araz
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2006
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You can simply now forget about more F16s primarily as US policies are changing in the region and unless they become desperate for our help they will not give us anything. As to transfer of software from M3s to JFT. In the 30s we will be building Block 5s and the hardware going into M3s now will be obsolete.I haven't heard or read anything pointing towards this possibility. Rather, its the Air frames that seem to be badly needed. The Horus Mirages maybe studied, but with the JF-17 program and the sub-systems developed because of it, means the PAF has local options to upgrade its own Mirages. The PAF Mirage Rebuild factory will probably be doing just that, rebuilding its mirages to keep them as flight worth as possible. IMHO, it would be prudent for PAF to do limited spare part manufacturing with 3D printing, for those hard to get parts so it can keeps its planes up in the air.
IMHO, In order for PAF to keep its numbers (~400-440 aircraft; 188 JF-17, 76 F-16s, 136 others) it should try to rebuild at least 100 Mirages (and keep the 30 or so Horus Mirages going as long as possible; 2030-2035). Similar to the Atlas Cheetahs; Zero the Air Frames, add the non-moving canard, in flight refueling probe, and rebuild the engine to the highest standard possible. Modern Avionics, Radar, and an EW suite will allow these planes to be as deadly as any strike platform with a modest self protection/A2A capability.
When the Air Frames are no longer viable, All their sub-systems should be transferred onto new built JF-17 Air Frames down the line (2030-2035, because even by 2030, we will be hard pressed to find spare parts from around the world for the mirages)
We have to plan within our modest military budgets, while maximizing capabilities. Upgrading the Mirages modestly is probably the most prudent course of action.
We may end up with an Air Force that is 76 F-16s and over 300 JF-17s, but we need our quantity as well as our quality. Project AZM may start flying by 2030, and fighters start getting inducted by 2035. By then 30 year old JF-17s can start to be retired along side 50 year old F-16s.
If relations improve with the US to the point we can get dozens more F-16s, then that Just fewer JF-17s that need to be produced in the long run. either way; I doubt the US will sell enough F-16s to replace all of our Mirages, and so we should start to turn the Mirage rebuild factory into a Mirage Overhaul and Upgrade facility.
I do however see roughly 50 mirages being retained. If we had money the J10 would possibly have stepped into this role
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