araz
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
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There is a report presented to the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs by Vice Admiral Jeffrey Wieringa of the US Navy that is a must read for anyone who wants to know more about the F-16 MLU and Block 52s offered to Pakistan. It has been posted on this thread many times, but your best bet is to Google it.
This excerpt answers your question:
While many of the avionics systems and capabilities are common with the new Block 52s and the MLU, some significant differences remain between the MLU F-16 Block 15s and the new PAF Block 52s: there are no improvements to the Block 15s mission range and loiter time; there are no engine improvements; and, there are no improvements to payload capacity.
The only way we can extend the loiter-time or mission range of our F-16s is through Aerial Refueling. However, because the F-16s current refueling system is incompatible with the refueling system procured by Pakistan, this is not a possibility. Can we integrate the F-16s with customized refueling system? Possibly, but the move night be objected to since it would require some reverse engineering on the PAF's part.
Now, pretty much every question you guys have has been answered by people far more knowledgeable than I am before. Before posting any more questions, do a search. If you don't find anything, then go ahead and post the question, and we will be more than happy to answer to the best of our abilities.
Edit
Here is the House Committee report:
US House Committee on Foreign Affairs by Vice Admiral Jeffrey Wieringa of the US Navy
Absolute must read for anybody interested in Pakistan's F-16 Block 52 procurement and Mid-Life Upgrades.
PAFace.
i think PAF is very aware of the problems which we will face in case of an all out war. it is also a question of what will be available to us in the way of refuellers and whether it would be worthwhile for us to buy such a capability. i have always maintained that F16s are more of a tech demonstrators(you know what I mean!!!!).Unless the mood in the Congress changes and you know what the thinking is up there. I think at the moment we think we will get the Bl52s first and see how things go. if finances are there and the will is there on the part of US, we may get some more, and more old ones to MLU, but also another factor in the conundrum is the strides that the chinese are making.If they can get their act together especially in case of engines and they are beginning to ge tresults , then there may not be many problems with PAF going all chinese or indegenous with chinese help.The advantages of that are too many to discount. But this is how i see PAF evolving.
there has been talk of PN wanting an airwing of its own, but for pakistan in its current financial situation i dont know whether this will materialize. I personally think resources could be utilized in a better manner.
My 2 paisas worht
Araz