Pakistan Army Aviation Corps - Updated

[fatman17]

Over the Thar desert

 

[Windjammer]

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

I have a gut feeling (i.e. baseless opinion) that in 2017 we might hear talk of updating the PAA's transport and utility helicopter fleet.

In the past year, the MoDP told Romania that it was interested in Puma helicopters, but the only Puma program in place in Romania is the Airbus Helicopters H215 Super Puma program.

The Super Puma is a low-cost simplified version of the Cougar and Caracal, the expected flyaway unit cost is in the $10-15m range. The lift capability of the Super Puma is comparable to that of the Mi-17.

Elsewhere, the Turks will also be gearing up for the local production of the S-70 Black Hawk, for which they have export licenses (aimed at countries with 'not so good ties with the U.S.'). The flyaway unit cost of the S-70i, a simplified export version of the Black Hawk platform, is in the $10-15m range as well.

Interesting note ... the S-70's GE turboshaft engine is from the same direct family as the GE turboshaft engine used on the AH-1Z Viper. I think a mix of new and used/surplus Black Hawks could be possible area of discussion.

 

[fatman17]

I have a gut feeling (i.e. baseless opinion) that in 2017 we might hear talk of updating the PAA's transport and utility helicopter fleet.

In the past year, the MoDP told Romania that it was interested in Puma helicopters, but the only Puma program in place in Romania is the Airbus Helicopters H215 Super Puma program.

The Super Puma is a low-cost simplified version of the Cougar and Caracal, the expected flyaway unit cost is in the $10-15m range. The lift capability of the Super Puma is comparable to that of the Mi-17.

Elsewhere, the Turks will also be gearing up for the local production of the S-70 Black Hawk, for which they have export licenses (aimed at countries with 'not so good ties with the U.S.'). The flyaway unit cost of the S-70i, a simplified export version of the Black Hawk platform, is in the $10-15m range as well.

Interesting note ... the S-70's GE turboshaft engine is from the same direct family as the GE turboshaft engine used on the AH-1Z Viper. I think a mix of new and used/surplus Black Hawks could be possible area of discussion.

At some point it will have to undergo a major overhaul or upgrade because of the high usage in the military ops.

 

[fatman17]

Don't expect any US made helos to be inducted in the short to medium term except for the AH1Z contract. Even attrition losses are not being replaced like the 2 Bell 412EP losses. French, Chinese and Russian types could be inducted including used but upgraded ones.

 

[Windjammer]

 

[mingle]

View attachment 360473

According to Usman Shabir PDF PAA pilots who flying these Z10 Helis at the moment they r very happy with Avionics and payload plus there is no Engine power issue at all According to pilot its a fantactic machine to fly .

 

[razgriz19]

According to Usman Shabir PDF PAA pilots who flying these Z10 Helis at the moment they r very happy with Avionics and payload plus there is no Engine power issue at all According to pilot its a fantactic machine to fly .

And what are they comparing it to?
They are probably used to flying cobras, anything is a "fastastic machine" compare to that bird.
Wait till the Zulus start arriving. That would be a good comparison

 

[mingle]

And what are they comparing it to?
They are probably used to flying cobras, anything is a "fastastic machine" compare to that bird.
Wait till the Zulus start arriving. That would be a good comparison

No Mohamad Usman talked about issues and so far performance of Heli there were alot of tidbits about engine Usman said what been told by pilot currently flying this newbie .

 

[fatman17]

According to Usman Shabir PDF PAA pilots who flying these Z10 Helis at the moment they r very happy with Avionics and payload plus there is no Engine power issue at all According to pilot its a fantactic machine to fly .

According to some, it did not perform very well in hot and high conditions, azad kashmir esp. , however ok for the plains area. In contrast current and incoming cobras perform far better in hot and high environment. The turkish helo also preformed ok. The Z10 has been under trials for more than 6 months now and some conclusions should be forthcoming or not.

 

[fatman17]

Pak media again reporting the acquisition of 4 Mi35 advanced helos saying Pak paid $ 153 mill for them! !! . Inaccurate reporting as usual.

 

[Khafee]

Pak media again reporting the acquisition of 4 Mi35 advanced helos saying Pak paid $ 153 mill for them! !! . Inaccurate reporting as usual.

Can you set the record straight?

 

[fatman17]

Pakistan to Receive 4 Attack Helicopters From Russia
The four helicopter gunships are slated for delivery next year.

By Franz-Stefan Gady for The Diplomat
December 21, 2016



Pakistan’s military will receive four Russian-made Mi-35M attack helicopters in 2017, Pakistani Minister for Defense Production Rana Tanveer Hussain told local media on December 19.

According to the media report, the purchasing price for the helicopters was $153 million.

Pakistan and Russia agreed to the helicopter deal during then-Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif’s visit to Russia in June 2015. A preliminary agreement was signed between Pakistani and Russian representatives at the Pakistan Army General Headquarters in Rawalpindi in August 2015. Pakistani media in August of this year quoted Hussain saying that the helicopter deal would be finalized in “two months.”

It is unclear when or if the contract was concluded.

The Mi-35M helicopter is slated to replace Pakistan’s fleet of obsolete U.S.-made AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters. According to some reports, Pakistan plans to procure a total of 20 Mi-35Ms over the next years. Given the cost of building the necessary Mi-35M logistics and maintenance infrastructure, expanding the fleet beyond four aircraft would financially be a sound decision for the Pakistani military.

Pakistan is methodically trying to expand its close air-support capabilities. In April 2015, the U.S. Department of State approved the sale of 15 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to Pakistan. In addition, the Pakistani military is also mulling the purchase of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) T-129 attack helicopter or the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) Z-10 helicopter gunship.

As I explained previously (See: “Confirmed: Pakistan Is Buying New Attack Helicopters From Russia”):

The Mi-35M attack helicopter, the export version of the Mi-24 gunship, was developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and has been produced in Russia since 2005. Next to serving in the Russian military, the aircraft has been exported to Azerbaijan, Brazil, Iraq, and Venezuela.

The company website of Russian Helicopters notes that the Mi-35 is particularly suited for mountainous terrain and can be deployed “round the clock” in adverse weather conditions. The website notes that the helicopter offers “combat use of guided and unguided weapons in regular and challenging climate conditions” and is “operational for attack flights at altitudes of 10-25 m daytime and 50 m at night over land or water.”

The helicopter can be deployed for a host of different missions, including transporting up to eight paratroopers and carrying military supplies weighing up to 1,500 kg internally and 2,400 kg externally.

In comparison to the Mi-24, the Mi35M is also fitted with new main and tail rotors. Next to a chin-mounted twin-barrel GSh-23V 23 millimeter cannon, the Mi-35M helicopter can be armed with 80 and 120 millimeter rockets, and anti-tank guided missiles.

It was only in June 2014 that Russia officially lifted an arms embargo against Pakistan, in place since the Soviet-Afghan War.

 

[fatman17]

Industry

Pakistan to receive four Mi-35M helos from Russia in 2017, says report

Gabriel Dominguez, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

21 December 2016

Russia will deliver four Mil Mi-35M 'Hind E' attack helicopters to the Pakistan Army (PA) in 2017, Pakistan's minister for defence production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, was quoted by the Dunya News TV channel as saying on 19 December.

Islamabad paid a total of USD153 million for the four helicopters, the minister said without elaborating.

Pakistan and Russia had agreed to the Mi-35M deal in August 2015 in a move considered a breakthrough between the two countries.

Mindful of Indian concerns, Moscow had for years opted against engaging in any military co-operation with Pakistan.

However, in 2014 Russia decided to lift its self-imposed arms embargo against the South Asian country, with Pakistani officials telling IHS Jane's in November that year that the two countries had agreed on the sale of up to 20 Mi-35Ms.

Dunya News also quoted Rana Tanveer Hussain as saying that Islamabad is in contact with the governments of the Maldives and Azerbaijan for the export of 100 MFI-17 Super Mushshak military training aircraft.

The announcement comes after Pakistan secured a deal in November for the sale of 52 of the trainers to the Turkish Air Force. The Super Mushshak is a Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) licence-built version of the Saab MFI-17 Supporter aircraft, which is usually the initial platform used for training air force cadets.

 

[khanasifm]

I think he meant turkish 52 plus other orders total is over 100 aircraft

The two new countries may add between 10-20 max each