanent housing for two squadrons each.

However, there is still construction activity going on on the airfield and it is expected that apron area in near future will be expanded.

Judging by the number of administration blocks and the size of the housing colony, it not only houses alteast two squadrons and its anicilliary staff but also substantial engineering and training facillities.

 

[Donatello]

A clue is to check the number of new dispersal pens built at Shahbaz Airbase. This gives a fair idea of number of aircraft that the base has been designed to house and handle. Caution, do not count the ready alert pens right ner the edge of runways. Those are not semi-permanent a/c housing structures.

The permanent type of dispersal pens are 32 and 8 ready alert pens. Accounting for emergency dispersal during wartime on disused or old pens, maintenance (Generally maint. work is done in hardened pens during wartime.)facilities etc. and apron areas, the base seems to be capable of not more than 32 aircraft at the most.

I do not, as yet see the peacetime parking structures (shielding from sun and heat for the glass cockpit equipped Block 52's) on the main apron areas.

This means that atleast two full strength F-16 squadrons will be housed at the base on a permanent basis. However, the main apron area does not support the parking for 20+ aircrafts.

Generally, this has been the rule with PAF airbases -- the main bases have permanent housing for two squadrons each.

However, there is still construction activity going on on the airfield and it is expected that apron area in near future will be expanded.

Judging by the number of administration blocks and the size of the housing colony, it not only houses alteast two squadrons and its anicilliary staff but also substantial engineering and training facillities.

Yes that is a fair analysis, but the second squadron, isn't it the one brought in from Sargodha? The upgraded F-16s?

 

[Last Hope]

Yes that is a fair analysis, but the second squadron, isn't it the one brought in from Sargodha? The upgraded F-16s?

Four MLU F-16s are present currently at Shahbaz Air Base.
Plus, there is a large expansion of the base going on.

 

[fatman17]

Four MLU F-16s are present currently at Shahbaz Air Base.
Plus, there is a large expansion of the base going on.

bcuz 2 Viper Sqdns and 1 JFT sqdn plus 1 IL-78 Midas will be the eventual home for these assets. a base of this size will / should be able to accomodate 5 combat squadrons.

Pakistan Air Force Receives First Three Upgraded F-16s



PAF F-16 Block 15 Aircraft Arrive After Mid Life Upgrade. First batch of three F-16 Block 15 MLU (Mid Life Upgrade) aircraft have arrived from Ankara, Turkey. The aircraft were earlier sent to TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) for Mid Life Upgrade and have been delivered to PAF on time.

In October 2010, PAF had signed a contract with TAI to upgrade all its F-16 Block 15 aircraft. Under the Peace Drive II program, TAI is performing avionics and structural modernization of F-16 aircraft that are on the inventory of Pakistan Air Force since 1982-83 and the project is planned to be completed by September 2014.

brand spanking new!

If acquiring another 18 f-16s, then this means there are serious issues at hand with regards t0 j-10 acquisition and PAF desperatelly needs a stop gap measure.

my face has gone blue stating that the J-10 will NOT be inducted bcuz of engine issues. as long as the J-10 is powered by a russian engine, you will not see this type in PAF colors. so lets hope the chinese can get the kinks out of their WS series engines sooner than later. - thus the push for more F-16's. the US owes us 14 a/c and that is our line in our discussions. give us 14 new or 14 EDA.

 

[VelocuR]

With due respect, Fatman17 love this F-16s which is itself American planes, some of us rarely to spend time here because it WILL not protect our sky and people guarantee secure, were you ex-pilot?

Let's hope we will get more 18 or 14 F-16s shining new!.

 

[Arsalan]

what about the STAR upgrades?
is that been done during the MLU up gradation?

 

[abdulbarijan]

bcuz 2 Viper Sqdns and 1 JFT sqdn plus 1 IL-78 Midas will be the eventual home for these assets. a base of this size will / should be able to accomodate 5 combat squadrons.



brand spanking new!



my face has gone blue stating that the J-10 will NOT be inducted bcuz of engine issues. as long as the J-10 is powered by a russian engine, you will not see this type in PAF colors. so lets hope the chinese can get the kinks out of their WS series engines sooner than later. - thus the push for more F-16's. the US owes us 14 a/c and that is our line in our discussions. give us 14 new or 14 EDA.

well lets hope so...so according to you we will be looking for J-10 equipped with WS-10 series not the Al-31 FP...hmm interesting
wonder what the problem is
Re-export issues??
or AL-31 FP aint that reliable or somethin....

Anyways being a lil positive now this means that the FC-20 will have TVC if what you say is correct...Chinese development speed is beyond belief...and we still have over 3 years to prepare for the MMRCA (if all goes as planned...which in the case of India is not usually the case)

 

[fatman17]

well lets hope so...so according to you we will be looking for J-10 equipped with WS-10 series not the Al-31 FP...hmm interesting
wonder what the problem isRe-export issues??
or AL-31 FP aint that reliable or somethin....

Anyways being a lil positive now this means that the FC-20 will have TVC if what you say is correct...Chinese development speed is beyond belief...and we still have over 3 years to prepare for the MMRCA (if all goes as planned...which in the case of India is not usually the case)

the russians have denied the licence to produce the engine in china as well as re-export (so far)

 

[fatman17]

Quote of the Day“The probability of survival is equal to the angle of arrival.”
-- Unknown

 

[Donatello]

How can JFT be based at Shahbaz AB? Didn't Americans want no Chinese assets and personal around their BLK 52s??