THE F16 DILLEMA---PAF HAS GONE TOO FAR--NO MORE F16's PLEASE

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

All through the 90's we cried about the sanctions----the withholding of our F16's by the americans for which we had already made the payments in advance.

Our air force became a skeleton---just an air force in name only and then came 9/11. The sanctions came off----a prudent person would have thought that the paf must have had a plan set up in place in advance that if the sanctions came of in this this and this year---this is the air craft that we will procure on a fastrak basis----and if the sanctions came off after the next 3 or 5 years then we might consider this other aircraft.

So---basically---one would assume that the moment the sanctions came off---the paf would be ready to jump in and make the deal happen to fill in the role of a much needed AIR SUPERIORITY fighter aircraft which they had assessed during the time of sanctions.

Now that the sanctions have come off, but there is no urgency on the part of the paf to fill in that big gaping hole where an air superiority fighter would fit in. A year passes nothing happens---two years pass---then three years pass and nothing comes up. And now right close to three and a half years agfter the sanctions came off---they decide to go for the F16 BLK52 for a number of 72 aircraft----and still there is no urgency to sign the deal.

The earthquake happens in kashmir----supposedly the funds are re-routed to other causes and what we are left is with 18 F16's. Then we decided to make our own fighter---which actually was in the process of being designed at that time.

What we needed was something like the ' right in your face ' kind of air superiority aircraft----to fill the TOP TIER hole---but our air force decided to go for a utility aircraft to start filling the bottom tier hole---with the aircraft we now call the JF 17---a wonderful aircraft by all means---but not what was needed for the local war scenario.

It has been 14 years since the sanctions came off---. We should have had a 150 F16 type aircraft by now and another 100 JF17 type aircraft---but poor decisions---bad planning---poor judgement----has brought us down to 60 JF 17's and about 72 F16's MLU's and BLK52's etc put together. These two put together are similar in numbers of enemy's mirage 2k's and MIG 29's---and I am not even going to begin counting the twin engine air superiority fighters that the enemy has---the SU30---around 240 of them.

The chines J10 is ready---they started with the A---then the B package---an extremely potent air superiority aircraft---and then later they came up with a top notch the J10C version---with an aesa radar---a built in IRST package---and an excellent electronics warfare package for this aircraft.
The long range BVR missile the SD10 was already in operation---the next long range latest BVR missile the PL15 is also ready to be integrated---the high off bore sight missile is also ready to be integrated and this makes this J10C aircraft an extremely deadly air superiority fighter aircraft in the class of Eurofighter and the Rafale.

The paf should have switched over to the chinese J10C aircraft once it got into the production line----with the aesa and the latest chinese electronic warfare package---this aircraft would be superior to the BLK52 and a little less than the emirati BLK 60 but as good as the israeli soufa and in the due process of time---like around 5 years---with fresh upgrades---it would be competing with the Rafales and the Eruofighter head on.

But then the paf has waited till the last minute---. There is a stoppage by the U S congress on the F16 sale---. Rather than going for the F16----they should have signed a deal for the J10C and told the americans to hit the sand---and if the americans wanted the pakistani business---they would have come running back.
In major weapons purchase---time is of the ultimate essence.

You cannot be indecisive---humming and hawing---lollygagging---you have to be pro-active and make timely changes---because it takes many a years to INTEGRATE these new fancy machines into the system and learn to fly them and to use them to their maximum abilities----.

This love affair with the F16 of the pakistan air force has really hurt and damaged pakistan's strength to fight a war or defend its skies with its arch enemy.

We are left so far behind in this battle---that it is not even funny at this stage.

 

[Maarkhoor]

No doubt F-16 is the most capable fighter ever build by USA in respect of the 4th Gen fighters but sad to say our air force in fact in love of this jet, reasons for that
First most capable air craft in our inventory
Second we receive this aircraft in 80s a brand new never used before our pilots and seniors just amazed by the performance and fell in love.
Its a love affair no one can do anything.

 

[Manidabest]

yea well we need to end this love affair and move on lets go for some better technology ... we cant risk our security just because some elites loved f16

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

So--here is where we are headed---towards sanctions---. If the order goes thru now---it will take 2 years for the order to come thru---and that time period is extremely unpredictable----if sanctions hit again or if the congress votes to cancel the order---we are doomed again.

The next reason we do not need the F16's-----OFF BORE SIGHT MISSILE----. This missile is a game changer in close combat---with around approximately 180 degrees lock on capability---this missile would not be sold to us even if we got the F16's.

But we will be able to get this type of missile---the chinese version for our JF17 and if we go for the J10C---that can be equipped as well.

 

[MastanKhan]

students are dying here and Mastan khan is till concerned about US PAK relations and F 16

Why don't you handle that problem---and I will take care of my part.

 

[Skull and Bones]

Apart from getting F-16s from USA, PAF should also focus of getting used F-16s from other nations looking forward to upgrade their fleets, and upgrade them domestically with Turkish help.

 

[barbarosa]

I have often written in my posts that PAF has need of the alternatives of F16. USA can bane the purchase of F16 to Pakistan any time, particularly during the tension on east border.

 

[MastanKhan]

Inplace of F16V.............. what you suggest other option?
J10C.............?

Hi,

That is correct---there is no other choice but the J10 C with Aesa---for a single engine aircraft---.

That is the best bang for the buck---paf can develop it to its needs in the next 5 years---chinese electronics warfare technology is expanding in potency in leaps and bounds alongwith the weapons.

 

[Inception-06]

students are dying here and Mastan khan is till concerned about US PAK relations and F 16

we should better check the security's and their duty which was not well done, secondly all radicals must be hanged now ! In such a attack we must hang 100 TTP prisoners !

 

[Sipahi]

@MastanKhan they should put serious efforts in SU-35 deal.

 

[Jaam92]

One thing is very Clear no can deny from it that F-16 suits Pakistan Air defense F-16 is most intelligent and reliable aircraft in history of multi roll fighter jet Why we should go for dual Engine of US variant we do not need to defend borders like India need to or USA need to.
We need quick response and more intelligent aircraft like F-16 and for our Naval aviation JF-17 thunder is more then enough.
No country have guts to come inside of nuclear power for action.

 

[Burhan Wani]

No doubt F-16 is the most capable fighter ever build by USA in respect of the 4th Gen fighters but sad to say our air force in fact in love of this jet, reasons for that
First most capable air craft in our inventory
Second we receive this aircraft in 80s a brand new never used before our pilots and seniors just amazed by the performance and fell in love.
Its a love affair no one can do anything.

We have a human resource and crew for this aircraft. No extra training because we are masters on this machine. I add.
Personally i will prefer F-16 Blk 60 over every aircraft except Euro Fighters.

 

[Muhammad Omar]

Fifth Generation is not coming till 2025....

we would only have JF-17 and F-16 till 2025 while F-7 and Mirage will be retired

There should be one Other Platform That should replace Mirages

 

[barbarosa]

One thing is very Clear no can deny from it that F-16 suits Pakistan Air defense F-16 is most intelligent and reliable aircraft in history of multi roll fighter jet Why we should go for dual Engine of US variant we do not need to defend borders like India need to or USA need to.
We need quick response and more intelligent aircraft like F-16 and for our Naval aviation JF-17 thunder is more then enough.
No country have guts to come inside of nuclear power for action.

Sir what will we do during PAK India war? US will tech all software of f16 to India now a day they both are in love affair.

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

You kids are just writing---because you want to----. You guys need to think and understand the issues.

You are not going to get the off bore sight missile for the F16---and in the current warfare---if you don't have that---you are toast----. No amount of pilot traing can do much.

That is what happened to the U S F16's in training with the MIG29's---and that was many a years ago---.

Every single time in a close combat training where the mig 29 had its russian off bore sight missile---the F16 was taken out.

Without the missile---F16 would not make the difference.

Sir what will we do during PAK India war? US will tech all software of f16 to India now a day they both are in love affair.

Hi,

Rest assured---that will not happen---. U S will never allow its top fighter aircraft taken out.

Once the software secret is out---all american aircraft will become vulnerable---by using the program as reference---ways will be found to break in.