Should Pakistan get APG-83 AESA Radar for its F-16s

[CriticalThought]

Sir why this simple logic is not being consumed by stomuch of decision makers in PAF ????

We were American ally when pressler ammendment hit us back whereas russia supported completely her ally India in getting nuclear tech ...

I wonder how many times will we be bitten by same snake ...

Given our extensive investment in F-16 infrastructure, I think the intention is to keep leveraging it to get max bang for the buck. I believe this is the driving force for continued efforts for F-16. It's a nice to have. If nothing comes to fruition, we don't really care.

 

[Dazzler]

the turks are developing one

regardless, yankees wont allow aesa integration into PAF F-16s, if they did, as per them, it will drastically alter the so called balance of power in the sub continent.
The honor of equipping the PAF with "fighter AESA capability" (considering the two AWACS platforms are already equipped and operating AESA radars), will almost certainly go to the jf-17.

 

[YeBeWarned]

Why just Aesa ?why not upgrade the whole Fleet to F-16V standards ? but will Uncle Sam flex their Muscles towards Pakistan ? I doubt that 80+ F-16V will be huge blow to IAF .

 

[aliyusuf]

Isn't Turkey undertaking an indigenous upgrade of the F-16s? If memory serves me right, this program is called the "Ozgur Viper" or "Free Viper". It will be a complete electronic upgrade of the Viper with an indigenous AESA based on Gallium Nitride T/R Modules. ETA 2020-2021. Might make a very good option for an AESA and free of the so-called kill-switches upgraded PAF F-16.

 

[cloud4000]

Why just Aesa ?why not upgrade the whole Fleet to F-16V standards ? but will Uncle Sam flex their Muscles towards Pakistan ? I doubt that 80+ F-16V will be huge blow to IAF .

If Uncle Sam wanted to give Pakistan AESA and/or F-16Vs, it would already have them. Money is secondary, the issue is mostly political.

 

[YeBeWarned]

If Uncle Sam wanted to give Pakistan AESA and/or F-16Vs, it would already have them. Money is secondary, the issue is mostly political.

exactly, and US will not give anything to Pakistan which Dis balance the power projection in Region .. maybe once IAF gets their Rafale, than US may offer Pakistan more block 52's with V Upgrade

 

[Readerdefence]

the turks are developing one

Any any information what kind of radar
And how long it will take to integrate with the jet?
Thx

 

[The SC]

With all this said, it is still important to pursue this aim, it is a true force multiplier, be it from the US or from Turkey it does not matter much, as long as it is easy to mount on the F-16 like the APG-83 AESA..Upgrading the existing 18 F-16 Blk-52 with this radar and adding the other "due" F-16 Blk-52 upgraded to V Blk will match the number of AESA equipped Rafale that India is getting.. So even if Pakistan pays the full price for the new 18 F-16s Blk-52 with the condition of getting the APG-83 AESA on them plus another 18 for the existing ones, it will be worth it..

 

[Blue Marlin]

regardless, yankees wont allow aesa integration into PAF F-16s, if they did, as per them, it will drastically alter the so called balance of power in the sub continent.
The honor of equipping the PAF with "fighter AESA capability" (considering the two AWACS platforms are already equipped and operating AESA radars), will almost certainly go to the jf-17.

i wont go calling it disturbing the balance of power, your neighbors are getting rafales with aesa radar and the meteor missile.

i assume the aesa awacs are the 2 repaired saab's correct ?
one more saab 2000 was delivered last year so the number would go back to 4 saab 2000's

i heard the zdk-03's are being upgraded with aesa's too.

 

[Fledgingwings]

Its time we stop thinking about Made in USA and start looking for similiar replacement for our military needs.

 

[Indian wonk]

I think Pakistan should move away from F-16s because India is having Unhealthy influence in US plus as more US and India get closer US would start listening to India more , most important if India makes 200 F-16 blk 70 through MII India will have disproportionate influence over Lockheed Martin.

Pakistan should go for Chinese products.

 

[Dazzler]

i wont go calling it disturbing the balance of power, your neighbors are getting rafales with aesa radar and the meteor missile.

i assume the aesa awacs are the 2 repaired saab's correct ?
one more saab 2000 was delivered last year so the number would go back to 4 saab 2000's

i heard the zdk-03's are being upgraded with aesa's too.

Two different platforms are Saab (3) and zdk (4), the latter being mechanically rotating one but will be upgraded. the point being that PAF f-16s will never be allowed to house Aesa now that the neighbour has become blue eyed of the Yankee. Regarding rafales and euro Fs, our pockets ain't that deep.

 

[POPEYE-Sailor]

I think Pakistan should move away from F-16s because India is having Unhealthy influence in US plus as more US and India get closer US would start listening to India more , most important if India makes 200 F-16 blk 70 through MII India will have disproportionate influence over Lockheed Martin.

Pakistan should go for Chinese products.

Thank you for your advice what pakistan should to do .. Please Keep your mind on IAF.

ITS all about $$$$ . INSHALLAH when CPEC become operational and Pak GDP grow. US will offer by itself.

 

[Blue Marlin]

Two different platforms are Saab (3) and zdk (4), the latter being mechanically rotating one but will be upgraded. the point being that PAF f-16s will never be allowed to house Aesa now that the neighbour has become blue eyed of the Yankee. Regarding rafales and euro Fs, our pockets ain't that deep.

i think you misunderstood my post
i asked which two platform will get the aesa radars? from this quote from you : considering the two AWACS platforms are already equipped and operating AESA radars

i brought up the saab2000's as two of them were repaired and upgraded locally, so i assumed these two birds had the aesa's. i know the sdk-03 will get aesa's(same as the k500) as messiah already confirmed it.

as for the f16's getting aesa's such a turkish upgrade would only need US approval and can be given with out too much indian blowback as its turkey actually selling the radars.
i brought up the rafale as indian rafales would have aesa's installed on them. no typhoon operator has the aesa's installed on their current typhoons, but kuwait will get them on theirs in 2019.

 

[Dazzler]

i think you misunderstood my post
i asked which two platform will get the aesa radars? from this quote from you : considering the two AWACS platforms are already equipped and operating AESA radars

i brought up the saab2000's as two of them were repaired and upgraded locally, so i assumed these two birds had the aesa's. i know the sdk-03 will get aesa's(same as the k500) as messiah already confirmed it.

as for the f16's getting aesa's such a turkish upgrade would only need US approval and can be given with out too much indian blowback as its turkey actually selling the radars.
i brought up the rafale as indian rafales would have aesa's installed on them. no typhoon operator has the aesa's installed on their current typhoons, but kuwait will get them on theirs in 2019.

Alright, listen:

PAF requested for original blk 52s, they said NO Aesa, sorry

We asked again, and again, only to be refused again, so the message is pretty clear, no SABRs or RACRs or any aesa for f-16s. Evm the turk one will need their permission for integration, which will never come. In fact, we were lucky that they didnt refuse us the V9s, heck they initially offered 66V2s for MLU upgrade, which was inferior to our Grifo M3s by a long shot. In short, PAF has accepted the f-16s as they are and will just invest in numbers till they reach 100+, and thats it.

On Euros, CAESAR will be operational someday right? But it will go over 100 million, out of PAFs reach. Fench are busy with indians so no rafs for PAF, evn if they were, theyll cost around the same.

Regarding AWACS, Saab has fixed Aesa grids which covers 150 degree on each side, 300 degree on both. But, zdk houses Aesa dish that can rotate, so call it pesa if you will but it is an aesa modul that happens to rotate, and provides full 360 degree scanning as a result. The KJ-500 and zdk-03 share a lot of tech, much like the jf-17 and j-10.

*PAF is thinking on these lines, churn advanced blks of jf

*Buy used f-16s and give them mlu at best, take their numbers to 10+, squeeze them like Mirages

*Go fifth gen, and develop a foundation to at least ovehaul, assemble and even upgrade them at AMF KAMRA.

No advanced fourth gn fighter fits in between apart from jf-17 blk 3 and onwards will take that role.