Pakistan Air Force | News & Discussions.

[denel]

Guess these Pakistani Aviators

any one have old photo of Rab Nawaz?

 

[ghazi52]

Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of Air Staff at Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore.

 

[ghazi52]

NO. 5 SQUADRON - PAF - 1971

The legends of PAF and the pic of legendary M.M Alam's team of instructors on Mirage Air craft who proceeded to France ... For Mirage-3 conversion in 1967

Guess these Pakistani Aviators

Falcons of the PAF, Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui

Standing L to R, C/T Aslam, Baseer,Rashid Bhatti,Saleem(Mullan)29th.GD(P),(Late)Zahoor,Qasid.Sitting L to R, Ali Kazim,28th.GD.Flt. Lt.Afzal Chaudhry,Sqn.Leader Rafique,Flt. Lt. Saleem Iqbal(Late),26th GD. Moin 27th GD

 

[fatman17]

Warplanes: JF17 Evolves For Pakistan
June 13, 2019: The first Pakistani JF17 Block 1 aircraft has completed a periodic overhaul, in China, during March 2019. Pakistan had hoped to do these overhauls in Pakistan but Pakistani maintainers are still in China learning how to handle this sort of thing. Pakistanis have been less successful in learning how to manufacture many of the JF17 components but, because of years of maintaining the similar American F-16, Pakistan has expanded its ability to maintain and overhaul these modern jet fighters.

The fifty Block 1 JF17 aircraft were built in China starting in 2006 and most of the first ones were assembled there by 2013, while the transfer of assembly capability to Pakistan was carried out. The Block 1 entered service in 2007 but it was a year before the first squadron (12 aircraft) could enter service. China could have built and put into service fifty JF17s in less than a year but it took longer because the goal was to train Pakistani personnel to do the assembly of Chinese components. A parallel effort transferred tech and expertise to Pakistani firms so they could manufacture more and more of the airframe, which is mostly metal but also wiring and electric motors. The Block 1s were, by Chinese standards, simple aircraft and cost about $15 million to build.

Fifty Block 2 aircraft, with inflight refueling, improved electronics and digital data link, began production in 2013 and twelve more were ordered and completed by 2017. The Block 2s cost about $25 million each.

Block 3 will have an improved, Chinese-designed engine and much improved flight performance. Block 3 was supposed to begin production in 2016 but that has been delayed until 2019. The Chinese designed engine may not be available for the first Block 3s. China is still developing its ability to build locally designed high-performance military jet engines. The fifty Block 3s are a major upgrade with AESA radar and a passive (does not broadcast signals) IRST (infrared search and track) system that detects aircraft via the heat they emit. There will be a new “glass cockpit” with more effective flight controls (including a helmet mounted sight) and a two-seater option. The Block 3s cost about $35 million each.

In May 2017 the JF-17B, a two-seat version made its first flight. The B version is built to be either an advanced trainer, or when equipped with a few million dollars’ worth of additional sensors and upgraded fire control electronics, an advanced fighter-bomber. The B version is meant to be an option with the Block 3, which will have sufficiently improved electronics to operate as an advanced fighter-bomber like the F-15E or similar aircraft built by Russia and China. The Block 3 and B versions make the JF17 a better export aircraft and that is keeping Chinese sales teams busy discussing purchases by a number of interested nations like Algeria, Azerbaijan, Argentina, Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Uruguay. China is offering all three block versions because some potential buyers just want a cheap jet fighter.

When the first JF-17 fighter arrived in Pakistan by 2007, that marked the completion of over twenty years of development for what was first called the Super 7 fighter. The JF-17 was developed by China in cooperation with Pakistan, which originally only wanted to buy 150 of them. All this came about because Pakistan could not get modern fighters from anyone else, and turned to China. At the time, China had nothing comparable to the early model F-16s Pakistan already had. As of early 2019, Pakistan owns at least a hundred JF17s. These are Block 1 and 2 plus some pre-production aircraft. Because of ongoing overhauls of Block 1 aircraft Pakistan had about 85 JF17s available for service during early 2019. Pakistan expects to handle overhauls and major repairs itself by 2020.

Because the JF-17 was a joint effort with China, the first JF-17s were manufactured and assembled in China. This began to change with Block 2. Now Chinese made components (the engine, electronics and nearly half the airframe components) are shipped to Pakistan where Pakistanis assemble them in a Pakistani owned and operated plant. The goal was always to shift production to Pakistan but that has not been achieved yet and probably never will be. That’s because the engine (Russian RD-93 license-built in China) is something Pakistan has no plans for trying to build, or even assemble, locally. Same situation with most of the electronics. Nevertheless, the final assembly has been established in Pakistan and that is sufficient for Pakistan to claim the aircraft is “built in Pakistan”.

The Chinese designed JF-17 (also known as FC-1) is also manufactured in China, which is trying to export it as an inexpensive alternative to American and Russian fighters. So far, there have been few takers. Myanmar (Burma) bought 16 and has received six so far. Nigeria also bought three in 2016 with a possible sales of twenty or more. Both of these export sales were more diplomacy than just selling jet fighters. The JF-17s built in Pakistan are mainly composed of Chinese parts, and the Chinese Air Force has not shown any interest in obtaining the aircraft for its own use. Officially, the Chinese Air Force is still “evaluating” the JF-17, but unofficially, Chinese air force commanders consider the JF-17 inferior to other fighters they are building. The Chinese developer and manufacturer consider the JF17 a financial success but mainly as an export item and mainly to Pakistan, which may ultimately buy more than 300. That plus export sales add up to a significant amount of business.

The low-end JF-17 is little more than a day time interceptor. The most capable F-16 model in service is the F-16I, used exclusively by Israel. It's basically a modified version of the F-16C/D Block 50/52 optimized to deliver smart bombs anywhere, at any time, in any weather and despite dense air defenses. The F-16I costs about $70 million each. At the moment the Block 3 will come close to the F-16I capabilities and the JF-17B Block 3 will cost less than half what the F-16I does while having some of the capabilities. What China is really touting here is the availability of a jet fighter that is cheap and performs somewhat like an F-16. For many countries, this is an attractive option. The only problem is that there are hundreds of second-hand (and very well maintained) F-16s on the market, selling for less than the bare-bones JF-17.

The JF-17 design is partly based on a canceled Russian project, the MiG-33. Originally, Pakistan wanted Western electronics in the JF-17, but because of the risk of Chinese technology theft, and pressure from the United States (who did not want China to steal more Western aviation electronics), the JF-17 uses Chinese and Pakistani electronics.

The 13 ton JF-17 can carry 3.6 tons of weapons and uses radar guided and heat seeking missiles. It has max speed of nearly 2,000 kilometers an hour, an operating range of 1,300 kilometers and a max altitude of nearly 18,000 meters (55,000 feet). China says it does not want to use the JF-17 itself because its own J-10 (another local design) and J-11 (a license-built Russian Su-27) are adequate for their needs. The J-10, like the JF-17, did not work out as well as was hoped, but that's another matter. Meanwhile, Pakistan has several squadrons in service and more being formed. The JF-17, along with the American F-16s Pakistan has long used, were both used against Islamic terrorists in the tribal territories where both aircraft performed well using guided and unguided bombs.

from Strategy Page so take it with a pinch of salt.

 

[fatman17]

Nice to catch up with Sqn Ldr Shaukat at the static JF-17 this morning - wearing a nice patch for Paris Air Show. During a night shoot at his base back in April he was flying one of the Minhasian Thunders. https://t.co/U9TMUI1Hs0

 

[fatman17]

There are nine Pakistan AF JF-17 Thunders in Europe right now. Three Minhasian jets @parisairshow and six from the most recent JF-17 unit to stand up, Pheonix, at Konya in Turkey for Exercise Anatolian Eagle. I arrived in Paris this evening and hope to be in Konya next week.
Alan Warnes

 

[Path-Finder]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1141254389472124928

Significant step in EW development and we know the importance of keeping pace with EW.

 

[fatman17]

JF-17 Thunder steps into the Electronic Warfare domain. https://t.co/mdz3mOwfea

 

[fatman17]

F-16 Aircraft DatabaseF-16 Accidents & Mishaps for the Pakistan Air Force.




Found 9 aircraft, displaying 1-9 [Sorted by Date]DateStatusLocal S/NAircraftAF/UnitVersionInfoDetails

22 Oct 1994[w/o]8270181-0899 PAF 11 sqnF-16A Block 15EDetails

Crashed near Sargodha AB after suffering a birdhit. The pilot ejected safely.

04 Sep 1989[w/o]8471281-0910 PAF 38 TWF-16A Block 15QDetails

During a night sortie and a few minutes after take-off from Sargodha AB, the wingman informed his lead - Sqn.Ldr. Zafar Ahsan - and ground control that he is disoriented. They tried to help by repeatedly telling him to concentrate on the instruments but he crashed a few miles from Sarghoda, killing the pilot.

29 Apr 1987[w/o]8572081-0918 PAF 14 sqnF-16A Block 15SDetails

Shot down by Wing Commander Amjad Javed - mistakenly shooting down his wingman. Flight Lieutenant Shahid Sikandar Khan ejected safely.

17 Mar 1994[w/o]8572181-0919 PAF 14 sqnF-16A Block 15SDetails

Crashed near Sargodha AB due to spatial dissorientation. The pilot was killed in the accident.

16 Jun 1991[w/o]8572381-0921 PAF 9 sqnF-16A Block 15TDetails

On a night training mission with one other F-16. Returning to Kamra AB to land suffered an engine failure forcing Squadron Leader Syed Hassan Raza to eject.

27 Oct 1991[w/o]8572581-0923 PAF 14 sqnF-16A Block 15UDetails

Crashed in Attock, Pakistan after it suffered an engine failure during a dogfight training mission with the pilot, Squadron Leader Nadeem Anjum, ejected safely. The engine failure was caused by installing not an original part in the engine during routine maintenance.

10 Nov 1993[w/o]8460781-0937 PAF 38 TWF-16B Block 15NDetails

Crash caused by a birdhit. Both pilots ejected safely.

18 Dec 1986[w/o]8560981-1504 PAF 38 TWF-16B Block 15UDetails

The aircraft took off from Sargodha AB and hit a wild boar causing the two pilots to eject. One of them was Sqn Ldr Faaiz Amir.

17 Jul 2009[w/o]9272992-0405F-16A Block 15AQ OCUNews ArticleDetails

The plane was on a routine night training mission when it crashed close to village of NurPur, 105km south west of Sargodha. The pilot, Squadron Leader Saud Ghulam Nabi, was sadly killed.

 

[fatman17]

Dearth Of Fighter Jets In Paris Air Show Aerial Displays

Our Bureau 12:04 PM, June 18, 2019

JF-17 Thunder at Paris Air Show 2019

With just the Pakistani-Chinese JF-17 and Dassault Rafale among fighter jets performing aerial displays at the ongoing Paris Air Show 2019, the skies over Le Bourget were missing the thunder and after-burner flame that are the hallmark of any air show.

“JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter jet of Pakistan Air Force gave an impressive performance at the opening ceremony of the 53rd edition of 7-day International Paris Air Show,” Pakistani newspaper The News glossed over the performance of its country’s fighter jet.

The only other combat jet to take part in the air show, France’s Dassault Rafale went about its climbs, loops and dives in a monotonous manner having performed the same maneuvers at previous Paris and other shows in the Middle East and Asia.

The Belgian Air Force’s F-16s are expected to add to these two flying displays during public days this weekend.

Eurofighter Typhoon, flown by the UK and German air forces, was conspicuous by its absence in the flying display; an indication perhaps of its depleting sales prospects globally. It recently lost out a bid to sell 8 jets to Bulgaria which preferred US-made F-16s instead. It only sales prospects are probably Germany and maybe Switzerland which are looking to buy new jets.

In fact, Eurofighter has not issued the customary press release on the eve of the show, a practice which most jet manufacturers do on the eve of a major event. Eurofighter was missing from the static displays as well.

Saab Gripen, another European jet seeing depleting global demand too was missing; both from the flying and static displays. Saab was recently asked by Switzerland’s defense procurement agency, Armasuisse to cancel its flight test as part of the Swiss fighter jet procurement program. Armasuisse doubted that the Gripen E jet would be ready in time for the procurement planned for 2022.

The hot selling F-35, Europe’s most purchased fighter jet in recent years, was brought to the show but only in static display.

Adding to dampness of the flying display was the absence of Russian jets such as the Su-35 and MiG-35. While the Russians were keen to bring their jets to the show, European Union sanctions against Russia prevented them from doing so. A Rosoboronexport press released blamed ‘competition,’ for the situation and invited potential customers to the Moscow show, MAKS in August to view ‘spectacular’ flying demonstrations.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Very interesting!!! didnot realise only Rafale and JF17s were doing the rounds. The JF17 has a good future ahead of it!!!

Maybe PAF can stay behind for a few days, and dance with Rafales in training exercises !!!!!!

A few piccies of the JF17 with the Rafale flying over the Eiffel tower will go down a treat! Come on France, give us the crowds what we are looking for...

 

[Adam_Khan]

JF-17 Thunder steps into the Electronic Warfare domain. https://t.co/mdz3mOwfea
View attachment 565938

Looks like Paf is planning on using JF.17's the same way Indians used their Bisons during the Cope India exercise in early 2000's.

 

[fatman17]

One for the PAF fans. The two JF-17 Thunder display pilots Wg Cdr Baryar (left) and Sqn Ldr Sibtain hosted me for a great lunch at the flightline yesterday just before the former did his display. https://t.co/Pm9WthrBrf

 

[fatman17]

The green JF-17 with Wg Cdr Zaryar at controls prepares to taxis out yesterday. Sqn Ldr Sibtain flew the grey one today. https://t.co/hRPksqaC2G

 

[Armchair]

PAF needs to seriously work on UCAVs both as BVR shooters and for strike missions. PAF also needs to stop being stubborn about LR-SAMs. UCAVs and LR-SAMs would complicate the work of Indian planners and pilots to no end. Its those extra things you have to think about in the heat of battle that often gets you.