Pakistan F-16 Discussions 2

[Raider 21]

He is actually a Canadian f18 pilot on exchange program to usaf

So bottom line 30 year old plane still being modernised to make it safer

Was an exchange pilot program to USAF from the Canadian Forces. He's back at Canada these days.

 

[Sine Nomine]

By:

By idcostaMay. 10, 9:55 AM
Here's how the F-16 Falcon could replace the F-15 Eagle
The F-15 Eagle, arguably the most successful fighter jet of the modern age, could be in for an early retirement with the US Air Force thanks to skyrocketing upgrade and refurbishment costs.

In a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, Air Force and Air National Guard brass informed the panel that a plan was recently formed to retire and replace the F-15C/D variant of the Eagle far ahead of schedule by a matter of decades, though no decision had been made on that plan. While the Air Force did plan to keep the Eagle flying till 2040 through a $4 billion upgrade, it was recently determined that a further $8 billion would need to be invested in refurbishing the fuselages of these Eagles, driving up the costs of retaining the F-15C/D even higher than originally expected — presenting what seems to be the final nail the Eagle’s eventual coffin.

A U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle from the 67th Fighter Squadron takes off March 16, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The F-15’s superior maneuverability and acceleration are achieved through high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing loading. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Corey Pettis/Released)

So, what will the Air Force likely do to replace this 40-year-old wonder jet?

The Air Force had at first planned to replace the F-15 with the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, but successive cuts to the Raptor program left the branch with only 187 fighters, a substantially lower quantity than the planned buy of around 700. This forced the decision to keep the Eagles in service longer, and thus, the aforementioned investment of over $4 billion was made towards upgrading all combat coded F-15C/Ds with new radars, networking systems, and avionics to keep these fighters in service up till around 2040, when it would be replaced with a newer sixth-generation fighter, also superseding the fifth-generation F-22 Raptor.

Once the F-15 gets pulled by the mid-2020s, the Air Force claims it already has a solution to replace what was once a bastion of American air power.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon flies over Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve April 5, 2016. The President has authorized U.S. Central Command to work with partner nations to conduct targeted airstrikes of Iraq and Syria as part of the comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Corey Hook/Released)

This solution comes in the form of enhancing F-16 Fighting Falcons with new radars from Northrop Grumman, and networking systems to take over the Eagle’s role in North American air defense, at least in the interim until the Air Force begins and completes its sixth-generation fighter project, which will bring about an even more capable air superiority fighter replacement for both the F-22 and the F-15.

The Air Force has already begun extending the lives of its F-16s till 2048, through a fleet-wide Service Life Extension Program that will add an extra 4,000 flight hours to its Fighting Falcons. Air Force leadership has also advocated buying more fighters, namely the F-35A Lightning II, faster, so that when the hammer does eventually drop on the Eagle, the branch’s fighter fleet won’t be left undersized and vulnerable.

Even with upgrades, however, the F-16 still has some very big boots to fill.

The F-15 was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, meaning it was built to excel at shooting other aircraft down; all other mission types, like performing air-to-ground strikes, were secondary to its main tasking. To perform in this role, the Eagle was given stellar range, sizable weapons carriage, fantastic speed (over two and a half times the speed of sound), and a high operational ceiling. Conversely, the F-16 was designed as a low-cost alternative to the F-15, able to operate in a variety of roles, though decidedly not as well as the F-15 could with the air-to-air mission. Its combat range, weapons load and speed fall short of the standard set by the Eagle. Regardless, the Air Force still believes that the F-16 will be the best interim solution until the 6th generation fighter is fielded.

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel

The USAF’s most decorated F-16 pilot, Dan Hampton, doesn’t disagree with these plans. In an interview with The War Zone, Hampton argues that though the F-16 lacks the weapons payload that the F-15 possesses, advances in missile guidance and homing make carrying more air-to-air weaponry a moot point, as pilots would likely hit their mark with the first or second shot, instead of having to fire off a salvo of missiles. Hampton adds that the F-16’s versatility in being able to perform a diverse array of missions makes it more suitable for long-term upgrades to retain it over the Eagle. Whether or not this will actually work out the way the Air Force hopes it will is anybody’s guess.
Source:http://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/heres-how-the-f-16-falcon-could-replace-the-f-15-eagle

 

[Windjammer]

The former Jordanian aircraft now in PAF service, also seems to support a ''Bird cutter'' type antennas under the intake....this particular aircraft seems to have left side ventral fin missing.

 

[Taygibay]

this particular aircraft seems to have left side ventral fin missing.

It's there, mate! It just happens to be facing almost
perfectly perpendicular to the lens, a tiny bit upward.

It does show its finesse though, the area to thickness ratio.
Think of photographing a sheet of paper with its edge facing
you and this is the same thing in proportions : the flat area of
the fin is bigger but the aim is to make that as thin as possible.

It obviously works as it fooled you!

Have a great Friday, Tay.

 

[khanasifm]

It would be nice if remaining 15/16 Jordanian f16s replace one more mirage/f7 sqn and bring f16s to total 5 sqn, 250 JF with approx 20 in each sqn will make 12.5 sqn with .5 being Ccs

Keep in mind 2 f16 sqn are over strength with 45 f16s between 11 and 9 and 19 has fewer than normal i.e. 13

Counting each csc sqn as separate sqn paf is 20 fighter sqn airforce but in reality it's 19 (2x ccs sqn eq 1 regular sqn )

 

[Thorough Pro]

how is that even possible? it's invisible due to dark shadow but it is very much there

The former Jordanian aircraft now in PAF service, also seems to support a ''Bird cutter'' type antennas under the intake....this particular aircraft seems to have left side ventral fin missing.

View attachment 396327

 

[khanasifm]

The former Jordanian aircraft now in PAF service, also seems to support a ''Bird cutter'' type antennas under the intake....this particular aircraft seems to have left side ventral fin missing.

View attachment 396327

Part of OCU or upgrade from standard A/B model to air defence variant

 

[Raider 21]

No.14 squadron F-16s heading out for a flypast rehearsal. 1991 March 23rd flypast was led by Air Commodore Abbas "Mickey" Mirza as OC Flying No.33 Tactical Wing.

 

[khanasifm]

??? No update but paf chief interview still engaged on f16 so good possibility plus jaf has taken them off their site so not longer available https://www.dawn.com/news/1264685

 

[Windjammer]

??? No update but paf chief interview still engaged on f16 so good possibility plus jaf has taken them off their site so not longer available https://www.dawn.com/news/1264685

According to the Jordanians, the ball is in Pakistan's court.
Realistically the process is going through the bureaucratic blender on the Capitol Hill.

 

[Rocky rock]

F-16 Block 50/52 airframe during durability test.

 

[khanasifm]

State department overseas counterinsurgency operations funds for Pak 2018 has max 100 mil cap compared to last year but oco account for state department and DoD has no cap and be adjusted as deemed nessassary

Further I think the tab may be picked up by Saudis, guessing here

 

[denel]

According to the Jordanians, the ball is in Pakistan's court.
Realistically the process is going through the bureaucratic blender on the Capitol Hill.

View attachment 399757

how was it possible last time they got it fairly quickly. this time around it is taking much longer.

 

[khanasifm]

Last time around it was not announced and negotiation and clearance went ahead of announcement

 

[ziaulislam]

State department overseas counterinsurgency operations funds for Pak 2018 has max 100 mil cap compared to last year but oco account for state department and DoD has no cap and be adjusted as deemed nessassary

Further I think the tab may be picked up by Saudis, guessing here

Unlikely. we are in iran group supporting assad and yemen insurgents politically