Drone tankers for the airforce.

[Zulfiqar]

You don't have aircraft carriers ... & india shares border with you !

We do operate tankers as PAF obviously feels a need for them.

Plus these would have a dual use as a wingman. All future 5/6 gen aircrafts will also have a command node role and will use such force multipliers in order to assist with their missions.

The way USAF used F22s to manage the airspace in syria is just the beginning.

 

[Ultima Thule]

Yes I know that but utilizing a trained fighter pilot and a high g capable fighter aircraft for fuel duty is a misuse for a smaller airforce such as PAF.

I suggested a dual use drone not one that has to perform these tasks simultaneously.

then its useless this drone tanker concept for PAF, because it can't refuel jets completely and can't attack properly @Zulfiqar

We do operate tankers as PAF obviously feels a need for them.

Plus these would have a dual use as a wingman. All future 5/6 gen aircrafts will also have a command node role and will use such force multipliers in order to assist with their missions.

The way USAF used F22s to manage the airspace in syria is just the beginning.

Useless concept of yours, wing man, attack drone that's work for PAF but tanker drone with reduce capability not work well for PAF @Zulfiqar

 

[Quwa]

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 with the next-gen AI-28 turbofan). You can procure them in numbers to tackle transport as well as IFR.

 

[Philip the Arab]

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 with the next-gen AI-28 turbofan). You can procure them in numbers to tackle transport as well as IFR.

Could an AN-132 work as a tanker?

 

[Ultima Thule]

Could an AN-132 work as a tanker?

Yes but it is slow and easy target for enemy SAMs/ air superiority jets @Philip the Arab

 

[Shabi1]

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 with the next-gen AI-28 turbofan). You can procure them in numbers to tackle transport as well as IFR.

Embraer KC-390 is also a attractive option and a platform to replace or compliment C-130s in transport role. Can work as a IFR tanker as well.

 

[Myth_buster_1]

how about we replace hot air from hot air balloon with jet fuel and strap good old Q-5 so it can keep up with fast moving jets. that way PAF will have almost unlimited jet fail hover over pak air space.

seriously PAKDEF is getting sillier with these kind of thread and desi solutions to every problem.

 

[JPMM]

Embraer KC-390 is also a attractive option and a platform to replace or compliment C-130s in transport role. Can work as a IFR tanker as well.

Yes, this would be a big move. "If" the KC390 is what they are advertising to the Portuguese, it would make a revolution in Pakistan.
It can refuel your JF17/Mirage fleet and dual as a transport aircraft. The big diference its the number of aircraft you can get airborne for refuel operations in a short time, insteal of 4 Il78.
Its a good platform for developing EW and AEW versions.
"And it will give good jobs for the Portuguese working at Embraer in Évora and OGMA in Alverca"
Thanks

 

[Shabi1]

Yes, this would be a big move. "If" the KC390 is what they are advertising to the Portuguese, it would make a revolution in Pakistan.
It can refuel your JF17/Mirage fleet and dual as a transport aircraft. The big diference its the number of aircraft you can get airborne for refuel operations in a short time, insteal of 4 Il78.
Its a good platform for developing EW and AEW versions.
"And it will give good jobs for the Portuguese working at Embraer in Évora and OGMA in Alverca"
Thanks

Its more important to our transport fleet as it was designed as a C-130 replacement and it uses the same engine as Airbus A-320 so PIA can can share maintenance/parts.

 

[Zulfiqar]

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 with the next-gen AI-28 turbofan). You can procure them in numbers to tackle transport as well as IFR.

Not saying that we can do it faster than USN.

It is a concept for the future war a decade plus down the line when such things will be a necessity considering how others are working on similar concepts for refueling/wingman tasks.

then its useless this drone tanker concept for PAF, because it can't refuel jets completely and can't attack properly @Zulfiqar


Useless concept of yours, wing man, attack drone that's work for PAF but tanker drone with reduce capability not work well for PAF @Zulfiqar

Not a useless concept. First US prototypes have already flown.

 

[Ultima Thule]

Not saying that we can do it faster than USN.

It is a concept for the future war a decade plus down the line when such things will be a necessity considering how others are working on similar concepts for refueling/wingman tasks.



Not a useless concept. First US prototypes have already flown.

Its good for USA but not for Pakistan if you need a tanker and ground attack role simultaneously both CAPABILITIES are reduce then can't be fully loaded for attack and can't refuel any jets @Zulfiqar

 

[Zulfiqar]

Its good for USA but not for Pakistan if you need a tanker and ground attack role simultaneously both CAPABILITIES are reduce then can't be fully loaded for attack and can't refuel any jets @Zulfiqar

Have mentioned several times. Not aiming for a simultaneous role but a swing role.

 

[Ultima Thule]

Have mentioned several times. Not aiming for a simultaneous role but a swing role.

So you want one drone for refueling role and one drone for attack role or you want same drone will go to air refueling and for another mission this drone will go to attack mission so what so special about it @Zulfiqar

 

[Zulfiqar]

So you want one drone for refueling role and one drone for attack role or you want same drone will go to air refueling and for another mission this drone will go to attack mission so what so special about it @Zulfiqar

A drone that can either act as a refueler or as a sow carrying wingman.

What is so special about it?

They are force multipliers and ensure success of the mission by increasing survivability/endurance of the accompanying fighter jets.

A drone is cheaper than a bigger tanker and will have lower RCS ensuring better survivability.

It would have a lower operating cost and and a decade plus down the line when deep learning/AI would get better these assets could be more autonomous and help in reducing work load on pilots so that they can focus on more critical missions.

Purchasing a bigger tanker would be to fight war in 80s/90s while others are thinking about things that can help them fight war 15-20 yrs down the line.

 

[Ultima Thule]

A drone is cheaper than a bigger tanker and will have lower RCS ensuring better survivability.

And tanker drone can't transfer much fuel then big tankers, compare to that if our IL-78 can refuel 3-4 jets per stories your drone tanker will refuel only 1 jet per stories

A drone that can either act as a refueler or as a sow carrying wingman.

What is so special about it?

They are force multipliers and ensure success of the mission by increasing survivability/endurance of the accompanying fighter jets.

Turbopro/and piston engine drone doing the same for ages (snice 90s) only US recently trying to introduce jet drone on its arsenals, Jet drone has less endurance then prop/piston engine drone @Zulfiqar