Featured Project Azm: Pakistan's Ambitious Quest to Develop 5th Generation Military Technologies.

[The Eagle]

So, in continuation of subject we have this as new.

The air chief disclosed that Pakistan was currently working to manufacture next generation aircraft with the support of Chinese experts.

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

A very very ambitious project, hope it comes through.

Imagination is more important than knowledge - Albert Einstein

So, in continuation of subject we have this as new.

Elhamdulillah!! That's the best thing about the Pak folks - they're always after something even if it's like putting one stone over another!!!! And, they won't just simply go home and die!!!!

 

[The Eagle]

Elhamdulillah!! That's the best thing about the Pak folks - they're always after something even if it's like putting one stone over another!!!! And, they won't just simply go home and die!!!!

The military leadership is more committed for the security of Country as well as keeping up with advancements of adversaries. All, we need friends and that is the key to success in current times. As per our economic conditions, I found all in good pace but there is no end hence, continuous efforts for more betterment.

Things are kept under many wraps for reasons and there are few hints or official statement that actually help to understand as we are into correct direction. However, expertise of our friends from China to Turkiye, will really help to have something indigenous and under control of our own. I am sure that we will learn a lot from other brotherly nations w.r.t. this project and many others. After joint venture of JF-17 which was first step, I see this yet another step forward for self reliance in future.

 

[bananarepublic]

With the Success of the JF-17; Pakistan Begins Work its 'Project-AZM' Fifth Generation Fighter with China

Pakistan is one of the few counties to have successfully launched a fourth generation fighter, the JF-17, a light multirole platform developed alongside China and available for export. Where the forth generation programs of other countries such as Israel's Lavi and India's Tejas have stalled or been cancelled, Pakistan has with Chinese assistance made the bulk of its Air Force fighters largely independent of foreign arms - though it may still require heavier air superiority fighters from abroad if it seeks to match countries India's lethal Su-30MKI. Following on from the success of the JF-17 however, Pakistan has begun a joint fifth generation fighter program with China.

Much like the JF-17, Pakistan's fifth generation fighter is almost certain to be a light and low cost platform - more similar to the cheaper and smaller F-35 and J-31 than the J-20 and F-22. The development of a fifth generation fighter is nevertheless an unexpected and somewhat incredible feat for a country with a GDP of just $280 billion. The only countries which have embarked on fifth generation programs successfully have been the United States, China and Russia - with Japan having produced a prototype and South Korea and Turkey stalling in their own development programs. Pakistan's entry into the fifth generation fighter league is a significant step for the country's prestige, and demonstrates both the potency of its indigenous defense industries and the value of Chinese technological assistance.

In the inaugural session of AirTech ’17, a conference held at Islamabad's Air University, the Pakistan Air Force's Chief of Air Staff Sohail Aman stated that: “Pakistan is engaged with Chinese experts in manufacturing the next generation aircraft. China is also providing technical assistance for launching the satellite programme.” The fighter program was known as Project Azm, and was expected to significantly expand the country's aviation industry. The project also represent's Pakistan's increasing alienation and independence from the United States in its defense sector amid souring relations between the two countries. With production having been scheduled for 2022, this target is extremely ambitious but with Chinese technological assistance may well be possible.

Shown below: Chengdu J-20; JF-17 Fighters; Chinese J-31 - a likely analogue to Pakistan's Project Azm just as the J-10 is to the JF-17; J-20 Air Superiority Fighter; Indian Su-30MKI - the greatest threat to the Pakistani Air Force; Chengdu J-11 - the Pakistani Air Force's greatest weakness remains the lack of such air superiority platforms; JF-17 (x2)

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[Imran Khan]

were is the link ? or its last night dream ?

 

[MULUBJA]

good luck to china pakistan for developing 5th generation fighter plane.

 

[bananarepublic]

Facebook post..

were is the link ? or its last night dream ?

 

[Arsalan]

were is the link ? or its last night dream ?

no link provided indeed but this was all in fact discussed at AirTec 17 conference in Islamabad.

 

[KapitaanAli]

Too many errors in the post.
Facebook is the last place you should refer from.

 

[bananarepublic]

Too many errors in the post.
Facebook is the last place you should refer from.

What kind of errors ???
Could you please state them.

 

[Blue Marlin]

wont be suprised if its based of the jf-17. would make a lot of sense
there were pics of a chinese single engined fighter.

 

[Falcon26]

What’s the problem people have with posting the link to the articles they post? Don’t bother posting something that’s not your creation without attributing to the original author. Happens too often on this forum and it’s becoming really annoying.

 

[bananarepublic]

What’s the problem people have with posting the link to the articles they post? Don’t bother posting something that’s not your creation without attributing to the original author. Happens too often on this forum and it’s becoming really annoying.

Man its from a facebook page
Imperial military watch

 

[NOWorNEVER]

Tweet


In the inaugural session of AirTech ’17, a conference being held at Air University in Islamabad, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sohail Aman stated that China is supporting Pakistan’s efforts to develop a next-generation fighter, a satellite program and a manned space mission.

“Pakistan is engaged with Chinese experts in manufacturing the next generation aircraft”, Aman told the audience, adding, “China is also providing technical assistance for launching the satellite programme.”

Under “Project Azm” the PAF is seeking to develop its own 5th-generation fighter. Besides having a system to support its future requirements, Project Azm is envisaged to steer Pakistan towards greater autonomy in domestically sourcing big-ticket defence systems and expanding Pakistan’s aviation industry.

Having formally launched Project Azm in July, ACM Aman provided additional details of the project, such as 60% of its workforce comprising of civilians and that “it will take five years to initiate the production” of the aircraft (Dawn News).

Under Project Azm, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex’s (PAC) Aviation Design Institute (AvDI) was tasked to develop a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). ACM Aman outlined that the AvDI MALE UAV will also be produced in 18 months.

Reiterating upon his prior statements of building Pakistan’s domestic industry base and reducing its need for foreign suppliers, ACM Aman reportedly told the audience at AirTech ’17 that the PAF will source the bulk of its weapon systems from Pakistan by 2020.

In addition to Project Azm, the CAS revealed that China was also assisting Pakistan in space development.

Besides assisting Pakistan in satellite development – e.g. the Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS-1) earth-observation satellite due to launch in March 2018 – ACM Aman announced that China will assist in sending Pakistani astronauts into space in the next two years.

Notes & Comments:

Regarding the CAS’ statement of the Project Azm 5th-generation fighter (FGF) entering production in five years, it is unclear if the CAS was referring to serial production or the production of a prototype. However, the notion of PAC collaborating with China on the program was to be expected following the relationship built as a result of the JF-17 Thunder program, which is the mainstay fighter of the PAF fighter fleet.

In its July piece discussing the launch of Project Azm and the Kamra Aviation City initiative, Quwa stated:

In some respects, the PAF’s messaging regarding the FGF, AvDI and the Kamra Aviation City seems to point towards an original design effort. However, unless the PAF wants to repeat the arrangement in place for the JF-17 (such as China being responsible for engine integration and testing or manufacturing JF-17 prototypes), it would need to make capital investment in aviation development infrastructure in Pakistan. Besides cost, time will also be required to build requisite human resources … to undertake the continual development work.

Although the Kamra Aviation City has ambitious goals, Pakistan will likely seek overseas support, and this would be a factor in any originally designed fighter. Given the political and economic realities, Pakistan’s principal partner in this endeavour would be China.

Pakistan could accelerate its process by essentially procuring the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) FC-31 off-the-shelf with a deep level of transfer-of-technology for local production and customization. In 2016, SAC began testing the second FC-31 prototype, which exhibits numerous changes to the original FC-31’s design, such as revised vertical stabilizers and forward fuselage. The FC-31 is being designed with the export market in mind. In 2015, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) committed to bringing the FC-31 to full operational capability (FOC) by 2024. This would be a risk-averse avenue, one that could see the PAF acquire a potent strike and maritime-capable solution through the 2020s.

The alternate scenario would be for PAC to continue its ties with Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC) and to co-develop another FGF design. While this would come later than the FC-31, the PAF could steer it as a long-term solution for replacing the JF-17 from the 2030s (the oldest JF-17s will be 20 years of age by then) and organically build design, research and development (R&D) capacities with China’s support. The PAF’s decision to establish AvDI – an entity specializing in aerospace design and development work – indicates a willingness to embrace an original design program instead of acquiring the FC-31 off-the-shelf.

The other aspect that could suggest an original design is Pakistan’s aspiration to export big-ticket defence items, including combat aircraft. While a capital-heavy investment, commissioning a new program would see Pakistan own (like it does with the JF-17) workshare and a portion of the profit of third-party sales. It would be premature to dismiss the possibility of AVIC allowing Pakistan to join the FC-31 as a partner if it compensates AVIC for some of the development cost. However, the original development route will see the state’s expenditure feed Pakistan’s own design and R&D efforts, which would help with maturation in the effort and generate valuable intellectual property for use in Project Azm and future programs.

Regarding the AvDI UAV, it is worth noting that Pakistan has not availed existing off-the-shelf options such as the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-5 and/or CH-4, Turkish Aerospace Industries’ (TAI) Anka or CAC Wing Loong. The PAF has not released its required parameters for MALE UAVs, but existing off-the-shelf options occupy a diverse range of capabilities. The TAI Anka, CASC CH-4 and CASC CH-5 have payload capacities of 200 kg, 345 kg and 1,200 kg, respectively.

From cost management, risk mitigation, design evolution (based on Pakistan’s prior UAV development efforts) and technology (e.g. propulsion) access standpoints, one could plausibly expect the AvDI UAV to mirror the specifications of the TAI Anka and CASC CH-4. In fact, the Pakistani armed forces have refrained from importing the Anka and CH-4, despite both being offered and noticeable upgrades over existing UAV-based surveillance and targeted-strike assets in the Falco and CH-3A-based Burraq, respectively. Pakistan could be intending to acquire analogous capabilities domestically through the AvDI MALE UAV.

https://quwa.org/2017/12/07/pakistan-collaborating-with-china-on-next-gen-fighter/

 

[graphican]

wont be suprised if its based of the jf-17. would make a lot of sense
there were pics of a chinese single engined fighter.

I feel it would be a twin engine platform instead of single engine JF-17 or J-10s.