Replacing the F-16: Will Pakistan’s Top Fighter Squadron Transition to Chinese J-10Cs?

[MH.Yang]

The biggest weakness of gust is its small radar, so we should attack India's early warning aircraft first.
The most suitable for Pakistan Air Force should be J16 + PL2X. Of course, the sale of J16 requires the consent of the Russians, and the Indians will certainly try their best to block it. So J16 is unrealistic.

Excluding the Sukhoi family, let's consider alternatives.
F15EX is the best choice. Personally, I think it is the best 4G fighter. It is better than J16 and SU35s, other medium thrust twin engine fighters (for example, Rafale) are not even qualified to compare with it.
But we all know that it is not a realistic choice.

In fact, I think Pakistan can buy F16F from the UAE. Although it is also a kind F16, its property rights belong to the UAE. In 1998, the UAE paid US $3 billion to acquire the exclusive property right of F16F. According to the contract rules, the USA has no right to prevent F16F exports. F16F is very advanced, I can describe it this way: F16F is an F35 fighter disguised as F16.

However, a contract is only a contract. The USA has done too many things that do not comply with the contract, and I am also not sure whether Pakistan can buy F16E/F. And I don't think the PAF is willing to bet on the integrity of Americans, so many people believe that J10C is the only option.
J10&F16 are the only two kind high thrust single engine 4G fighters in the world. Other single engine 4G fighters, such as JF17, JAS39, etc., all are the medium thrust fighters. Because of engine performance limitations, they are not qualified to compare with the J10&F16.
Therefore, we usually use medium thrust twin engine fighter and J10&F16 for comparison, and the high thrust twin engine fighter is another heavyweight fighter. Of course, high thrust twin engine 4G fighters are likely to be more expensive than single engine 5G fighters.
Many people say that J10C is better than F16, which is a very rogue statement. There are too many batches of F16. The early stage F16 may not even be able to beat JF17. It is shameless not to talk about the comparison of block.
J10C is technically similar to F16b50/52. The thrust weight ratio and transonic maneuverability of J10C&F16b50/52 are excellent, and they are at the same level. The voyage and versatility of F16b50/52 are stronger, while the radar and missile range of J10C are better.
Although I am Chinese, I don't think J10C is suitable for too many countries.
J10C is specially customized for the combat system of the Chinese air force. It enhances radar and missiles, but weakens voyage and versatility. This means that it is an extreme air superiority fighter, so for most countries, it lacks cost performance.
Moreover, it needs the cooperation of the combat system of the Chinese air force, such as early warning aircraft, electronic combat system, air defense missiles, etc. Worst of all, China's combat system is not prepared to use J10C to attack the enemy's early warning aircraft. If Pakistan is ready to trust J10C+PL2X, Pakistan needs to redesign tactics and integrate its own combat system.
If PAF do that, this is a great reform for the combat system of PAF. I'm afraid it's not enough to just buy J10C. Pakistan are likely to see the arrival of China's electronic warfare system&air defense missiles.
Also, I wonder why Pakistan does not wait patiently for J31?
And I don't think the relationship between Pakistan and the USA has deteriorated so that the USA will interfere in the sales of F16F.
PAF and IAF, Americans should want to bet both sides at the same time.
The design life of F16 is 6000h, but many F16 in the USA have been used for more than 10000h. F16C/D has over the horizon air combat capability and high thrust engine. Even now, it is a very good 4G fighter. I don't think Pakistan will retire so soon.

So I think Pakistan will continue to use JF17 to replace F7 and Mirage, and then wait for the opportunity to buy F16F or J31.

@Zarvan @KaiserX @TOPGUN @Indos @iLION12345_1 @Polestar 2 @Imran Khan @omi @AZADPAKISTAN2009
@CrazyZ @GumNaam @313ghazi @dbc @Deino

 

[BON PLAN]

J-31/J-35 should replace the F-16s...

What is the J-35 ?

 

[Foinikas]

Are the Americans giving you F-16Vs? Can you upgrade some of your F-16s to Block 70/72?

 

[Deino]

What is the J-35 ?

The more or less commonly accepted serial designation for the future carrier-borne fighter aka, development of the FC-31.

 

[Crimson Blue]

Are the Americans giving you F-16Vs? Can you upgrade some of your F-16s to Block 70/72?

Hell will probably freezes over before Pakistan can get an upgrade to their F-16s.

 

[jedijedi]

Please be bias as far as im concerned hitler was hero for us what evil they jews can be we can see today in paledtine because of him we get rid of east india company

Replacing 75 jets with 36 is rubbish we always cry for budget restraints if this is the case than we should buy twin engine jet will do better and bring more option on the table

Twin engine jets have more better survivability than single if one fails jet and pilot can be saved

If we had twin engine jet we coukd have saved block 55 f 16 and pilots which crashed in 2019

read up on basic physics.

also how have you gone and concluded the reasoning for the crash, based off of what, the engine in the 2019 crash was running until the end, where when the pilot tried to recover, the AoA lead to a compressor stall, soemthing that would have happened on an aircraft with 2 engines, 3 engines, 4 engines or 10 engines for that matter.

Of course he won't read up. Skimming this Elite Member's 2 pages worth of posts, I couldn't see 1 useful post or any post that would be pro-Pakistan in the basic common sense. All i see is unabashed, unabated ramblings akin to verbal diarrhea!
Sorry, I don't snap like that but I couldn't but help myself wonder how someone with so many posts could make so little sense.

 

[BON PLAN]

The more or less commonly accepted serial designation for the future carrier-borne fighter aka, development of the FC-31.

A good looking bird. A F35 without its main flaws ?

Are the Americans giving you F-16Vs? Can you upgrade some of your F-16s to Block 70/72?

I don't see a bright future for these kind of deal : Too many links between Pak and China : Uncle Sam don't want to see its technology too early in the chinese hands.

 

[maverick1977]

Hopefully J10Cs coming soon. Keeping fingers crossed.

 

[ummarz]

AM (R) Masood Akhtar says Pakistan likely to get J-10 as a counter for IAF Raf. by early next year. So in a few months. Watch at 13:00

I am going to make an outlandish suggestion here. For some reason I feel perhaps he wanted to say JF 17 BLKIII but had a weird slip of tongue. To me that makes more sense than J-10 so soon. But who am I to doubt the likes of such great people. I guess we will find out soon enough.

 

[siegecrossbow]

AM (R) Masood Akhtar says Pakistan likely to get J-10 as a counter for IAF Raf. by early next year. So in a few months. Watch at 13:00

I am going to make an outlandish suggestion here. For some reason I feel perhaps he wanted to say JF 17 BLKIII but had a weird slip of tongue. To me that makes more sense than J-10 so soon. But who am I to doubt the likes of such great people. I guess we will find out soon enough.

Is he reliable? Don’t be offended since I’m not familiar with Pakistanis sources. What he says matches with a very reliable rumor I heard yesterday that J-10C for Pakistan are under production in the CAC plant.

 

[The Eagle]

Is he reliable? Don’t be offended since I’m not familiar with Pakistanis sources. What he says matches with a very reliable rumor I heard yesterday that J-10C for Pakistan are under production in the CAC plant.

Igniting fire?
However, whether that's a rumor or a credible source, has to be determined by track record and you may know well.

 

[VCheng]

In fact, I think Pakistan can buy F16F from the UAE. Although it is also a kind F16, its property rights belong to the UAE. In 1998, the UAE paid US $3 billion to acquire the exclusive property right of F16F. According to the contract rules, the USA has no right to prevent F16F exports. F16F is very advanced, I can describe it this way: F16F is an F35 fighter disguised as F16.

Unless the contract itself that UAE signed specifies the restrictions on onward sale of said equipment. In fact, you are simply wrong. Consider that you admitted the following:

Of course, the sale of J16 requires the consent of the Russians,

If China has acquired "property rights" to the Russian airframes/engines, why does it need Russian consent to sell them on to Pakistan?

 

[BON PLAN]

I can describe it this way: F16F is an F35 fighter disguised as F16

Sure not.
Why? because F16 bk 60 is fully operational for years when F35 is not.

F16 bk 60 is the last evoluted bird well studied by LM (with bk 70)

 

[ummarz]

Is he reliable? Don’t be offended since I’m not familiar with Pakistanis sources. What he says matches with a very reliable rumor I heard yesterday that J-10C for Pakistan are under production in the CAC plant.

I am not sure as I too am not familiar with Pakistani sources, or his credibility. Interesting rumour about CAC. So would you say J-10s are happening?

Igniting fire?
However, whether that's a rumor or a credible source, has to be determined by track record and you may know well.

What would you say about this

 

[The Eagle]

What would you say about this

I am just no one in the sea full of knowers and insiders. Just an innocent someone.