Pakistan May Speed AF Procurements Despite Economy

[Manticore]

ISLAMABAD — Despite its crippling economic situation, Pakistan may be forced to fund its Air Force’s most important procurement programs on an emergency basis, or at least ensure sufficient finances for their regular progress.

Salma Malik, assistant professor in the Department of Defence & Strategic Studies, at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, said the “linkage between economic progress, energy sufficiency and security as well as physical security” has never before been so deeply felt in Pakistan.

This is highlighted by the predicament facing the Air Force, which has not received any finances for its modernization efforts since 2007 under the Armed Forces Development Plan 2025 (AFDP2025).

Also, it has received only a portion of its allocated share of the general defense budget under the recently ousted Pakistan People’s Party government.

In addition to the financial woes, Malik highlights the “qualitative” and “quantitative edge” of the India Air Force developed through “upgrades or procurements.”

Though not dismissing the myriad problems facing the Indians, she particularly highlighted the potential purchase of the French Rafale as the “most concerning for Pakistan.”

However, though she acknowledged that Air Force equipment is very expensive, the length of time between ordering a weapon such as a fighter aircraft and having it enter front-line service, dictates a “sense of urgency.”

Malik says this was most likely impressed upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, by the head of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, during a June 13 meeting, and therefore “some allocation might happen straightaway.”

This emergency funding, Malik believes, could be injected into programs formulated in response to Indian developments, like the AFDP2025, to get them back on track and funded regularly.

If this does come about then the main focus, according to analyst Usman Shabbir of the Pakistan Military Consortium think tank, will be the building of more JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, “and inducting them into service fast to replace old Mirages and F-7 Fishbeds.”

He notes that pre-2007 programs have given the Air Force some breathing space.

“The air defense system has been upgraded with new radars and [command and control nodes, refuelers are in service, AEW&C are inducted, [beyond visual range] capability is acquired, Crotale SAM replacement is inducted.”

However, in the medium to long term, there are still concerns as the planned number of JF-17s has been slashed from 275 or 250 down to 150, which will not replace the current obsolete Mirages and F-7s on a one-for-one basis.

The J-10B/FC-20 program will also need to start progressing, and there is still a need for long-range SAMs, plus more Il-76 transport aircraft.

The FC-20 was supposed to enter service in the middle of the decade to form a high tech “spear tip” for Pakistani air power, but there appears to have been no progress with procurement.

Economic revival will dictate most action.

Among other economic woes, Pakistan is gripped by a crippling circular debt problem where the government and independent power producers owe each other huge amounts of money, hampering electricity generation to kick-start the economy.

The new government pledged to end this situation within 60 days of coming to power.

Analyst and former Army officer Ikram Sehgal is optimistic this will happen now that the previous government has been ousted from power.

“I have confidence that the economy will be turned around,” he said.

“The Pakistan economy is the most resilient in the world. If the [government of the PPP] could not bring it to its knees, then nothing can. It’s a question of management.”


Pakistan May Speed AF Procurements Despite Economy | Defense News | defensenews.com

 

[Safriz]

J-10B
That's what I want to see in PAF colours...

 

[shanixee]

I dont understand this article...The headline is opposite the detail.

headlne says" Pakistan May Speed AF Procurements Despite Economy"

Details says"However, in the medium to long term, there are still concerns as the planned number of JF-17s has been slashed from 275 or 250 down to 150, which will not replace the current obsolete Mirages and F-7s on a one-for-one basis.

The J-10B/FC-20 program will also need to start progressing, and there is still a need for long-range SAMs, plus more Il-76 transport aircraft.

The FC-20 was supposed to enter service in the middle of the decade to form a high tech “spear tip” for Pakistani air power, but there appears to have been no progress with procurement.

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/pakistan-air-force/259690-pakistan-may-speed-af-procurements-despite-economy.html#ixzz2WvgHwtdq"

 

[GR!FF!N]

isn't J-10B procurement plan was stalled/rejected??also,only 150 JF-17s going to be inducted??thats not certainly enough to keep up strength when F-7 and mirages are going to be retired,as there is over 180 F-7 and over 150 Mirages are going to be retired soon.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Details says"However, in the medium to long term, there are still concerns as the planned number of JF-17s has been slashed from 275 or 250 down to 150, which will not replace the current obsolete Mirages and F-7s on a one-for-one basis.

So the PAF is contracting in size?

 

[Nishan_101]

ISLAMABAD — Despite its crippling economic situation, Pakistan may be forced to fund its Air Force’s most important procurement programs on an emergency basis, or at least ensure sufficient finances for their regular progress.

Salma Malik, assistant professor in the Department of Defence & Strategic Studies, at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, said the “linkage between economic progress, energy sufficiency and security as well as physical security” has never before been so deeply felt in Pakistan.

This is highlighted by the predicament facing the Air Force, which has not received any finances for its modernization efforts since 2007 under the Armed Forces Development Plan 2025 (AFDP2025).

Also, it has received only a portion of its allocated share of the general defense budget under the recently ousted Pakistan People’s Party government.

In addition to the financial woes, Malik highlights the “qualitative” and “quantitative edge” of the India Air Force developed through “upgrades or procurements.”

Though not dismissing the myriad problems facing the Indians, she particularly highlighted the potential purchase of the French Rafale as the “most concerning for Pakistan.”

However, though she acknowledged that Air Force equipment is very expensive, the length of time between ordering a weapon such as a fighter aircraft and having it enter front-line service, dictates a “sense of urgency.”

Malik says this was most likely impressed upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, by the head of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, during a June 13 meeting, and therefore “some allocation might happen straightaway.”

This emergency funding, Malik believes, could be injected into programs formulated in response to Indian developments, like the AFDP2025, to get them back on track and funded regularly.

If this does come about then the main focus, according to analyst Usman Shabbir of the Pakistan Military Consortium think tank, will be the building of more JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, “and inducting them into service fast to replace old Mirages and F-7 Fishbeds.”

He notes that pre-2007 programs have given the Air Force some breathing space.

“The air defense system has been upgraded with new radars and [command and control nodes, refuelers are in service, AEW&C are inducted, [beyond visual range] capability is acquired, Crotale SAM replacement is inducted.”

However, in the medium to long term, there are still concerns as the planned number of JF-17s has been slashed from 275 or 250 down to 150, which will not replace the current obsolete Mirages and F-7s on a one-for-one basis.

The J-10B/FC-20 program will also need to start progressing, and there is still a need for long-range SAMs, plus more Il-76 transport aircraft.

The FC-20 was supposed to enter service in the middle of the decade to form a high tech “spear tip” for Pakistani air power, but there appears to have been no progress with procurement.

Economic revival will dictate most action.

Among other economic woes, Pakistan is gripped by a crippling circular debt problem where the government and independent power producers owe each other huge amounts of money, hampering electricity generation to kick-start the economy.

The new government pledged to end this situation within 60 days of coming to power.

Analyst and former Army officer Ikram Sehgal is optimistic this will happen now that the previous government has been ousted from power.

“I have confidence that the economy will be turned around,” he said.

“The Pakistan economy is the most resilient in the world. If the [government of the PPP] could not bring it to its knees, then nothing can. It’s a question of management.”


Pakistan May Speed AF Procurements Despite Economy | Defense News | defensenews.com

So it seems that PAC will surely going to produce a lot of equipment like about:
100 JF-17 Block-II
35-50 JF-17 dual seat
May some more Mushak too
And a larger number of new UAVs...

 

[Irfan Baloch]

So the PAF is contracting in size?

makes sense really, having no regional designs and continued peace progress with India means that defense spending can be reduced

 

[Windjammer]

So the PAF is contracting in size?

Lean ,mean , hard hitting machine.
PAF has always perused quality rather than quantity.....since JF-17 can perform and execute three battlefield missions as an interceptor, fighter/bomber and maritime strike, hence it can replace three dedicated version of Mirages namely IIIEP, VPA/2/3 respectively.....somewhat like the EF Typhoon has replaced the Phantom, Jaguars and some Tornado squadrons in the RAF.

 

[senkakudefender]

I dont understand this article...The headline is opposite the detail.

headlne says" Pakistan May Speed AF Procurements Despite Economy"

Details says"However, in the medium to long term, there are still concerns as the planned number of JF-17s has been slashed from 275 or 250 down to 150, which will not replace the current obsolete Mirages and F-7s on a one-for-one basis.

The J-10B/FC-20 program will also need to start progressing, and there is still a need for long-range SAMs, plus more Il-76 transport aircraft.

The FC-20 was supposed to enter service in the middle of the decade to form a high tech “spear tip” for Pakistani air power, but there appears to have been no progress with procurement.

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/pakistan-air-force/259690-pakistan-may-speed-af-procurements-despite-economy.html#ixzz2WvgHwtdq"

The J 10 uses AL 31FN 123-126 KN engines. Any sale to PAF will involve Russian approval. Indian sentiment already angry with Russian delivery and impressed with USA will get final fillip. JF 17 is the only fighter PAF can afford to fly and that too with limited engines and spares from China RD 93 surplus. Anyways peace talks are on and China is now in India's sights so reduced spending and more economic investment will be okay for Pakistan. Unless there's another 26/11 then ***** will hit the fan.

 

[Bobby]

Good Luck......

 

[498a]

googd for pak , at-least you people will be able to secure your law and culture .

 

[shanixee]

The J 10 uses AL 31FN 123-126 KN engines. Any sale to PAF will involve Russian approval. Indian sentiment already angry with Russian delivery and impressed with USA will get final fillip. JF 17 is the only fighter PAF can afford to fly and that too with limited engines and spares from China RD 93 surplus. Anyways peace talks are on and China is now in India's sights so reduced spending and more economic investment will be okay for Pakistan. Unless there's another 26/11 then ***** will hit the fan.

This is not wat I am referring to...your reply tells your living in some other world..

 

[Gessler]

I am waiting to see some solid progress on J-10B/FC-20 deal, which has not come so far.

Unless Pakistan goes into emergency stage with very little money available, the FC-20 deal will
certainly get through. @senkakudefender Leave the AL-31s aside, what is more important is
getting an MRO facility for the existing numbers of RD-93s in Pakistan, or in China atleast!

It is neither safe nor economical to send the engines to Russia everytime and back.

 

[Abingdonboy]

makes sense really, having no regional designs and continued peace progress with India means that defense spending can be reduced

Lean ,mean , hard hitting machine.
PAF has always perused quality rather than quantity.....since JF-17 can perform and execute three battlefield missions as an interceptor, fighter/bomber and maritime strike, hence it can replace three dedicated version of Mirages namely IIIEP, VPA/2/3 respectively.....somewhat like the EF Typhoon has replaced the Phantom, Jaguars and some Tornado squadrons in the RAF.

Fair enough mate, but I think the EF Typhoon analogy is stretching it a bit, wouldn't you say?

 

[senkakudefender]

This is not wat I am referring to...your reply tells your living in some other world..

THEN WHAT R U SAYIN? Jf 17 is the only fighter you guys are banking on along with f16s. First China needs Russian approval then only it can sell. How will you fly it then w/o engines. RD 93 china has 100s and can help you out there for jf 17s although as gessler said maintainance and servicing remains.

You guys need to prioritize your buys and practice diplomacy. Days of freebies are over in economic recession. Instead investing some of the funds available into economy will get you dividends in 10 yrs. By then situation may stabilize and economy may be cool and you can get j 20s even.