JF-17 Thunder Multirole Fighter [Thread 5]

[ziaulislam]

@niaz

Pretty much agreed with your analysis.

If we want to have a clear picture of JF17 standing we should compare it with the aircrafts which it is going to replace.
Previously our mainstay aircrafts were Mirages, A5, F7s? Out of these no one was able to fire BVR? Air-refueling? Data-linking with AWACS? Mission specific pods? May be..

How much percentage wise JF17 has increase the capability of PAF is the right question. I can safely say that if PAF replaces all its Mirages and A5s with JF17 it increases the overall capability of PAF with atleast 80%.

On question of pitching JF17 against MKIs. Its somewhat tricky. BVR combat is not simple as its seem. On home sky, with backing of AWACS and Ground radars+decent package of BVR+Radar, JF17 can give headache to MKIs.
Its debatable as we dont know where does JF17 fits in the larger operational planning of PAF.
And if in couple of years time PAF could snatch an AESA deal for JF17, we may never know....

BVR isnt the only thing. there are other roles as well. He was referring to the aircraft as whole.
obviously su 30 outclass jf-17 in some rules like strike operations and range

 

[SBD-3]

I find this news-piece rather hilarious.

 

[Gryphon]

Army chief leaves for UAE

March 05, 2014 | SIKANDER SHAHEEN

ISLAMABAD- Pakistan’s military chief on Tuesday left for United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a two-day tour, his first in the present official capacity and second to an Arab country in less than a month.

Conspicuously, the visit takes place against the backdrop of the reports that Saudi Arabia has refused to purchase JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan after the oil rich Arab state was reported to have struck a $60 billion defence deal with the United States that would allow the latter to sell its defence hardware to the former.

However, the security sources argued that the visit of Chief of Army staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif to the UAE was scheduled well in time, which, the officials insisted, had nothing to do with the JF-17 Thunder sell-off negotiations.

“It was very much pre-planned,” a security official commented about the said tour, saying the visit was planned the end of last December.

The issue of JF-17 Thunder sales, he believed, was unrelated to the military chief. “A defence production project that primarily concerns the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is something quite unrelated to the COOAS. It’s for the air chief to take up discussions with the officials concerned on any such venture.”

Requesting anonymity, a retired air vice marshal said, Pakistan’s security establishment was in negotiations with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Qatar and UAE for selling JF-17 Thunder. “There are reports that Saudi Arabia has refused to buy Pakistan’s fighter jets which implies that pressure must have mounted on the defence and military bosses to use their clout on this count in getting a breakthrough with other states even if the issue does not officially concern them.”

Talking to The Nation, Air Commodore (r) Manzoor Hussain, a defence analyst, said the issue of JF-17 Thunder sell-off carried national importance. “It is a matter of wider national interest and not something specifically pertaining to the PAF. And if you look into the things in this particular context, it stands reasoned to see the military authorities pursing the matter, officially and unofficially.”

Lately, the reports suggest, Pakistan was in negotiations with the Saudi authorities for selling JF-17 Thunder before the Saudi Arabian defence minister and Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is said to have communicated his government’s refusal to buy JF-17 Thunder during his recent visit to Pakistan. The Saudi authorities, according to the media reports, had agreed to but six JF-17 Thunder jets.

Earlier, Gen Raheel Sharif had visited Saudi Arabia in the first week of February.

“Some countries oppose Pakistan selling the fighter jets to another state. It would be really tricky and challenging to get a breakthrough in this regard,” Manzoor Hussain believed.

On the COAS visit to UAE, a one-line from Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the army chief had left for two-day official visit to the UAE, without sharing any additional information.

The general is scheduled to meet the UAE’s top government functionaries including UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Last December, the 50th JF-17 Thunder was inducted in the PAF’s existing fleet of the fighter jets. The related ceremony was held at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra. chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The aircraft is a joint venture of Pakistan and China.

Army chief leaves for UAE | The Nation

 

[Kompromat]

Saudis were using JF-17 as a scare tactic to make EDAS to drop price on the Typhoons. I said it earlier.

 

[VelocuR]

Saudi Arabia didn't purchase JF-17 or any contributions to progess with some funds ??

 

[nana41]

Saudis were using JF-17 as a scare tactic to make EDAS to drop price on the Typhoons. I said it earlier.

Three day ago,UK successfully managed to increase the price of Typhoon and the "scarer" quietly agreed.

 

[VCheng]

Three day ago,UK successfully managed to increase the price of Typhoon and the "scarer" quietly agreed.

Using a scarecrow and shouting "Boo!" would probably have more credence than indicating a purchase of JF-17s to use as a "scare tactic". Major arms deals simply do not work this way.

 

[alimobin memon]

The Saudi authorities, according to the media reports, had agreed to but six JF-17 Thunder jets.

does it mean somehow pakistan has sold 6 jets to KSA ?

 

[VCheng]

does it mean somehow pakistan has sold 6 jets to KSA ?

That is a typo, "T" is right next to "Y" on the keyboard.

 

[ziaulislam]

does it mean somehow pakistan has sold 6 jets to KSA ?

nope, it mean saudi rumour was jus a hype created by media.
defence deals take years to negotiate . they dont happen overnight.
saudi arbia isnt a candidate for thunder, they have too much money

 

[nomi007]

Third squadron (No. 14 Tail Choppers) planned to be equipped with JF-17 Thunder
List of aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_of_the_Pakistan_Air_Force

 

[Chak Bamu]

Saudis were using JF-17 as a scare tactic to make EDAS to drop price on the Typhoons. I said it earlier.

Probably it served multiple purposes. 1. Getting Pakistan to change neutral policy on Syria. 2. Jolting Americans. 3. Improving negotiation position on defense spending. 4. Telling Pakistanis where they belong, all said and done.

does it mean somehow pakistan has sold 6 jets to KSA ?

No. Nada, Zilch. Zero.
KSA (for now) has declined to buy our 4+ gen plane. Perhaps they know something we do not.

 

[nomi007]

 

[fatman17]

at best PK is interested in Saudi investment in the program which will put it back on track. we still have to pay the chinese 800m USD for the 1st 50 blk-1 aircraft. one way in which the Pakistanis excell is 'barter deals' and in this case, the deployment of 2 army divisions with equipment and ground support could fetch 50m USD / month which would go a long way in putting the JFT program back on track.
the Mushshaq deal with Iraq was influenced by the Saudis to bring in $$$ for PAC.
the saudis dont need the JFT at all. they have access to tier-1 military hardware and materials from the west. PK needs money until its economy recovers (read power crisis).
the chinese may be our friends but they dont give anything for free. remember the 50 JFT 'gift' to be delivered in 6-months, what happened?. just a figment of our media's imagination. one has to pay for their military hardware which is cost-effective when compared to the west.
Delays in major pakistani programs.
1. JFT - at least 2 years behind schedule. 3rd sqn not formed.
2. Submarines - at least 3-4 years behind schedule. german deal was 95% agreed except for the price. chinese submarine agreement 2 years behind schedule - reason money!
3. AL Khalid MBT - requirement is for 1200 tanks. so far only 350-400 delivered.
4. Self-Propelled Mortar System - an army requirement for the strike corps. money needed 1Bill USD. delayed. FMS not forthcoming.
similarly UAE is another country which has surplus $$$ and can be influenced to invest in the PK arms industry.
this is how bad it is at the moment.

 

[nomi007]

Xiaolong fighter model unveiled Singapore Airshow