Pakistan Air Force To Achieve Air Refuelling Next Year

[Proud to be Pakistani]

PAF to achieve air refueling next year​

Updated at: 1600 PST, Wednesday, January 30, 2008

SHAURKOT: Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mehmood Ahmed has said the Pakistan Air Force will attain the capabilities of early airborne early warning radars and air refueling by next year.

Speaking at a ceremony held to mark the 50 years of PAF two combat groups the Air chief marshal said the P-A-F would get its first squadron of JF-17 Thunder aircraft this year.

He further stated that the air force would get more F-16 fighter jets from the US by 2010, which would enhance its operational capabilities.

PAF to achieve air refueling capability next year: Tanveer Mehmood

 

[z9-ec]

Awesome! great news.

PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!

 

[corebag]

Does all PAF aircrafts have this air refueling capability including, f-16s? or they need modifications?

 

[blain2]

Does all PAF aircrafts have this air refueling capability including, f-16s? or they need modifications?

PAF F-16s are being converted for this capability and some of the aircrews have undergone training for this capability. The capability for IFR always existed on the PAF F-16s, but the wiring and internal plumbing etc. has to be put in place for it.

 

[x_man]

Good news !! It was need of the time. Only question that lurks around is : Which refueller ?? Right now two systems are in use - ''the hose and drogue system' and ' flying boom method'. The second method is only used by USAF ( that also includes F-16s) and the first method by rest of all the air-air refullers and airforces.

PLAAF is using H-6U and modified IL-76 as air tankers and both aircrafts employ Hose/drogue method, so its clear that JF-17 and J-10 will and have the same systems. On the other hand, F-16 uses boom system and although USAF employs many aircrafts in tanker role but their workhorse is KC-135.

So if we want JF-17 (possibly J-10 ) and F-16s with air-air refuelling capability, will we need two types of tankers? It will not only create an unnecessary burden on tax payers but also pose problems in terms of training , maintenance, operational / procedural hiccups etc etc..The best possible solution is to get one tanker that serves both the purposes and has both the capabilities...right now its only KC-767 ( modified Boeing 767) that is dual purpose, it has both hose and boom refuelling hardware’s. Again the question arises, can PAF get these tankers???? Well, Fingers crossed xxx.

PAF is venturing into a new area and the aircrafts bought now ,will not only be damn expensive but also serve us for decades to come....so I hope that un-biased decisions are taken while keeping the best interest of the nation.

 

[blain2]

PAF has a requirement for both types as per the PAF CAS.

Probe and Drogue for the JF-17 platform and Boom and receptacle for the F-16s (which is what the PAF aircrews are being familiarized with in the F-16 sqns). T

 

[mujahideen]

Very good news to hear indeed.

 

[IceCold]

There was also some news about the AWACS. They will also be inducted by 2009. Anyways its a good news to hear. Air to air refueling will surely give the JF's the capability of deep strike within the enemy terrority.

 

[QADRI]

zabardest very good news.....Good going Pakistan.....

 

[air marshal]

Pakistan is converting a couple of it's C-130s into air to air refuelling plateforms for the F-16s. And has bought 3 IL-78 MIDAS (tanker configuration) for refuelling JF-17s.

As for the AEW&C aircraft; that's Saab 2000 based ERIEYE system.

 

[HAIDER]

when Pakistan bought IL78 Midas...??

 

[x_man]

Pakistan is converting a couple of it's C-130s into air to air refuelling plateforms for the F-16s.

What type of refuelling are you suggesting for F-16s from C-130? I asked this because C-130 cannot be fitted with ' flying boom' that is required for F-16s.

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

Pakistan purchased 4 IL-78 from Ukraine!

 

[EagleEyes]

Pakistan purchased 4 IL-78 from Ukraine!

Source? Are they delivered already?

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

Source? Are they delivered already?

Not yet delivered Webby, they are being converted from IL-76 to Air Refueling Capability IL-78 Midas. The Frame is the same!