araz
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2006
- Messages
- 9,291
- Reaction score
- 81
However, contrary to the assumption of RD93 not being for sale to a third country PAF is actively marketing and is not shy from selling it. So the two do not add up. Although I personally agree we will not have much success unless we have a chinese engine. Iam merely trying to make sense at the disprity of the two thoughts to try and make sense of this conundrum.Pakistan got 200 russian engines via china on the condition of no sale to third country.Each machine requires 2 engines, this gives Pakistan 100 machines.50 have been delivered/inducted, the remaining 50 will be completed by the middle of 2016.By that time WS-13/17 Engine will be ready for JF-17 block 3 with aesa radar.Since Chinese do not allow Pakistan sell the aeroplane with any other engine ,Export and remaining PAF requirements will then begin.This is my cumulative assessment based upon continous following of JF-17 wprogram since 1992.Only AERONAUT can provide you with authoritative info.
HiThese were already upgraded in 1996-97, before being delivered to Jordan, out of AMARAC junk, now i'm not sure, how many times an airframe can be upgraded! May be a general overhaul and that's all.
It does not tell me any thing wrong with JF-17, in 2006 it started its manufacturing of first batch, and later the program faced engineered setbacks, but it kept crawling upwards.
.
IMO, they are located at best possible place, and there are bright chances that a naval squadron may be next in line.
You have querried two points where I was not clear. There has been an ongoing debate as to whether these pĺanes have been MLUed or not. My response was designed keeping both scenarios in mind. Even if you believe the official story that they have 3000hrs life left then they need capability upgrade with APG68V9 and new avionics. At 200 hrs a yr they are still good for 15yrs. This is not a bad buy at all.
Regarding JFT, one of the reason for not establishing the 3rd squadron is lack of infrastructure due to lack of resources. The other may have been lack of trained manpower. This is why you only have 2 squadron at Peshawar and Kamra inspite of having at least 42 planes in service. I think normal squadron strength is 14_16 planes with PAF. When you establish the infrastructure this is when you will have the third squadron .
Regards
Araz
Last edited: