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

[messiach]

Difficult situation. Developing a 140+kN (or a 2x80kN) turbine with a axial 3+6 compressor & 1+1 turbine would be a challenge par excellence. These are the percieved turbines for NxGF.

Its easier(relatively) to develop a 5th gen today than it was 20 years ago. The same display processing for eg was done on a monitor sized computer can now be done in a credit card sized chipset.

DSPs for Radar were once coveted expensive items yet today DSPs are available for $35.

 

[BoggedDown]

J 31 is the only viable way forward.

No not at all. Project Azm will be most probably aligned with Chinese FC20 a kind of mini J20 but little bit bigger size than J10C with single engine full composite stealth air superiority fighter. It will have all most all features and capabilities of J20 permissible within its size and weight limit such as with reduced internal weapon bay capacity as well as range. The project structure between CAC and PAC Kamra, r&d + implementation and method of production will be quite similar as FC1.0/JF17 project which is found working nicely for Pakistan. The requirements, preliminary design as well as project scope is near ready but only missing link is when Chinese get ready with their WS15 engine so to finalize design and prototyping. If WS15 get delayed for say more than 5 years then PAF will ask for J10D with WS10B engine.

 

[BRAVO_]

first and most important thing in a project is to make a knowledge base and by establishing different type of institutes pakisant is already working on its manpower's ability to execute such ambitious projects, i am feeling pakistan will acquire different technologies and concepts from China, Turkey and Russia in near future to execute the project but
PAF is already closely monitoring and following the chines J-31 and Turkish TAI TFX projects but since PAF is aiming for a single engine FGFA they could go for a stealth version of fighter jet based upon experience of JF-17 heavily influenced by locally developed system which is not only the cheapest route but it will save them from a huge development cost and major chunk of development cost could also be funded by chines aerospace company who want to make available a low cost stealth aircraft which can be exported while PAF would be a launch operator and first costumer, for them it would be a safe bet...
so it could be something similar to this design

 

[IbnAbdullah]

Salaam

Even the Chinese are struggling with engines, and they've put in a lot more time, effort and resources. Given the limited resources available, I doubt a domestic engine will be a major focus in this program, outside of a technology demonstrator.

I think where more resource intensive technology like engines is concerned, Pakistan will be best served by collaborating with other international partners willing to do so (such as the Turks who are also looking to undertake a similar project). Once you've got a solid base going you can build upon it.

With regards to the economic situation atm, one would hope that sustained efforts should help move it in a favorable direction and in time reach a place where we can afford to put more resources into such projects.

...


And most importantly, it's called project AZM (with strong conviction and dedication) because the planners realise how hard it is.

...

 

[SQ8]

Difficult situation. Developing a 140+kN (or a 2x80kN) turbine with a axial 3+6 compressor & 1+1 turbine would be a challenge par excellence. These are the percieved turbines for NxGF.

Agreed as before- the challenge was and will be the powerplant.

 

[CrazyZ]

We may be able to acquire stealth fighter platforms from china, turkey, or russia. But a customized stealth missile launcher manned or unmanned aircraft for the PN should be explored. Pakistan should try to develop a 5th generation air frame on its own (as much as possible). Engines and avionics will come form abroad...must likely china. It was give a huge strategic advantage in the Arabian sea.

 

[ejaz007]

Pakistan outlines FGFA industrial aims
Jon Grevatt - Jane's Defence Weekly
03 April 2019
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The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) is looking to leverage capabilities advanced in building the JF-17 Thunder multirole combat aircraft (pictured) to develop a new fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA). Source: IHS Markit/Patrick Allen
The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) has outlined ambitious plans to support its development of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) - otherwise known in Pakistan as Project AZM.

The PAC enterprise, which is owned and run by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), has established a new office - the Aviation Research, Indigenization & Development (AvRID) unit - to lead the FGFA programme, it confirmed.

The development programme is supported through Pakistan's development of a new aerospace complex - named 'Aviation City' - that was launched in 2017 to support Project AZM and other national military aerospace requirements.

"The office of DG [Director General] AvRID has been established to transform into reality the [PAF's] air staff vision… with the long-term goal of developing our own fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA)," PAC said on its website.

"[The] development of [the] FGFA would be a major national programme that would entail a massive amount of work, not all of which may possibly be carried out within PAC or even within Pakistan.

"Such large-scale development requires synergetic efforts from a number of industrial (public and private) and academic organisations to fulfill the enormous task," it added.

In order to "manage an engineering development programme of this magnitude", effective technical, engineering, and project management processes need to be established, PAC said.

PAC also outlined several specialist project teams that it will establish in collaboration with other national agencies as part of the Aviation City initiative.

These include an engineering management and support office, an Aviation Design Institute, a Mission Electronics Design Institute, an Aero Structures Design Institute, an Advanced Technologies Centre, and a Flight Test Centre.

PAC states that AvRID will collaborate with and leverage the capabilities of these various Aviation City agencies in undertaking Project AZM. "This [will] put together components of industry and academia to build a high-end research centre to enhance indigenisation capability.

Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options at ihsmarkit.com/janes

https://www.janes.com/article/87669/pakistan-outlines-fgfa-industrial-aims

 

[Army research]

And how do you know that @Army research ????

Can't tell that , as even if I did , what's to say I'm saying the truth ? Anyways if plans right, from the info it's been said that it's a new deisgin for the paf,
Even many various public statements have greatly hinted towards it , however plans are always susceptible to change and as of July 2018 , it was to be a clean sheet design

 

[Ultima Thule]

Can't tell that , as even if I did , what's to say I'm saying the truth ? Anyways if plans right, from the info it's been said that it's a new deisgin for the paf,
Even many various public statements have greatly hinted towards it , however plans are always susceptible to change and as of July 2018 , it was to be a clean sheet design

let wait and see what comes out

 

[Mav3rick]

I hope the program grows into full fledged development+production power house with different sub-divisions for avionics, aerodynamics, engine, radars, EW Suites, Armaments etc. This NEEDS Public + Private collaborations, consortium(s) and investment.

 

[Captain77W]

Whenever they complete it it should be named PF-1 Nightmare
“Pakistan’s Azm giving it’s enemies a nightmare”

 

[CodeforFood]

Pakistan don't have the technological depth or financial strength to support development of fifth generation fighter without any outside help . even Russia India struggling only option is develop the J-31 as "JF-31" with sub system from Turkish TFX and other reliable sources .

How are you coming up with this argument that Pakistan does not have technological depth?

 

[ShaikhKamal]

Pakistan don't have the technological depth or financial strength to support development of fifth generation fighter without any outside help . even Russia India struggling only option is develop the J-31 as "JF-31" with sub system from Turkish TFX and other reliable sources .

Exactly ! Even the JF-17 is assembled and not manufactured. You need research and development to design, then develop and build factories to build parts for which you need subsystem suppliers. The whole supply chain will take at least a decade to develop. Best option for Pakistan is to modify J-31 as JF-31. I would like the PAC Pakistan Aeronautical Complex to became PAC Pakistan Aircraft Corporation as an government owned company.

 

[PakAlp]

A lot of people are suggesting Pakistan should get J31 and modify it for the project AZM but it seem the Chinese military is not interested in the J31. It has been nearly a decade and only 2 prototypes have been produced.

I am thinking maybe China is building a different medium weight fifth generation fighter or something similar to J20 but lighter and Pakistan will Co produce that with Pakistani specs and using western/Turkish avionics. This plane then will be exported to the world just like the Jf17 as the J20 is a heavy fighter and I doubt most of the world can afford it including Pakistan

I don't see any possibility of Pakistan producing it's own 5th generation. They have no money and technology, a project similar to Jf17 is the only option. They can however do research

 

[The Eagle]

Even the JF-17 is assembled and not manufactured.

Please elaborate in detail. I am sure you are holding back a lot of information on this or you don't know anything in regard to PAC participation into manufacturing of JF-17.