In the context of the argument.....yes.
You, sir, are broadly mistaken.
And you assume that all your battles will be fought by the MKI,
since we certainly don't think that JFT, albeit to be the backbone for PAF, is the only Pakistan defender.
I don't assume that, but I only assume about what the
confirmed figures are. And I only used
the cream of each air force's fighters. (The IAF Bisons, with their BVR missiles, EL/M-8222 jammers, reduced
RCS, and datalink ability will have no problem dealing with F-7P/PG or the Mirage upgrade. Remember
we have upgraded MiG-29s now. They're capabilities are also vastly enhanced than before and then
the Mirage-2ks are also there, just to add further muscle when needed.
Do you know of some of latest IAF tactics? There is a rough analysis of how MiG-21s can be used as the
"clients" of MKI's massive radar coverage with the N-011M BARS PESA. PAF jets in the theater will be
focusing on the MKI while the smaller MiG-21s (with their lesser RCS and low profile) would sneak up to
the PAF jets and fire off a BVR missiles from long range and slip away. The MKI can still remain outside
the range of PAF jet's missiles. However this is only a rough depiction about how IAF plans to use
MKI's huge radar potential, even without AWACS coverage at a given area (although Phalcon will have
no problem scanning deep into Pak territory while staying well within Indian airspace.
About the question you posted, no I don't consider JFT as Pak's only defender, but in the era
of BVR warfare, only the JFT and F-16 (who'se numbers I've also included as "65") can put
up a fight.
As @
Oscar explained above, F-7P/PG are not a true BVR fighter as they have to sneak up real close
to an enemy plane in order to attack them, with or without AWACS coverage. And under all
circumstances, they will not only be detected but also fired upon much before they can get close enough
to attack, simply because IAF fighters' radars can not only see F-7P/PG earlier, they can also
attack F-7 from BVR range and scoot, and F-7 won't be able to return the favour.
And secondly, I only talk in substance about confirmed figures/purchases. See I only mentioned Rafale
when I was talking about future acquisitions. I never included Rafale in the numbers. Neither did
I include FC-20.
(As for the sarcasm, wonder why a certain W/C W*********, an SU-30 Commander, once disclosed that if he ever goes into battle, he would prefer his old stead, the Mirage 2k)
Maybe he had a dispute with the 2nd pilot, and wanted to go back to his Mirage where he could fly it
solo. There are people in the world who say the old F-4 Phantom is better than F-22 Raptor of today.
What's your point?
Don't let that get your tail up, there were even rumors that Rafael deal may get cancelled, a decade earlier Indians were convinced that PAF' F-16 issue is now dead and buried but look a decade later, PAF is not just recieving the withheld F-16s with much superior capability but to your dismay, it has inducted state of the art Block-52s.
@
Windjammer, oh please. Get a hold on yourself. Whenever did I base my arguments on rumors?
The aspect that JF-17 numbers were slashed by almost 50% is not a
RUMOR, it's the
TRUTH.
It's a pity you are too blind to notice that!
The aspect that MKI numbers went up from 140 to 270+ is not a
RUMOR either, it's the
TRUTH.
The aspect that IAF procurements are heading
NORTH while PAF is heading
SOUTH is not a RUMOR
either, it's the damn-obvious TRUTH.
There are only a handful of Block-52s and you can be sure they cannot completely turn the tide
in war. They still lack an Electronically Scanned Array (ESA)-type radar. And furthermore, don't forget
there ARE numerous restrictions that US exercises on it's products, especially when they happen
to be bought with money given by themselves in "aid packages" for WOT.
And if you think those handful of F-16s are your lifeline, think again.
IAF has closely evaluated
the Block-52 from Singapore Air Force and the F-16IN in MMRCA and there's very little we don't
know about this plane or it's capabilities. MKIs have thoroughly practiced with Singapore AF
counterparts which sport many of the same electronic equipment on PAF planes.
This won't hold true for PAF "checking out" PLAAF flankers because no PLAAF flanker yet sports
1) an operational PESA radar with the same range and same capabilities as MKI
2) a Thrust-vectored engine. IAF MKIs' dogfighting/maneuvering/post-stall abilities are
totally different from the PLAAF flankers your guys checked out.
You can indulge in all your chest thumping for your hearts content but don't fancy yourself as an expert in some defence matters, we use to hear talk of IAF having a requirement of some 44 squadrons, you still seem a long way off your target,
Now I guess you can sleep fitfully thinking about how IAF will take more more years to reach it's
target.
The numbers and capabilities of our aircraft is still far ahead of you and this gap is only set to
increase.
just because IAF feels the need to increase it's strength, PAF doesn't need to follow suit, it has it's own doctrine, goals and requirements, the parity in numbers has always been in a ratio of some 4:1.
Now it looks like you think numbers are everything. Wrong again.
It's going to be 4 to 1 of superior quality + superiority capability fighters, not 4:1 of lesser quality
planes with lesser equipment/capability as was the case with most previous engagements.
Yea you had to get that off your chest as well......but since you are in love with your self, the reason i mentioned the JFT Block-2 is that if your wishful thinking was anywhere near the truth, why and how would PAF can invest for further technology and capability and as you needed to disclose the MKI upgrade, perhaps you are unaware that all PAF's old F-16s are also being brought up to Block-52 standard.
JFT block-2 won't appear overnight. Neither can all f-16s be upgraded to blk-52 overnight.
They will take time, and by then Super-MKI will also be showing it's pointy nose to you
fellows. Simple timing.
Keep in mind that even if all of your F-16s come to Block-52+ standard, they won't achieve
parity with the present-level MKI because of the ESA radar and Thrust-Vectoring. The Super-MKI
is simply beyond reach for any non-AESA F-16.
About the misc, remember that you will always be needing more than 1 JF-17/F-16 to
carry as much ordnance as a single MKI, hence, MKI can bomb more targets, do more damage
while flying a lesser number of sorties as when compared to PAF's 4th generation fleet.