Pakistan in talks with US to procure latest F-16 jets: Air chief

[VCheng]

I dont know . what do you think?

I think the Chief overstated the case, to be frank.

 

[Kakaspai]

Do we have to station these new f16's away from jf 17 like the other block 52's.And what about the talk of kill switches ?

 

[Zarvan]

Their is some confusion here Is he talking about 8 F-16 already announced or he is talking about other than those 8 already announced ? @Windjammer

 

[tarrar]

It is a good news that PAF is trying to acquire latest F16 but only 2 aircraft's are not enough for PAF & are not 100% solution for PAF.

PAF at least needs only one heavy weight & long ranger fighter which is superior in air to air combat & SU35 is the option. If the deal goes ahead & Pakistan gets SU35 then PAF will have SU35, F16 & JF17.

Do we have to station these new f16's away from jf 17 like the other block 52's.And what about the talk of kill switches ?

Kill switch is exactly what I have in my mind as well, but it seems no one over here cares about it & there is no solid discussion on F16's kill switch.

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

Ever green F16s Hope we induct with few hundreds AIM 120D.

 

[MastanKhan]

Do we have to station these new f16's away from jf 17 like the other block 52's.And what about the talk of kill switches ?

Hi,

What is a kill switch---? How do you think that it would work----!!!!

@Irfan Baloch Sir does the above explanation mean they are "at par" or not?

Hi,,

You did not ask me---but I will jump in---the current upgraded BLK2 is par minus 1---to the BLK52.

The difference is that of INTEGRATION----30 years +++. JF17 BLK 2---just barely been there if you compare the time.

Yessir---INTEGRATION----also what we call here the Playbook----it is not even half way written----.

We just put it in the Combat school----which means---that you are looking at few more years for the pilots to come thru the system which are purely hardcore JF17 operators---.

I very much doubt if the aircraft is the issue----it is about the time that it is in service---.

Pakistan in talks with US to procure latest F-16 jets: Air chief
MATEEN HAIDER

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman on Monday said Pakistan is in negotiations with the United States to procure the latest F-16 fighter jets, but did not specify an exact number.

“We are in talks with US defence officials to get some latest F-16s but the deal may take some time,” the Air chief said while talking to reporters after the rolling out ceremony of the 16th JF-17 Thunder aircraft at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra.

The Air chief said by the year 2020, Pakistan Air Force will say “goodbye to some of its old fighter jets including the Mirage.”

He expressed satisfaction over the production and quality level of the JF-17 Thunder and said it is at par with the F-16 in terms of performance and operations.

Pakistan in talks with US to procure latest F-16 jets: Air chief - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

Hi,

So what did the U S demand---and what did Nawaz give in return----?

 

[Random Jan-e-mann]

Their is some confusion here Is he talking about 8 F-16 already announced or he is talking about other than those 8 already announced ? @Windjammer

These 8 will be Block 52 + the same kind we already operating, Air chief most probably talking about latest block 60 + the most advance jet ever in F-16 with AESA.

 

[Pulsar]

If the JF-17 is "at par" then why get more F-16s?

Because the F-16s are the sexiest looking aircraft on planet earth! No, seriously!

That's one way to spice up the PAF!

 

[batmannow]

Hi,

What is a kill switch---? How do you think that it would work----!!!!




Hi,,

You did not ask me---but I will jump in---the current upgraded BLK2 is par minus 1---to the BLK52.

The difference is that of INTEGRATION----30 years +++. JF17 BLK 2---just barely been there if you compare the time.

Yessir---INTEGRATION----also what we call here the Playbook----it is not even half way written----.

We just put it in the Combat school----which means---that you are looking at few more years for the pilots to come thru the system which are purely hardcore JF17 operators---.

I very much doubt if the aircraft is the issue----it is about the time that it is in service---.



Hi,

So what did the U S demand---and what did Nawaz give in return----?

For Nawaz , military berucracy , & US profit is equal & its called F-16 ?lolzz

 

[tarrar]

Pakistan in Talks for New F-16s
PAF Chief of Air Staff Confirms that the PAF is in talks to procure new F-16s from the U.S.

29 December 2015

By Bilal Khan

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Sohail Aman confirmed to numerous Pakistani media outlets that the PAF was in negotiations with the U.S for “the latest” F-16s (Dawn News). No specific information was given, e.g. the type or numbers involved, but the CAS stressed that the “deal may take some time.” Currently, the PAF has 18 F-16C/D Block-52+, 45 F-16A/B Block-15 MLU [Mid-Life Update] and 13 F-16A/B Block-15 ADF [Air Defence Fighter].

In a way, the F-16 is the embodiment of U.S-Pakistani relations. It is important to understand that American arms sales to Pakistan are not straightforward commercial transactions, but a means for both Islamabad and Washington to strengthen their respective interests. Pakistan requires advanced arms such as the F-16 as a means to strengthen its conventional warfighting capabilities against India, and through a mix of military aid and access to equipment, the U.S has met (to varying degrees of fulfillment) those requirements. However, the U.S uses that equipment as leverage to entice the Pakistani military to support American interests in the region.

After a successful operational run in the 1980s, the PAF ordered 71 F-16A/B Block-15OCU [Operational Capability Upgrade] from the U.S to augment its existing fleet of 39 aircraft. However, the U.S placed an arms embargo on Pakistan in response to Islamabad’s persistence in pursuing its nuclear weapons program, and as a result, the PAF was prevented from acquiring those additional F-16s.

In 2005 the U.S under President George W. Bush lifted the F-16-embargo, and in 2006-2007 the PAF ordered 18 new-built F-16C/D Block-52+ and MLU kits (for its existing and 14 additional surplus fighters). The multibillion-dollar deal also involved a large cache of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. The order also left open an option for 18 additional Block-52+, but severe economic woes prevented the PAF from pursuing it. However, the PAF was able to acquire 13 F-16 Block-15 ADFs from Jordan in 2014, though it is unclear if those ADFs will through the MLU, which would equip them with a radar and onboard electronics suite similar with what is in use on the F-16C/D Block-52+.

In October 2015 the U.S government reportedly cleared the sale of eight new-built F-16s to Pakistan. It is unclear if ACM Aman’s statements were in reference to this sale, but it would seem unlikely since the ACM was referring to negotiations, not Congressional approval (which would occur once the Department of Defense is in agreement of a sale). In other words, the ACM’s may be referring to new-built F-16s in addition to the eight reportedly approved by the U.S government, but this is just speculation. The end number of new F-16s the PAF could be looking for may range from 18 to 36, the former being in reference to the Peace Drive deal signed in 2006-2007, and the latter if the fleet number envisioned in 1989 (110) is being pursued.

As for type, this is unclear as well. The ACM said that “the latest” F-16s were being discussed, but without a specific reference (such as whether it would include an active electronically scanned array or AESA radar), it is difficult to come up with a specific idea. However, given the reality of what is poised to enter South Asia in the coming years in terms of advanced fighter hardware, it is well within reason to believe that the PAF could request the F-16V, which is equipped with the AN/APG-83 AESA radar. The advantage of the F-16V program is that it could be applied onto most F-16 types; in other words, new F-16Vs for the PAF could be Block-52+ airframes with new radar and EW/ECM [electronics warfare and electronics countermeasures] suites. Such an acquisition would allow the PAF to make use of the infrastructure and maintenance overhead of its existing Block-52+. Whether the U.S would agree to such a sale is another question. It also unclear (and unlikely) if a purchase of additional munitions, such as the AIM-9X or Joint Stand-off Weapon (JSOW), is also on the cards.

Ultimately, the primary motivator for additional F-16s on the part of the PAF would be the reality that it is a mature platform in which the PAF is fully knowledgeable of and capable of readily accepting. It is also a reality that new F-16s would be amongst the most affordable Western platforms in terms of acquisition and operational costs. Unfortunately for Pakistan, it is a platform laden with a considerable amount of risk, not least in terms of the U.S using the sale as leverage to drive its interests in the region.

 

[Lightning Soul]

@Irfan Baloch Sir does the above explanation mean they are "at par" or not?

If you cared to do a little search about the meaning of at par on Google. I'm sure you'd get your answer

"An equality in Value OR Standing; a level of equality: The gains and the losses are on a par"

So even if JF-17 Block 2 may not have the same 'standings' equivalent to that of F-16 Block 52's yet but definitely provides the same level of 'value'. (Provided you do clearly understands the difference b/w both the terms? )

 

[Darth Vader]

TO sum
thunder will be the bird draging the weight of Paf in war time
F16 will be the all star , for Air superiority and special missions

Now Why Paf still going for F16
1 is better than 2 obviously
F16 war proven jet , infrastructure available
Pilots proven and list goes on and on

Now people Saying why isnt Paf brass jumping in twin jets few reasons
Chinese jets which are available well they are not truly yet available to Paf it will take some time till these platforms mature and are really matured in Paf
If you people think uncle sam and russians will be sharing there top of the line platforms sorry to say thats not happening stop day dreaming
In 15 to 20 years battlefield will be changed if not so much but it will be way more advanced
Now Paf can keep spending money on second hand jets or mature a new platform and build its base around that platform to co develop new platforms in few years according to the future needs or spend money on wishlist of pdf and buy many different platforms and make a big blunder keeping 4 5 different platform now in time of war i dont need to say what this can cause

 

[barbarosa]

the latest F16 should not less than block 60.

 

[SSGcommandoPAK]

Guys it is just a suggestion from my side.
Now its time for PAF to induct twin engine aircraft.
This will give her better strike inside enemy land ( I know whats in u r mind )

No man JF-17s and F-16s we are buying to replace our fleet of Mirages and F-7s , Our main Jets will be J-20 , Su -35s in the future InshALLAH

If the JF-17 is "at par" then why get more F-16s?

We need as many F-16s as we can get , We want to replace a fleet of about 250-300 Jets (MIRAGES and F-7s ) .

Latest F-16's ? will it be F-16V ? or improved Version of Block 52's ??
@Donatello @Windjammer @Horus ?

No man no chance of F-16V , it will Block 52 ..

 

[The Eagle]

First of all, indeed we are not throwing our money like others. As we all can see whats happening in the AF where procuring of different platforms results in plenty of aging fleets and expenses and few more issues. So the current induction by PAF is favorable as per the scenario. So also, let the Rafale deal be finalized and PAF knows what to do, i hope.

Pakistan Zindabad