SAUDI ARABIA REPORTEDLY INTERESTED IN THE JF-17 THUNDER

[SQ8]

It is a deep strike platform not a ground support platform, the SU-24 and he A-10 thunderbolt are dedicated ground support platforms.. most fighters can do ground strike and naval strike and air to air combat , but we are talking about a ground troops support platform, if the JF-17 is used in that role it will free the other more potent and powerful platforms to perform other important missions..
KSA is getting its F-15SA in 2017 through 2020 and will upgrade all its F-15 S to SA locally..

Absolutely incorrect. The F-15SA is an excellent CAS platform with good loiter capability and a large munition carrying capacity. The A-10s claim to fame is its gun and payload. The F-15 is able to replicate the payload easily , and for anything other than tanks.. the 20mm vulcan is quite effective.

 

[Signalian]

Neither the F-15 nor the EF are ground support fighters, one is an air superiority fighter while the second is a multirole fighter, they want a dedicated ground support fighter with other abilities not like EF with air defense and other air roles as principal abilities and ground support as an optional ability, the same goes for the F-15s..

JF-17 is not a dedicated ground support fighter, its a Multirole fighter like F-16. A dedicated ground support fighter would SU-25 or A-10 .
Secondly, RSAF is replacing F-5 with EF in some squadrons. If RSAF needed a dedicated ground support fighter hey wouldnt pitch in EF in place of F-5, then again F-5 is a light fighter.

The Tornado didn't perform very well during the Gulf war, it suffered the most losses among all the coalition ground support fighters, and there are persistent rumors that they want to replace it..

RSAF is upgrading their tornado's, they wouldnt upgrade it if they want to replace it.

 

[ACE OF THE AIR]

Replacement of F-5 can be covered by procurement of 84 F-15 or even 72 more EF or both. Already some F-5 squadrons are transitioning to EF from the first 72 order.

Tornado upgrades started in 2010-11, they wont be retired soon.

Bro,
1. JF-17 is for SANG (Saudi Arabia National Guard) not the Air Force.
2. F-5's provide second tear option but once hey were retired no replacement was procured.
3. F-16's were requested to replace the F-5's but were denied.
4. Operational cost of Tornado, EFT and F-15's is very high even if fuel is considered free.
5. Presently 70 F-15S are with KSA Air Force which are to be upgraded to SA standards. These upgrades are being done in Saudia.
6. 70+ 16 F-15 C Eagles are to be replaced by 84 F-15 SA on order. These 84 aircraft are not replacing F-5's.
7. 72 EFT Trench 3A were being added to enhance ground attack capabilities with a possibility to order an other 72 to replace the 80 Tornado's.
8. EFT Trench 3 is still not 100% ready hence KSA and UK both had to postpone replacing the Tornado's.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

JF17 Thunder would act as a great workhorse for Saudi Airforce and take off the load of other assets would be smart investment

 

[Raider 21]

Bro,
1. JF-17 is for SANG (Saudi Arabia National Guard) not the Air Force.
2. F-5's provide second tear option but once hey were retired no replacement was procured.
3. F-16's were requested to replace the F-5's but were denied.
4. Operational cost of Tornado, EFT and F-15's is very high even if fuel is considered free.
5. Presently 70 F-15S are with KSA Air Force which are to be upgraded to SA standards. These upgrades are being done in Saudia.
6. 70+ 16 F-15 C Eagles are to be replaced by 84 F-15 SA on order. These 84 aircraft are not replacing F-5's.
7. 72 EFT Trench 3A were being added to enhance ground attack capabilities with a possibility to order an other 72 to replace the 80 Tornado's.
8. EFT Trench 3 is still not 100% ready hence KSA and UK both had to postpone replacing the Tornado's.

The SANG has no aerial component in their branch. The F-15 C/Ds are getting separate upgrades, they're not getting replaced by the new F-15SAs. The Tornados went through a major upgrade recently, they're not being retired. They were never denied the option for F-16s......

 

[Naif al Hilali]

Absolutely incorrect. The F-15SA is an excellent CAS platform with good loiter capability and a large munition carrying capacity. The A-10s claim to fame is its gun and payload. The F-15 is able to replicate the payload easily , and for anything other than tanks.. the 20mm vulcan is quite effective.

Bismillah ir Rahman ar Raheem

The B-1B is a strategic bomber but guess what the USAF mostly uses it for (and loves it in that role) - Close Air Support

 

[Star Expedition]

Saudi surely afford hundreds of F-16 jets.
But Thunder can do all the tasks it can, and much more.

The most important thing is that Saudi should own what they can totally trust, and that can only come from his brother's factory.

 

[Invictus-Warrior]

Instead of spending billions of dollars for purchasing expensive jets
The Middle East folks should start a joint venture with us for a new more capable fighter in line with JFT
An all Muslim fighter
This way we won't have the budget restraints and we can come up with a good fighter with Chinese or Russian help.
Considering the fact that world alliances are changing rapidly and
I bet the Chinese and the Russians would definitely come forward and help

 

[The SC]

JF-17 is not a dedicated ground support fighter, its a Multirole fighter like F-16. A dedicated ground support fighter would SU-25 or A-10 .
Secondly, RSAF is replacing F-5 with EF in some squadrons. If RSAF needed a dedicated ground support fighter hey wouldnt pitch in EF in place of F-5, then again F-5 is a light fighter.


RSAF is upgrading their tornado's, they wouldnt upgrade it if they want to replace it.

It is the principal role they want the JF-17 to play, no one said that the JF-17 is a dedicated ground support fighter, we all know it is a multi-role fighter.. hope you got it..

Instead of spending billions of dollars for purchasing expensive jets
The Middle East folks should start a joint venture with us for a new more capable fighter in line with JFT
An all Muslim fighter
This way we won't have the budget restraints and we can come up with a good fighter with Chinese or Russian help.
Considering the fact that world alliances are changing rapidly and
I bet the Chinese and the Russians would definitely come forward and help

It is a good idea, still one need to be able to make its own engines and avionics, the frame won't be a problem..

Absolutely incorrect. The F-15SA is an excellent CAS platform with good loiter capability and a large munition carrying capacity. The A-10s claim to fame is its gun and payload. The F-15 is able to replicate the payload easily , and for anything other than tanks.. the 20mm vulcan is quite effective.

Bu we are talking about tanks!!! supporting own ground troops, infantry, and armored against enemy's armor..
You are correct though about the F-15SA, it can do anything any other fighter can do, from air superiority to ground attack and troop support, still it is a very valued platform and will mostly be dedicated to air superiority, air interdiction and deep strike among many other important air warfare tasks, Using the JF-17 in ground support and for the KSA national guard will free up the most valued fighters for more important tasks.. and when the airspace is dominated , yes then the F-15s can also play the CAS role,,and quite easily

 

[imadul]

He was nethr talking specifically about China but rather the extent to which one must go to acquire knowledge.
China was the most distant known civilisation at the time.

You are right, Oscar. That's what it means.
Thank you

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

World economies are contracting and it is not longer possible to buy 100 Million planes when you can buy an effective workfhorse platform such as JF17 thunder and take care of defensive needs for your nation

Since oil prices will fall for next 10 years Saudis are better off to diversify their airforce

Planes like F35 are overkill , and all the stuff it has are not even used by most airforce

 

[Dr Shaheryar]

If a country wants to buy something then who are we to object and ridicule. Kindly note all that its the intention of Saudi Government and not our Government statement that needs validating.

 

[Beast]

Absolutely incorrect. The F-15SA is an excellent CAS platform with good loiter capability and a large munition carrying capacity. The A-10s claim to fame is its gun and payload. The F-15 is able to replicate the payload easily , and for anything other than tanks.. the 20mm vulcan is quite effective.

It not abt just large payload and good loiter time. F-15 is not suit for low attitude, slow speed CAS that need to ID, target and destroy mobile ground target.

A-10 and Su-25 large payload and slow speed at low attitude makes them idea for CAS role.

 

[Raider 21]

It not abt just large payload and good loiter time. F-15 is not suit for low attitude, slow speed CAS that need to ID, target and destroy mobile ground target.

A-10 and Su-25 large payload and slow speed at low attitude makes them idea for CAS role.

The F-15E is excellent for CAS, it can do what an A-10 can and much more...

 

[SQ8]

It not abt just large payload and good loiter time. F-15 is not suit for low attitude, slow speed CAS that need to ID, target and destroy mobile ground target.

A-10 and Su-25 large payload and slow speed at low attitude makes them idea for CAS role.

Those days are gone. The A-10 is getting less and less relevant in a modern CAS environment.
The newer pods can do all the I.D that required the A-10 pilots eyeball back in 1975.