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Yep, it's a case of desperation and, in a way, long term thinking. The PAF is saying, "we can't rely on anyone in 10 years." Ironically this was the same line of thought that drove the nuclear weapons program -- we stopped believing in friends after 1971. That said, there are other countries...

It depends on what you're trying to build. Japan was probably looking for F-35 like capabilities from the start, which would've made their project very expensive. The PAF might take a staged approach where the first variants of the Azm will be very basic, e.g., get an AESA radar with twin...

The PAF CAS said Azm will be twin engine.

IMO 72 Rafales in 3-4 years is really tight, it'd be their 2030 vision. For 2023, they'll load the NW of India with the Rafale, M2K, MiG-29 and Tejas while loading the MKIs back further for offensive long-range ops. The Rafale and medium/light jets will focus on handling the PAF response. In the...

If that happens, it'd still fall under the scope of Azm, except now as a joint venture instead of alone.

I don't think they have much of a choice aside from Project Azm. The money needed for enough Typhoons would fully scuttle a FGFA, so that brings us back to putting all eggs in one basket. An interim J-10CE buy may help, but the PLAAF isn't enthusiastic about exporting it. Sino-Flankers are a...

One shape or another, Project Azm's goal (FGFA) will happen. In the absence of upgrades or access to new versions, the F-16's role as the PAF's top jet is in its final chapter, and the PAF has made it a key priority to get a next gen ITAR free successor.

We have a lot of the same kind of tech via Ra'ad, it's matter of making a smaller version. This way, we'd have a turnkey supply of these light ALCMs.

Yup, minus the costly electronics.

This is a neat idea, but still very abstract for the PAF. Right now, the one who knows the most re: drone refueling is the USN, and it'll be a decade or so before they reach an optimal design. That said, one option for the PAF could be to look at light-medium transports, namely the An-178 (but...

SOM is unique from most ALCMs in that it's smaller and lighter. I hope Pakistan develops a similar type of ALCM ('Ra'ad Lite') for use via JF-17s as long-range conventional SOWs.

With the PAF signalling ITAR-free, localized turnkey systems under Project Azm, then extracting SA R&D in difficult areas under the table is plausible. It'd be the only logical answer to the silence around SA-Pakistan cooperation. So, in a way, Darter, Marlin, and Umbani tech could make its way...

One idea the PAF can look at is rebuild the Mirages by zero-houring the airframe and engine. That way, it can fly for many years. No need to worry about the expensive electronics or digital flight control system, there's JF-17 for multi-role. Just maintain 3 Mirage squadrons as dedicated...

Unfortunate Pakistan didn't take advantage of all of these projects with South Africa. @denel But the CSIR turbojet projects might have been triggered by Pakistan (the OP on that forum said a "foreign requirement" restarted those programs), and in the time since then, Pakistan unveiled 4 or 5...

hmm...the PAF is trying to develop a twin engine fighter via Project Azm.

That or the PAF really loves the Mirages and will try keeping them around in a very specialized role (i.e. nuclear delivery).

It's unclear. They have obvious import sources in China, Ukraine, and even Western Europe, but given how many cruise missiles they need, local manufacturing should be an obvious step.

16 Su-35 would cost at least $1 bn to buy upfront and maintain, unlikely these Mirages cost even $50 m together, probably less.

The issue was most likely re: the extended range Umkhonto EIR. That was still in late development by the time the Jinnah class was frozen, esp. as the Chinese are offering a 70 km range version of the LY-80. The way forward with SA is joint devpt for next gen tech.

I agree. Project Azm should refer to the FGFA, while the JF-17NG would basically be the next JF-17 variant. IIRC, PAC's AvRID page never included mention of the MALE UAV (see this post from 2018). I think they might have (nominally speaking) simplified Project Azm into just the FGFA, and...