Guys, with over 40 years in operational service with around 24 air arms around the world, the F-16 is a very mature project with an unparallel combat record.....even today the new versions are creating new challenges. The JF-17 is a relatively new platform and in due course, it will mature into a potent system.
However although the JF-17s were very much part of operation swift retort, there should be no doubt that it were the American weapons and systems that flamed IAF tails and made it bug out of the battlefield.
People need to come off their perches and start analyzing instead of regurgitating mantras and national slogans.
A. As Windy said the 16s are unparralleled in their performance.
B. Given our experience PAF will dive in both arms to get more.
C. We need to understand our fleet and the need to restore our aging fleet. Currently we cannot produce enough JFTs to take care of our needs. The establishment of infrastructure means no more than 1 squadron can be stood ip every year.
D. PAF has established facilities to support upto 150 16s.
Cons!
E. US does want to keep some influence over the Pak Govtt and 16s are a good means of exerting it.
A. The expense of buying and maintaining which currently seems beyond us. When
@Khafee broke the new buy news he mentioned support from friendly hands to procure the equipment.
B. Given limited resources we rightly want to divert them all towards developing the JFT &AZM programmes.
C. US products come with strings attached and this is no longer acceptable to us.
D. The risk of sanctions means PAF remains vary in spite of its liking for the platform.
E. Interpretation of regional sutuation is that the likelihood of war is less than presumed in Sept and so PAF has decided to carry on.
F. In relation to E our preference would be MLUed platforms which might be easily integratable into our infrastructure and not be cost prohibitive. USA on the other hand would want to sell us new products as it makes more money this way.
In view of all the above although PAF LIKES the 16s the chances of acquisitions are dimming by the day. US might not want to give us the 70/72 Vipers so this might become a tug of war between wants and needs. I would venture PAF has the upper hand in this at the moment. It can negotiate with an upper hand both with the Chinese as well as the US to get what it wants at a price which suits us. So let us sit back and see what comes out of this topsy turvy game.
A