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Pakistan F-16 Discussions 2

actual pilots are obsolete now - that's so clear
Pakistan definitely needs to invest more heavily in UAVs
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DO NOT associate what the US does with our UAVs to be technically feasible for everyone. At the component level, yes, Pakistan can do UAVs and high probability with ease. But at the infrastructure level, Pakistan faces huge hurdles.

You have to look at this at the conceptual/philosophical level, which then set the engineering directions. What is the link between pilot and his aircraft ? His limbs. Simple as that. He make a decision to do X, sends a command to his arm to do X, the aircraft via the control stick translate his physical movements into electrical impulses to do X.

With a UAV, this relationship now have several more and lengthier links. Each link have vulnerabilities that must be guarded and nothing is perfect. Radio links are conceptually/philosophically no different than the joints in your arm. The problem with radio links is line-of-sight (LOS) limit.

For example...

- If your link to the UAV is blocked by a mountain, how fast can your UAV becomes autonomous and continues the mission ?

- While being autonomous, how sophisticated is the programming to give the UAV the options to deal with variables, such as hostile radars, queries for identification from friendlies and enemies, and/or even physical threats ?

- If, and once, you re-established communication link with the UAV, what is the priority of mission update, as in what it encountered while you were virtually absent, or the current situation, which may be that it is trying evade threats ? Think about this for a moment. If the UAV is trying to evade radars and missiles, why should it bother to tell you what happened while the two of you were out of communication ? Even more important, if the UAV is trying to survive threats, why should it relinquish its autonomy to your authority ? While you were trying to digest the current situation, the UAV would be flying straight and level, waiting for you, then a missile comes. Now you just lost a valuable combat asset.

The reason why we are successful with our UAV program and fleet is because we have an established link infrastructure, notably satellites to deal with the LOS issue. Not every country can afford this.
 
I believe 46 is the total number of F-16s upgraded to MLU?

@Windjammer


PAF F-16 Modernization

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As the result of the tender opened by Pakistan Air Force regarding the modernization of 41 F-16 Aircraft, TAI has been selected as the contractor.

The contract has been signed on 29 June 2009.

The modernization activities started in the last quarter of 2010 by receiving first 3 F-16 to TAI's facilities.

Source: Official Website of TAI regarding PAF MLU Program.


PAF F-16 Modernization - Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc.
 
Yes, essentially in terms of Radar, Cockpit and sensor systems.. the PAF MLU F-16s will be similar to the brand new Block-52s purchased except for a few more goodies in the newer vipers.

I see
was just reading a little more about it.

Billions to Upgrade and Up-arm Pakistan’s F-16s

seems you all got or getting plenty of weapons to go with them too

Item 2: Weapons for the New F-16s – $650 Million
To equip those new F-16s, the Government of Pakistan has requested a possible sale of:



  • 500 AIM-120C5 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM)
  • 12 AMRAAM training missiles – these have seeker warheads but lack engines
  • 200 AIM-9M-8/9 Sidewinder Short-Range Air-Air Missiles; they are the version before the fifth-generation AIM-9X.
  • 240 LAU-129/A Launchers – these support AMRAAM or Sidewinder missiles.
  • 500 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Guidance Kits: GBU-31/38 Guided Bomb Unit (GBU) kits
  • 1,600 Enhanced Paveway GBU-12 (500 lb.) and GBU-24s (2,000 lb.) with dual laser/GPS guidance
  • 800 MK-82 500 pound General Purpose (GP) and MK-84 2,000 pound GP bombs
  • 700 BLU-109 2,000 pound bunker-buster
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    bombs with the FMU-143 Fuse
 
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Yes, essentially in terms of Radar, Cockpit and sensor systems.. the PAF MLU F-16s will be similar to the brand new Block-52s purchased except for a few more goodies in the newer vipers.

Why did they only choose to upgrade 41 rather than the full complement? Airframe life issues?
 
One day they sure will, and it is purely because of the physical limitation/inadequecies of the human body for it can only withstand a certain amount of G-force.

Would like to add to this. the French are working on integrating the Neuran UCAV to their Rafaels so that pilot can control the UCAV
Why did they only choose to upgrade 41 rather than the full complement? Airframe life issues?


The deal was made in 2009 and at that time these were all the F-16s we had. The Jordanian ones have already gone through an MLU, minus the new radar.
 
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