Mission of Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman Self Reliance and indigenization of Pakistan Air force

[Path-Finder]

for once the argument has been laid to rest all Erieye AEW&C are operational.

 

[Jinn Baba]

Thanks for posting this.

1) we will likely be getting more f16s

2) PAF is very happy with current block of JF17, which carries some weaponry and provides some capability that even f16s don't provide. What could that be?

3) block 3 is at least 2-3 years away

4) 200 jets to be retired in coming years and he's confident they will replace them in time

5) two saabs damaged in terrorist attack are back in service after being repaired locally and saving $175 million

6) we will be acquiring 5th gen from 1 of three countries

7) he accepts that su30s are very capable (he's flown them) but confident that f16/jf17 can handle the threat

8) paf is conducting surveillance on the pak-afghan border

9) big hopes and expectations from aviation city

Edit: 10) he also mentions that PAF is currently building more bases.

But some possible follow up questions:

1) what happens until block 3 is ready? Will we continue block 2 production and at what rate? Also, more info on what block 3 will include would be nice.

2) what is paf strategy against iaf rafale induction?

3) which 5th gen?

 

[Reichsmarschall]

Thanks for posting this.

1) we will likely be getting more f16s

2) PAF is very happy with current block of JF17, which carries some weaponry and provides some capability that even f16s don't provide. What could that be?

3) block 3 is at least 2-3 years away

4) 200 jets to be retired in coming years and he's confident they will replace them in time

5) two saabs damaged in terrorist attack are back in service after being repaired locally and saving $175 million

6) we will be acquiring 5th gen from 1 of three countries

7) he accepts that su30s are very capable (he's flown them) but confident that f16/jf17 can handle the threat

8) paf is conducting surveillance on the pak-afghan border

9) big hopes and expectations from aviation city

But some possible follow up questions:

1) what happens until block 3 is ready? Will we continue block 2 production and at what rate? Also, more info on what block 3 will include would be nice.

2) what is paf strategy against iaf rafale induction?

3) which 5th gen?

@Blue Marlin he has posted main points

 

[ziaulislam]

What is notable is that he is saying that Pakistan is at advanced stages of negotiation with three countries for a fifth generation jet.One could guess first being China and second being Turkey,to participate in their TFX program.It leaves only Russia and USA who have a fifth gen program(Don't even mention Japan).
Russia and USA !!!!!????

he said 2-3 countries
he meant probably that USA f-35 is a possibility
with turkey and china being more valid option

one thing is for sure, this should put to arrest for any indications that pakistan will acquire a fourth gen fighter
the volume of 4th gen will be covered by jf-17 which is suppose to imporve alot and if possible some f-16s
while the quality will come with fifth gen fighters

we also got a time frame for block 3 which is late 2019-2020 meaning i suspect there will be more than ordinary changes

also it is surprisingly that just cost 25million to recover both the AEWECs

 

[ziaulislam]

PAF thinks
focusing completely on JF-17 to make it as potent as possible and getting fifth gen fighter seems to be better option than spending 4-5 billion dollars on new fourth gen fighter

the only downside to this thought process is the time frame

 

[jaydee]

he said 2-3 countries
he meant probably that USA f-35 is a possibility
with turkey and china being more valid option

one thing is for sure, this should put to arrest for any indications that pakistan will acquire a fourth gen fighter
the volume of 4th gen will be covered by jf-17 which is suppose to imporve alot and if possible some f-16s
while the quality will come with fifth gen fighters

we also got a time frame for block 3 which is late 2019-2020 meaning i suspect there will be more than ordinary changes

also it is surprisingly that just cost 25million to recover both the AEWECs

I remember last year on PDF it was qouted that Pakistan is in talks with US for F35.The poster was ridiculed.That is why i don't take everything with a pinch of salt on PDF.

 

[SQ8]

1) what happens until block 3 is ready? Will we continue block 2 production and at what rate? Also, more info on what block 3 will include would be nice.

2) what is paf strategy against iaf rafale induction?

3) which 5th gen?

1.Certain upgrades are applied prior to a block standard as well, so some improvements thought up for block-3 will also trickle into the final batch of block-2.

2)Part of the overall system that is the PAF warfighting machine- air defense is adequately covered under F-16s and JF-17s , what is needed is the ability to fight and strike India deep on its own turf.

3) Two paths, the TFX or a JF-17 like combined design from China. However, both will be assembled and have greater manufactured components from Pakistan

 

[Jinn Baba]

1.Certain upgrades are applied prior to a block standard as well, so some improvements thought up for block-3 will also trickle into the final batch of block-2.

2)Part of the overall system that is the PAF warfighting machine- air defense is adequately covered under F-16s and JF-17s , what is needed is the ability to fight and strike India deep on its own turf.

3) Two paths, the TFX or a JF-17 like combined design from China. However, both will be assembled and have greater manufactured components from Pakistan

1. So no new JF17s (any block) for PAF until block 3 then? Only upgrades to existing fleet?

2. Agreed

3. ACM said 1 of three countries - turkey and China (jf17 stealth or any other) make two, what's the third? Could they be considering f35? Can't be Russia or S. Korea.

 

[Raider 21]

my biggest annoyance is that time after time there's hope of f-16s and then uncle sam turns around and takes a shit outside our doorstep. the F-16 saga is dead. no New or used F-16s will be flying in PAF colors.

Same was being said since the embargo came on, when it came to the operational F-16 fleet and that flying would drastically been reduced. It didn't get reduced at all....and that period led to the establishment of a CCS course for F-16s. The F-16s will come in due time (financial and other factors).....it is a great jet and Pakistan is very fortunate to have been operating them for years.

 

[Blue Marlin]

1.Certain upgrades are applied prior to a block standard as well, so some improvements thought up for block-3 will also trickle into the final batch of block-2.

2)Part of the overall system that is the PAF warfighting machine- air defense is adequately covered under F-16s and JF-17s , what is needed is the ability to fight and strike India deep on its own turf.

3) Two paths, the TFX or a JF-17 like combined design from China. However, both will be assembled and have greater manufactured components from Pakistan

why a jf-17 design from china when the j31 is available?

 

[YeBeWarned]

why a jf-17 deign from china when the j31 is available?

if F-16's replacement is/will be TF-X which is a twin engine fighter,and J-31 is also twin Engine figher than PAF wont like to operate 2 Twin engine Fighters .. I think they want to operate one Single Engine Multi-role Fighter even past 2030 ..

 

[Blue Marlin]

if F-16's replacement is/will be TF-X which is a twin engine fighter,and J-31 is also twin Engine figher than PAF wont like to operate 2 Twin engine Fighters .. I think they want to operate one Single Engine Multi-role Fighter even past 2030 ..

you sure about that?? thats their problem

why would china even develop a jf-17 styled fighter when theres something similar already avaliable(j31) ?
go into a jf project and when the tfx is ready join that project too.

 

[SQ8]

why a jf-17 design from china when the j31 is available?

Because its low risk and good return. Pakistani R&D lives by its ethos of using funds for indigenous development only when necessary.

 

[YeBeWarned]

you sure about that?? thats their problem

why would china even develop a jf-17 styled fighter when theres something similar already avaliable(j31) ?
go into a jf project and when the tfx is ready join that project too.

No i am just saying PAF might not go for 2 Twin engine jets ..

 

[Blue Marlin]

Because its low risk and good return. Pakistani R&D lives by its ethos of using funds for indigenous development only when necessary.

ok, so when will this ethos be expanded into a more desirable medium weight aircraft?
note te tfx is not medium weight the whole point of a stealth fighter is hold hold weapons internally the tfx having 4 internal bays suitable for aim-120 is not good enough. in regards to even a good medium weight fighter pakistan wont have none in the near or the future as there are none (yes that includes the j20 being a no no for export)

thankfully were having mear discussion, not a meeting on the direction of the air force.