PAF to seek more Chinese aircraft, says air chief

[Cheetah786]

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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aims to acquire 200-250 JF-17 Thunder (FC-1) fighter aircraft in place of the 150 originally envisaged, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed has said in an interview published in the latest issue of the prestigious Jane’s Defence Weekly, an international defence magazine.

The PAF’s first two JF-17s were displayed publicly on 23 March following their arrival earlier in the month. The Pakistani Air chief also spoke about the controversy surrounding reports of the Russia engines intended to power the JF-17. “We haven’t contracted the Russians on this [the engine], so the deal is between Russia and China.We have no issues related to this, although there have been efforts to impede progress by creating some road blocks in this particular path,” said the Pakistani air chief.

According to Jane’s Russian sources had initially said emphatically, that the RD-93 engines supplied to China and meant to power the JF-17 could not be re-exported to Pakistan. This position was reversed in November 2006, when senior officials from Klimov and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group said during a joint press briefing at the Zhuhai Air Show in China that a re-export deal was nearing completion.

According to Jane’s the Pakistani Air chief’s reference to “efforts to impede progress” relates to strong lobbying efforts by the Indian government following the Zhuhai statement. JaneÕs adds that Indian sources say, Russian President Vladimir Putin subsequently “assured” New Delhi during his January visit to India that Russian engines would not power the PAF fighters.

But the publication goes on to say, Pakistani sources claim they have a clear understanding from Chinese authorities that there will be no Russian effort to block the supply of the RD-93 engines to Pakistan. “The Chinese have told us the Russians haven’t issued a written licence but the Russians will not block the supply of the RD-93 to Pakistan,” one senior Pakistani government official told Jane’s. Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed also told Jane’s that Pakistan should take delivery of another six or seven JF-17 aircraft before 2008, which would be used for testing. “These are all weapons that are on our inventory and we have lots of weapons,” he added, referring to the test programme’s weapon integration phase.

The Pakistani Air Chief expects the first JF-17s to be inducted in a PAF squadron by the end of 2008, with serial production to start at the rate of up to 20 annually. However, the programme’s planned enlargement could see an expansion of production facilities at the Pakistan Aeronautical complex in Kamra or some off-the-shelf acquisitions from China, Jane’s quotes the Pakistani air chief.

On other important projects with China, the Pakistani air chief also revealed that Pakistan is well advanced in negotiations with China on the possible acquisition of up to 40 J-10 fighters which are the most advanced fighter aircrafts so far produced by China. Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf was given a detailed briefing on the J-10 during his last visit to China.

“We are serious in our discussions and, as air chief, I look forward to getting this programme (of the J-10) to a stage where we can contract this. I am looking at two squadrons of aircraft, anywhere between 32 and 40 platforms,” said the Air chief.

The Pakistani Air chief also revealed in the interview to Jane’s Defence Weekly that China has offered Pakistan an airborne warning and control system aircraft. “We have tested and evaluated, finding it fairly good but there are areas where we definitely want improvements, both in the platform and in the radar,” he said, adding that all these objectives should be achievable. :flag:

[BATMAN]

Only J-10 is chinese JF-17 is tehnically co-prodeuced equally by Pakistan as it was by China.
Induction of JF-17 cannot be termed as 'Seeking Chinese Aircraft' I hope these were not the words of air-cheif !!

[wdyy918]

JF-17 is tehnically co-prodeuced equally by Pakistan as it was by China.
Yes.It's known by all of us.

[Cheetah786]

JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - APRIL 04, 2007
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Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed: Pakistan's Chief of Air Staff
Farhan Bokhari JDW Correspondent
Islamabad

'We want an avionics package of our own choice on the J-10'
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is undergoing a transition, positioning itself to acquire some of the latest versions of the US-built F-16 multirole fighter aircraft while increasing its reliance on China as a key supplier of hardware through the induction of the JF-17 'Thunder' fighter and future plans to acquire the J-10 fighter aircraft. Pakistan's reliance on China reflects something of a fail-safe philosophy following Islamabad's experience of sanctions imposed on the country in the 1990s.

Against this background, PAF Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed aims to maintain his fighter fleet at a strength of 400 aircraft, including the induction of new aircraft from China and the US.
"We might end up buying another high-tech aircraft from the Chinese; the J-10 is something we're looking at along with the JF-17, which will in fact form the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force in the future," said ACM Ahmed. The PAF has received its first two JF-17s and these flew at the country's Resolution Day ceremony on 23 March in Islamabad. The service expects to receive a total of eight or nine JF-17s by the end of this year, although formal induction into the PAF will begin in just under two years. ACM Ahmed said the PAF had increased its initial target of buying 150 JF-17s to acquiring up to 250 aircraft. The future development of the JF-17 will allow Pakistan to induct its own choice of avionics and weapons already in stock.

"The shape of the JF-17 you see today is slightly different from the first prototype. We have added aerodynamic variations to make it more versatile and more manoeuvrable. We now hope that this particular shape will reflect the final configuration and we'll add the other capabilities of the aircraft," said ACM Ahmed. The JF-17 programme has not been without controversy, mainly surrounding the status of the aircraft's Russian-built RD-93 engine. A number of reports during the past three years claimed that Russia had not approved the re-export of the RD-93 engines from China to a third country - in this case Pakistan. The arrival of the two JF-17s equipped with the RD-93 engines has, however, confirmed what Western analysts are beginning to understand: that the Russians may have given verbal agreement to the re-export without issuing formal licences. According to Western defence analysts, the transaction may have been conducted in this manner as Russia is reluctant to annoy India, with which it has had a long-term partnership in defence sales. India, the analysts argue, has quietly lobbied to block the engine sale as a way of disrupting supplies to Pakistan.

"Frankly, the engine issue is between the Russians and the Chinese. We haven't contracted with the Russians on this so the deal is between Russia and China and we have no issues related to this," said ACM Ahmed, adding that "there have been efforts to impede progress by creating some road blocks in this particular path, but I don't think they will work". For the moment, the ACM is content with plans to buy a mix of new F-16 Block 50/52 C/Ds (an initial 18 and an option for an additional 18) and some 26 older F-16A/B models, under an agreement with Washington that gives Pakistan the status of a non-NATO US ally. This effectively means that Pakistan can be supplied with excess defence equipment where there is no cost involved for the platform but Islamabad is required to pay for upgrades.

The acquisition of the F-16A/B models has recently been the subject of some controversy. While the US Air Force is willing to release 12 of its older F-16s, the US Navy has refused to release up to 14 aircraft designated for Pakistan. ACM Ahmed said this could change the number of used F-16s that Pakistan plans to purchase, but the plan to buy a mix of new and used F-16s remained on track. "I am quite hopeful that the US Air Force will be able to release the 12 aircraft but we are not sure of the US Navy - we are working with them but we are not sure if they will release those aircraft for us," he said. "If they don't, the US Air Force will probably look at other aircraft in their inventory. They have a large number of A/Bs which could be made available."

For the future, the PAF is positioning itself to buy up to two squadrons of Chinese J-10 fighters as it seeks to diversify its inventory of top-of-the-range aircraft. ACM Ahmed said negotiations for the purchase have begun, with the PAF outlining its preference for avionics and weapon systems. "We want an avionics package of our own choice on the J-10. The kind of weaponry and various other pods and electronic warfare suites [the aircraft will carry] is another area [under discussion]," he said.

Additionally, the PAF has been in negotiations with Beijing for the future purchase of Chinese-built airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. While declining to specify which specific Chinese AEW is under consideration, ACM Ahmed noted: "We have tested and evaluated [the AEW aircraft] and [found it to be] fairly good, but there are areas where we definitely want improvement, both in the platform and radar."

[Mercenary]

I think 500 Jets should be good for the Pakistan Air Force.

500 Jets offer an incredible deterrence to Indian aggression as well as containing the Iranians and Afghans on our Western borders as well as conducting anti-terrorist operations along our border regions

[Janbaz]

I think 500 Jets should be good for the Pakistan Air Force.

500 Jets offer an incredible deterrence to Indian aggression as well as containing the Iranians and Afghans on our Western borders as well as conducting anti-terrorist operations along our border regions

But it will take time to reach that number as JF-17 will only amount up to 200 max till 2015. The J-10 can be inducted in larger numbers but by the time that happens in my opinion we shall need to relace F-16's from the 1980's. So the only viable solution is to seek a platform that is cost effective, relaible and free from sanctions given that it meets the technological standards of the PAF beyond 2010.

[WebMaster]

Only J-10 is chinese JF-17 is tehnically co-prodeuced equally by Pakistan as it was by China.
Induction of JF-17 cannot be termed as 'Seeking Chinese Aircraft' I hope these were not the words of air-cheif !!

Dont take it personally. Welcome to the defence related publications of the Pakistani media!

[Matador]

I The impotant things is to improve pakistan's airforce ,no matter which

craft it belong ,now JF-17 has introduct into pakistan and I think sonner it

wiil be produced by mounts .I like it ,maybe in future we also can get the 4th

ageneration craft .

[su-47]

Jf-17 is 4th gen man. What u need now is 5th gen aircraft

[melb4aust]

Jf-17 is 4th gen man. What u need now is 5th gen aircraft

In chinese terms a 4th generation plane considered as 3rd generation...so he's right 4th generation means 5th generation.

[WebMaster]

I think 500 Jets should be good for the Pakistan Air Force.

500 Jets offer an incredible deterrence to Indian aggression as well as containing the Iranians and Afghans on our Western borders as well as conducting anti-terrorist operations along our border regions

Afghans and Iranians are not a threat to the national security of Pakistan.

[ahmed]

afghan is captured territory and such conditions always impose threat to neighbours ,sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly ,so western air must be strongly eyed

[Interceptor]

Pakistan should consider to venture into a Radar scheme where it will get a advance air borne radar and improve its overall sight on its enemies.

[Keysersoze]

Pakistan should consider to venture into a Radar scheme where it will get a advance air borne radar and improve its overall sight on its enemies.

Other than the Erieye/Hawkeye 2000/and the Chinese joint venture they are involved in?

[Interceptor]

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Other than the Erieye/Hawkeye 2000/and the Chinese joint venture they are involved in?

Erieye is one system AWACS, but I mean to go into venture to jointly design a air born radar so that both counteries can advance in mastering the AWACS eventually.