Chinese Y-20, could help modernize Pakistan's transport capabilities.

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Yar, one thing I want to stress is when you buy something long term buy BRAND new

I mean if we invest in 7-10 of these new Chinese Transport planes , these will last with Pakistan for at least 18 years , with full supply of brand new parts and support

I mean , how long can we use some of the C130 planes that have been in use since 1965 or 1970's

Every thing has a age limit

While we as a Military and Airforce are great , our capabilities to transport and initiate fast response is lacking and that is due to lack of proper equipment

a) Transport helicopters
b) Transport Planes

Realities of our current world are , that we need to have 10 new transport planes to match dangers surrounding our country with out these planes
we cannot move ample troops quickly from different zones.

I think these Multipurpose (no catches or fine print planes) are ideal for our Transport needs

These planes would look wonderful with AWAC platform on them as well, or as tankers or even Transport planes or Flying (Hospital roles)

 

[Pfpilot]

In the case of the c-130, the engines can be changed, the avionics can be revamped and the only thing which is a problem is the airframe, but these planes can keep flying for many decades. Buying new is not necessary at all, ofcourse they look great when they first arrive, but in the grand scheme of things, a cash strapped force can easily make do with older equipment, provided it is updated regularly. It isnt a looks contest but one of operating at peak efficiency with whatever resources are available.
We dont need heavy duty transports in the first place because Pakistan is seriously a small country, we can easily move vital assets with the current transports and also through land networks...once again, we arent transferring equipment that far, relatively speaking.

 

[Pak_Sher]

Seems to be a good option for transport needs. PAF and PA should evaluate it to see of it will be beneficial.

 

[khurasaan1]

Keep in mind that China can offer us everything today, without sanctions and above all, without financially constraining ourselves under the western equipment.

They are producing for their own armed forces, from Submarines and destroyers to high tech stealth planes. They can easily give Pakistan anything we can dream of.

Only if our Generals could see beyond their nose......which for some reason, is always pointing towards the west.

.

Bro! our Generals are not our Generals instead they r the poodles of West ....paid by them....in $$$$$............

 

[humza_313]

Bro! our Generals are not our Generals instead they r the poodles of West ....paid by them....in $$$$$............

well that is a bit true .... but i think they always pay attention towards china ...

 

[muse]

I strongly disagree with positions offered that PAF does not need such ships and should rely on sanction prone C130 -- after all, is the PAF supposed to be what it was 50 years ago? Has the infrastructure and missions it supports and undertakes not changed?? Is PAF supposed to remain the parochial force it was 50 years ago? Amriki khiraat anyone??

It's time we re-imagined the PAF, re-created it -- the neighborhood Pakistan inhabits will continue to experience destabilization and Pakistan will not escape it either, but the challenge is not just to survive that destabilization, rather it is to come out of it much stronger, much more capable and effective force.

 

[Aamir Hussain]

US Marine Corps is flying 36 year old C-130's and their combat deployment is a lot varied from ours.

 

[muse]

US Marine Corps is flying 36 year old C-130's and their combat deployment is a lot varied from ours.

Well, that's certainly fair to say however, the US Marines don't face the potential of sanctions and the US marines have access to a variety of airlift capability, including C17's -- The Marines also use a very old helicopter such as CH53, and yet that has not prevented it from operating V22.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Our problem is we don't have a ride , for our soliders, when we need to move 40,000 troops to troubled week spot

In time of crisis , we will only have 1 C130 allocated for troops movement and that will only be enough for moving 400-500 soliders at a time

That is a major disadvantage in war

Our existing fleet will probbly be used for supplying ammunition and fuel to tanks and front lines - but we also need capability to move troops

BIG GAME is about to start we need to be ready

 

[Pfpilot]

The problem the Pakistani armed forces face is of funding. With limited funding, we have to be very wise with our spending...in my opinion,we need attack helicopters more than anything, we have a capable tank force, but one that has little aerial protection. I hope we can address this need before we move onto the transports, we may need them, but maybe not as urgently as attack helis in my mind.

 

[Luftwaffe]

Time will tell, China however is actively engaged in Transport projects
Post 2020 is critical to our Transport requirements as well we shouldn't just look towards C-130s we've to move forward.

18 C-130s and 4 CN-235 with 1 CN-235 for VIP (a waste to turn it into VIP), although most of PAF C-130s are ex- and transferred second hand though upgraded how long are we going to rely on them.

 

[Areesh]

instead of buying this lumbering giant, we are better off with purchasing a few more C-130s!

Well not few more C-130. Considering the American history of sanctions and bullying. I think more MRTT would be a better choice.

 

[Aamir Hussain]

I agree with you on the "Sanctionable" nature of the relationship with US but as far as C-130's are concerned, I do not recollect that there were any difficulties in flying them as most of the spares are available off the shelf. Infact to compensate their "Take over" of our M-48 tanks in the late seventies (over 800 units) Iran in the early part of 2000 transferred ,as payment for these tanks, a huge supply of spare parts of C-130 a/c to PAF.

Let us not go overboard in adopting Non-US stuff for the sake of just riding on the anti American band wagon. Let us have some trust on the leadership in PAF to make sound decisions. It will take a while for the Chinese to come up with a sound platform/workhorse like C-130.

The fact of the matter is that due to the geography of Pakistan and the nature of deployment of our troops and tanks, Heavy lift capability in times of war would of very little use to us once war breaks out. We would not require to lift and transfer say a tank regiment from Sialkot to Thar. Our forces are designed to be prepositioned close to their sector of engagment -- this is the strength of our deployment and an advantage. That is why we are at the "Cold Start" stage witihout having a declared cold start doctirine! Even if do require that, Heavy lift a/c will come under attack. There is no reason for a strategic lift capability requirement from PA or PAF. The MRTT procured are enough for not only PA/PAF, NDMA, & NPD.

On the other hand, India requires, in times of war, to transfer huge amounts of equipment via rail from Eastern and Northern India to its western borders and have the distinct disadvantage of need for changing trains from Narrow Guage to a Wide Guage in Transit -- that takes time and builds up lead time for deployment. That is why they came up with Cold Start with a need for deployment of major assets and stores, in-theater. Any back-up requirment will be filled up by Strategic Lift capability -- hence C-17. And my guess is that they will not stop at ten -- the most likely order woul of around couple of squadrons.

Recently, they started on a project ot convert narrow guage to a uniform guage to alleviate this problem.

Btw - Iran is still flying its C-130's.

My 2c

 

[aquamedic]

Looks like another rip-off by China- looks almost identical to C-17. How does a transport plnae change the military balance in the region? India has always maintained a conventional superiority over Pakistan does this purchase really change anything?

The outloock will be more like IL-76MD instead of C-17.

 

[kawaraj]

Well not few more C-130. Considering the American history of sanctions and bullying. I think more MRTT would be a better choice.

Second that. When the US withdraw from Afghanistan, we are facing more hostility than positive attitude from the US. So when considering equipments, better have a roadmap plan.