Pakistan couldn't effort EFT in small numbers let alone large numbers. going by the Kuwait deal 28 EFT for $9 billion is $300 million each
J10C would be interesting, but do you want to induct another 4th gen fighter that's equal or inferior to the F-16?
best bet would be buy 8 used F-16 and upgrade them along the rest of your F-16s to the V standard. probably would cost $500 million.
Do not know the exact details of the Kuwait EFT's hence can not comment much on them.
PAF does not have enough 4++ aircraft to cater against IAF. If it wants to remain conventional otherwise it would be a total nuclear war from the moment it started. Some thing the US are very worried about. Unfortunately 8 F-16blk 50/52's do not give much to Pakistan however they do a lot in the situation on the other border.
If you remember the initial order PAF placed in the 80's was for 100 F-16's which till this date has not matured. After 9/11 the requirement was increased to 78 Block 52's this was later reduced to 36 and that to 18.
Today the situation is much more complex as PAF is replacing 190 F-7's and Mirage fighters. How do you think 8 would replace 190?
Even if USA acceps to upgrade all the F-16's PAF has along with 8 new blk 52 to V's still that make is bar less in numbers. JF-17's on the other hand are going strong but they would only be made till block 4 which is 200 aircraft at the most. This would bring PAF's fighters to be up to 290 aircraft which is 110 aircraft short...
Not to mention Pakistan Navy is also in the process of having dedicated Fighter Aircraft so they would also require 1-2 sqd. aprox 36 aircraft. There was news some time back that PAF had asked the Navy to procure JF-17's which the Navy declined because they wanted deep strike aircraft. Though PAF had offered them 50 aircraft meaning a dedicated block for Navy.
If PAF decided to get a 5th gen aircraft and that too in numbers of 100 aircraft then this would simply tilt the balance of power which neither USA or Russia would approve. India would have no option other then getting the PAK-FA which India does not want because Russia is not providing the Indians enough Technical assistance.
USA would not give India the F-22 because that is not for export. India is not interested in F-35 and that too would take time for India to induct. The deal with Rafale is almost over because the Indians know Rafale would give the Indian no advantage over the Stealth Aircraft.
J-31 is offered but the aircraft is no where as compared to J-20. J-20 if bought by PAF would really be very interesting USA would have to send F-22's to be stationed in India, this would cause a greater imbalance of power.
One also knows that Afghanistan has created a vacuum and that might end up in an other civil war. Pakistan and other neighbouring counties would have to move in to secure their assets in Afghanistan hence a power struggle. Russia and China along with Pakistan and Iran would tend to enter Afghanistan in a similar way as the Syrian Army went into Lebanon.
Now if PAF does go after J10C which offers F-16 block 60 capabilities (Assuming) it would not offer any thing which the JF-17 block 3 would have. Hence it might not be considered.
Which aircraft can give PAF the qualitative edge and also some numerical advantage?
1) The SU-35:
SU 35 has an upgraded engine that gives it more Thrust to weight ratio. It also cover the Deep Strike roles required by PAF and also provides Air Supremacy.
If SU-35's are purchased then it also opens up the entire range of Chinese aircraft including J-10, J-11 to J-16.
(AN IDEAL SITUATION).
India would consider this as being back stabbed by Russia.
2) Euro Fighter Typhoon
Though these aircraft cost a fortune but they are going to give PAF the required punch. 70 odd can do wonders of both PAF and PN.
3) Rafales
In case France offers PAF the latest and most advance package PAF would not be interested in these. Rafale might be offered to Pakistan because France is still unable to repay the R&D cost that she put in this project. Though they have sold some Rafales to the Egyptians and hoping to sell some to India which still does not equal the required numbers that they had hoped for. 70 Rafales would help PAF but they would not provide enough punch that is required.
"The fact is that the cost deferential between Typhoon and Rafale was very high... it would cost India around 22% to 25% more if the former had been selected. No government can agree to so much extra," the source said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ovt-rules-out-review/articleshow/11830845.cms
Well this is a disputed figure because the British Parliamentarians had increased the costs to show that the Tornados should be used and maintained.
On one of the articles of Janes remember reading Operational cost per hour of Rafale is 19000USD which was based on Libya and Iraq operational data. Where as the EFT was 17000 USD for the same operation.
EDIT...
https://defenseissues.wordpress.com/tag/eurofighter-typhoon-cost/
It is Rafale. Not Rafael. You keep saying this...
The J-10C would definitely smoke the F-16. Even the earlier variants of J-10 are at the very least on par with the block 50/52 F-16.
The EF is not only very expensive to acquire, but it is also very expensive to maintain. Don't underestimate its operational cost. I also don't know whether we would get a green light for its sale. Unlikely if you ask me.
We would have to wait and see how things go in the future.
