F-20 Tigershark

[Avicenna]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa)

Nice video that you and some PAF retired officials you mentioned earlier may enjoy.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa)

Nice video that you and some PAF retired officials you mentioned earlier may enjoy.

The PAF basically tried replicating this with the Sabre II - i.e. F-7 with a GE F404 turbofan engine, AN/APG-66 radar, etc. It might have gotten to it sooner had Carter won another term and basically compelled the PAF to choose the F-20 (while also picking-up the US-backed loan offer for the Mirage 2000).

 

[Avicenna]

I see the the JF-17 much in the same category as this wouldn't you say?

At least in terms of size, weight and engine thrust?

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

I see the the JF-17 much in the same category as this wouldn't you say?

At least in terms of size, weight and engine thrust?

I think the JF-17 has a much higher ceiling in terms of development (i.e. poor man's Gripen). The F-20 is basically at the end of the F-5, but it would have certainly been a better (technology) to fly through the 1990s and 2000s than the F-7P. I was told that the PAF was offered the manufacturing line for the F-20 in the early 1980s and then the Mirage F-1 in the late 1980s. I wish Pakistan at least took the latter, in the 1990s it would have had the chance to fit the F-1 with the RD-33.

 

[Avicenna]

I think the JF-17 has a much higher ceiling in terms of development (i.e. poor man's Gripen). The F-20 is basically at the end of the F-5, but it would have certainly been a better (technology) to fly through the 1990s and 2000s than the F-7P. I was told that the PAF was offered the manufacturing line for the F-20 in the early 1980s and then the Mirage F-1 in the late 1980s. I wish Pakistan at least took the latter, in the 1990s it would have had the chance to fit the F-1 with the RD-33.

The latter would have been nice. Pakistan was really lucky that war didn't break out with India in the 90's and early 2000's.

Sort of makes me wonder if the right steps are being taken currently in terms of procurement.

Then again hindsight is as always 20/20.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

The latter would have been nice. Pakistan was really lucky that war didn't break out with India in the 90's and early 2000's.

Sort of makes me wonder if the right steps are being taken currently in terms of procurement.

Then again hindsight is as always 20/20.

I wonder if part of it all has to do with fielding different leadership establishments in each of these key periods. Between 1979 and 1989 Pakistan had three different top leaderships, each apparently not absorbing much in the way of wisdom, experience and direction from the previous regime.

 

[Ahmet Pasha]

The plane's being advertised as if it was a toyota. LMAO

@Bilal Khan (Quwa)

Nice video that you and some PAF retired officials you mentioned earlier may enjoy.

 

[Tokhme khar]

The F-20 was a final attempt at somehow matching the performance specs of the mig-21S /M/ MF/ Bis. It was to be the last throw of the dice for Northrop, where the F-5E lacked. However with the advent of GD F-16, being exported in huge numbers, finally killed off the F-20!

In some parameters the F-20 matched the F-16, however it wasn't meant to be. A benign technology export directed at friendly allies in the third world.

 

[Raider 21]

@Bilal Khan (Quwa)

Nice video that you and some PAF retired officials you mentioned earlier may enjoy.

It was evaluated by AVM Abbas "Mickey" Mirza in the early 1980s, one of the best fighter pilots ever to have walked the planet according to many who knew him from PAF. Chuck Yeager also brought the jet to Pakistan for demo purposes. Two prototypes eventually crashed, both by test pilots (chaps didn't wear G-suits from what I've heard)....both ultimately paid the price of pushing too far with the envelope. Both company test pilots had G-LOCed during demonstration flights.

The F-20 did attract a lot of attention from a lot of countries, and a good number of PAF pilots (including the early F-16 riders and some drivers) wanted the jet. But for PAF, by then the F-16 deal was done....despite the opportunity to license-produce the "Tigershark".

Thanks for the post !!!!

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Thats the Mig from Top Gun Movie They called em the vipers as well boy that movie was messed up

And people absorbed it like pop corn

 

[Avicenna]

Thats the Mig from Top Gun Movie They called em the vipers as well boy that movie was messed up

And people absorbed it like pop corn

Lol. No.

 

[Ahmet Pasha]

That aircraft looked like a F5 Tiger. But the Russians also had a similar aircraft. But I cant remember it's name.

Lol. No.

 

[Tokhme khar]

Russians got plenty of F-5's delivered for evaluation from Vietnam, Yemen, Iran, etc, and they found out it couldn't even cut the mustard against the old Mig-21. lol

That aircraft looked like a F5 Tiger. But the Russians also had a similar aircraft. But I cant remember it's name.

 

[Ahmet Pasha]

Yup Los Americanos also had access to Soviet hardware.

Russians got plenty of F-5's delivered for evaluation from Vietnam, Yemen, Iran, etc, and they found out it couldn't even cut the mustard against the old Mig-21. lol

 

[Windjammer]

An F-20 Tigershark was even painted in PAF colours and displayed in Pakistan however it was rejected in the favour of F-16 Falcons.