BetterPakistan
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2014
- Messages
- 2,907
- Reaction score
- -2
- Country
- Location
But JF-17 is a light weight combat jet, PAF need 5th gen medium weight combat jet to replace F-16 in front line service
I don't think so.
JF-17 block 3 will be a very good addition and I am sure it will be better than F-16 block 50/52 in service with PAF.
We don't need to replace F-16 now because we have to replace Mirages and F-7PGs first.
First Scenario:-
150 JF-17 will make 8 squadrons means all F-7PGs would be retired by the completion of 150 JF-17.
150 JF-17 + 76 F-16s takes the total strength of PAF fighter squadrons to 12 so there will be 6 more fighter squadrons which will require replacement.
6 squadrons replacement could be two 5th Gen fighter jet squadrons means 36 fighter jets and 4 squadrons of 4th gen jets (J-10, J-11, F-16s etc) .
And 45 initial F-16s purchased between 1984-87 will need replacement starting from 2024 because their service of 40 years/8000 hours will end at that time. We can go for 2000 hours lifespan addition to keep them running till 2034. Rest of F-16s don't require replacement now not even 13 Jordan F-16s.
Second Scenario:-
PAF goes for 250 JF-17 which will make 12 Fighter jet squadrons + 4 already used squadrons of F-16s + 2 squadrons of 5th gen jets to have total of 18 fighter squadrons.