This means we are in a position to raise 2 more squadrons of Jf-17s. No. 18 has been in the rumours for a while, lets see which other one will be re-equipped. The calculation for 7 full squadrons + CCS element is:
50 Blk-I As + 62 Blk-II As - 2 crashes + 26 Bs = 136 pieces avlbl
Up until now before induction of Bs in large numbers squadrons used to have 16 pieces each, as multiple members have hinted each of the old squadron will get some Bs for a full strength of 18 each. So:
5 exisiting squadrons (nos. 16, 26, 2, 14, 28) will likely have 16*5 + 2*5Bs = 90 pieces
No.18 (equipped in mid 2020) to have most Bs as OCU perhaps as many as 14 Bs + 4 As = 18 pieces
Latest re-equipped squadron that will likely be able to start conversion now No.XX will have 16 As + 2 Bs = 18 pieces.
This is a total of 126 airframes (100 As + 26 Bs). That leaves about a flight worth of As for CCS Dragons and some for Kamra to test new goodies on.
Only thing uncertain about above is there is some confusion if 4 or so Bs were initially produced by China and if they are part of active fleet or reserved for testing etc. This is based on fact PAC produced 8 in 2019 and now 14 in 2020, and at some point a PAF official had said schedule for 26 Bs would be 2019 - 8, 2020 - 14, 2021 - 4.
Regardless of above uncertainty its clear one other squadron besides no.18 is re-equipping. Knowing PAF we will probably not know until first batches of Blk-3 start rolling.
@Hodor do we know the next squadron to convert after no. 18?
50 Blk-I As + 62 Blk-II As - 2 crashes + 26 Bs = 136 pieces avlbl
Up until now before induction of Bs in large numbers squadrons used to have 16 pieces each, as multiple members have hinted each of the old squadron will get some Bs for a full strength of 18 each. So:
5 exisiting squadrons (nos. 16, 26, 2, 14, 28) will likely have 16*5 + 2*5Bs = 90 pieces
No.18 (equipped in mid 2020) to have most Bs as OCU perhaps as many as 14 Bs + 4 As = 18 pieces
Latest re-equipped squadron that will likely be able to start conversion now No.XX will have 16 As + 2 Bs = 18 pieces.
This is a total of 126 airframes (100 As + 26 Bs). That leaves about a flight worth of As for CCS Dragons and some for Kamra to test new goodies on.
Only thing uncertain about above is there is some confusion if 4 or so Bs were initially produced by China and if they are part of active fleet or reserved for testing etc. This is based on fact PAC produced 8 in 2019 and now 14 in 2020, and at some point a PAF official had said schedule for 26 Bs would be 2019 - 8, 2020 - 14, 2021 - 4.
Regardless of above uncertainty its clear one other squadron besides no.18 is re-equipping. Knowing PAF we will probably not know until first batches of Blk-3 start rolling.
@Hodor do we know the next squadron to convert after no. 18?
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