IceCold
PDF VETERAN
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- May 1, 2007
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As we know tht PAF has ordered f16s frm the UnitedStates, a deal worth of $5.101 billiion for accuring 26ex-Peace Gate f16 A/B block 15OCUs and 18 f16s block 52 plus aircrafts ( not able to carry nukes ) along with ammunition consisiting of JDAM, AIMs,PGMs, etc. Wht my concern is and most of the ppl here might agree too tht f16s are the not as capable as compare to our adversary i.e the SU-30mki and mig 29 of the IAF. According to a joint exercise the mig29s of the german LUFTwaffe demnonstrated their advantages within visiual range engagements over the the f-15s, f-16s and F/A18.The main key feature of the 4.5th and 5th generation fighter planes are the innovation of a Phased Array( PESA ) or Active electronically scanned Array( AESA ) radars and thrust vectoring which are the two features tht will play a decisive role in combact and none of the PAFs including f-16s has these features. Besides when the goverment claims as the president duirng his visit to china said tht the jf-17 could easily match the performance of f-16s and unoffical sources say tht the jf is almost 70% as capable as the f-16s at half the price and yet also the PAF has plans to upgrade the JFs with possibily a phased array radar so its likely to become more capable then f-16s . So then if PAF has something tht could match and with upgradition can surpass the performance of the f-16s then why are they waisting money on a plane of a 4th generation tht lacks the key features of the modern fighter jets and will therefore not be able to face the challenges posed by the IAF. More over after the contribution of pakistan to the war on terror and the lifiting of the embargos on sofisticated technology i.e the PAF could easily get the Rafale of the Dassault France or the Eurofighter Typhoon which are more sofhisticated better euipped,has long range and above all can easily handle the IAFs MKIs, Migs and possible induction of another 4.5th generation fighter(Possibly mig35). Also France has always been a reliable source of arms supplier in the past as compared to the USA which usually has unpredictable foreign policy and might clamp sanctions at any time on the spareparts when needed the most ( wars of 1965,71 and era of 90s ) and lets not forget the over all tilt of the us foreign policy towards india ( possible nuclear deal and the sale offer of F-16s and F-18E/FSuper Hornet). In the light of these facts how could PAF order for something tht is not even capable of meeting the requirements of the 21st century( lacking thrust vector and active or phased array radar)when they have the option to buy latest fighters tht france and europe has to offer and yet claim tht we are able to meet to the threats and challenges of the 21st century posed to us by IAF. I would like to know wht u ppl think abt the induction of F-16s in PAFs inventory and how u think should the PAF direct its purchase options and now when PAF has inducted F-16s wht strategy now they should adopt to counter the threat by the superior IAF?