Bilal Khan (Quwa)
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Yep the cost of importing is going to exceed that of the total cost of flying the JF-17. It's not just the cost of fuel which is a factor but also the cost of securing spare parts and after-sale support. Importing the A-29 or Archangel will cost more to maintain as the parts and services also have be bought off-the-shelf. The JF-17's after sale stuff is localized, right down to Pakistani labour costs and local currency.Brazilian Ac need clearance form USA and cost more than jf-17 based on what being quoted to Nigeria about 50 million a piece far more than what lebonan got at 35 million a piece anyway time will tell but based on August 2017 AFM article acm/paf said they will adopt a coin strategy rather than acquiring future generation coin aircraft
Anyway it may be just a rfi and nothing more like LIFT time will tell
Lastly both USA a/c has endurance of more than 8 hours vs tai 4 hours over battle field ??
However, there is a loose variable in the Hürkuş-C discussion and that is if the PAF opts to buy the Hürkuş-B to replace the T-37 as well. That way you'd have common infrastructure for the two platforms (Hürkuş-B/Hürkuş-C)
I've spoken to a few retired PAF people on the subject and heard both sides from them. One well known person is openly supportive of replacing the T-37 with the Hürkuş-B if the Hürkuş platform is bought with complete local MRO, licensed manufacturing and commercial offsets. Basically the support would have to be localized and PAC will need to be in on the sub-assemblies market for the Hürkuş (like it is for the K-8).
The near-term cost will be higher than more K-8s (due to the up-front of buying a new platform and raising its infrastructure), but the cost savings from using less fuel will compensate in the medium-term, and then accrue real savings over the long-term (which can be recycled into additional flying hours for pilots on the Hürkuş).
Another advocated for the K-8, but with a lightened airframe and lower output turbofan engine (so as to bring the fuel costs down to the level of turboprops). They wanted to see the PAF develop the K-8 further.
Any decision will depend on how much in actual fuel savings the Hürkuş will provide over the K-8.