PAF Air Refueling Capability

[Roybot]

fighter jet to fighter jet refueling also has potential to strike inside india....we can remove radar from one of our jf-17....put a fuel tank in it...add a long pipe in the front....it can be used to refuel planes short of fuel in air.....

Well buddy refuelling can be done, you don't need to remove the radar for that.

 

[Abingdonboy]

does PAF have two different type of Il-78? or it is mutilfunction.

why a airrefuelling aircraft can also be used to transport JF 17 parts.

The IL-78s are modified IL-76 heavy lifters the only real differences are the addition of large fuel bladders in what would be the IL-76's cargo hold and the redialling pods on the wings and centre line that allow the Midas to refuel other a/c. These fuel bladders can be removed and this is what the PAF does on occasion. It is hard to call the IL-78 a "true" MRTT as it can do either or not both wet transport and refuelling and I am aware that removing the fuel bladders is a pretty tricky job and time consuming. A true MRTT would be the A330 MRTT.

These are PAF f16s refuelling in mid air But Do we own that big THING? It say USAF on its wing, man we want them as our f16s are familiar with them.

No, the PAF does not have any such tankers.

suppose there are two f-16's standing on the runway....one is at the front and the other one is at the rear....then a rope or string is used to connect the f-16 at the rear with f-16 at the front...that is fire proof rope coming out of the tail of one F-16 and joining with the nose of f-16 at the back....just like they connect gliders with propeller driver airplanes and take them into skies.......

will the F-16 at the front create such thrust that f-16 at the rear can also get airborne with engines off....so these two airplanes can travel from islamabad to karachi...over karachi the rear f-16 can get rid of the rope,start its engine and fly to towards its target further in the south?....then there can be no need of air-refuelers....like this we can work on and practice and connect 3,4 f-16's too...so that we can incease the range........

we can master this technique so that later on we connect out of fuel f-16 near karachi coast with a f-16 full of fuel that takes off from karachi goes and connects with f-16 out of fuel and bring it back on land...we can use one hard rope like some stick to connect them with stability.

fighter jet to fighter jet refueling also has potential to strike inside india....we can remove radar from one of our jf-17....put a fuel tank in it...add a long pipe in the front....it can be used to refuel planes short of fuel in air.....

What best suits this "vision" in reality seems to be buddy-refuelling which is used by many AFs (IAF has such systems for MKIs for instance) but particuarly Navies such as the USN and IN for carrier based fighters where strike packages have to be self contained and cannot rely on large tankers.

 

[Abingdonboy]

does PAF have two different type of Il-78? or it is mutilfunction.

why a airrefuelling aircraft can also be used to transport JF 17 parts.

The IL-78s are modified IL-76 heavy lifters the only real differences are the addition of large fuel bladders in what would be the IL-76's cargo hold and the redialling pods on the wings and centre line that allow the Midas to refuel other a/c. These fuel bladders can be removed and this is what the PAF does on occasion. It is hard to call the IL-78 a "true" MRTT as it can do either or not both wet transport and refuelling and I am aware that removing the fuel bladders is a pretty tricky job and time consuming. A true MRTT would be the A330 MRTT.*
*

These are PAF f16s refuelling in mid air But Do we own that big THING? It say USAF on its wing, man we want them as our f16s are familiar with them.

*No, the PAF does not have any such tankers.*

suppose there are two f-16's standing *on the runway....one is at the front and the other one is at the rear....then a rope or string is used to connect the f-16 at the rear with f-16 at the front...that is fire proof rope coming out of the tail of one F-16 and joining with the nose of *f-16 at the back....just like they connect gliders with propeller driver airplanes and take them into skies.......

will the F-16 at the front create such thrust that f-16 at the rear can also get airborne with engines off....so these two airplanes can travel from islamabad to karachi...over karachi the rear f-16 can get rid of the rope,start its engine and fly to towards its target further in the south?....then there can be no need of air-refuelers....like this we can work on and practice *and connect 3,4 f-16's too...so that we can incease the range........

we can master this technique so that later on we connect out of fuel f-16 near karachi coast with a f-16 full of fuel that takes off from karachi goes and connects with f-16 out of fuel and bring it back on land...we can use one hard rope like some stick to connect them with stability.

*

fighter jet to fighter jet refueling also has potential to strike inside india....we can remove radar from one of our jf-17....put a fuel tank in it...add a long pipe in the front....it can be used to refuel planes short of fuel in air.....

What best suits this "vision" in reality seems to be buddy-refuelling which is used by many AFs (IAF has such systems for MKIs for instance) but particuarly Navies such as the USN and IN for carrier based fighters where strike packages have to be self contained and cannot rely on large tankers.*

 

[Last Hope]

We do not OWN it the refueler in this pic otherwise it would state PAF on it and have Pakistani flag on it .. this is from a excercise with the USAF . However i am sure PAF has been trying to get something for their vipers lets see what the future holds .

These are USAF KC-135 Tanks in Exercise Red Flag 2010.

PAF doesn't have the capability of refueling F-16s which is why I raised this issue in post number 432.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

The refueling of F16 Looks alot more difficult compared to the JF17 thunder , its like a steal rod is jabbing the plane from top you miss it and you end up with big scratch on paint job

 

[Last Hope]

The refueling of F16 Looks alot more difficult compared to the JF17 thunder , its like a steal rod is jabbing the plane from top you miss it and you end up with big scratch on paint job

Refueling missions hence play crucial role in Red Flag and I believe they are worth the most number of points.

 

[TOPGUN]

These are USAF KC-135 Tanks in Exercise Red Flag 2010.

PAF doesn't have the capability of refueling F-16s which is why I raised this issue in post number 432.

Agreed .. however, last hope bro i do not understand why you wrote back to me ? we both have raised the same issue chalo koi gal naheen but interm i sure hope PAF gets something as u said for our vipers .

 

[Mahabali]

"In past, Pakistan air force has lacked the capability to attack Indian air force airfields in Kolkata and Assam which were deep inside India, but with the introduction of tIL-78MP Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Indian air force will no long be able to hide its fighter jets and other assets in the Northeast of country as it was able to do in the past."

This might show my lack of knowledge in defence matters but in any case where will be the refueling be done it should be over India or around Indian cost in both case will not the Indian forces try to attack the planes in the refueling process. This is assuming the possibility will be in war like conditions where both the forces will be very alert.If it is not good for India then where will it benifit Pakistan.Can these planes be put to some other uses also.

 

[Last Hope]

Agreed .. however, last hope bro i do not understand why you wrote back to me ? we both have raised the same issue chalo koi gal naheen but interm i sure hope PAF gets something as u said for our vipers .

Topgun.

This was direct towards A.Rafay, the person in your post. His post was too long to quote.
Nothing personal.

F-16s are our main frontline fighter aircraft and they will be for a long time after induction of Block-52 and giving all existing units MLU. It is a huge setback if they do not enjoy the luxury of air-refueling. Looking at the numbers of F-16s in PAF inventory, we need about 3 refuel tanks and 707's could be converted to KC-135s. This is most feasible project as per my opinion. This would not only fill the gap but give additional boast to F-16s. Existing gap here means flight time, which would be increased by refuelers. Hence, no need of drop tanks and the pods would be free for Aim-120s.

PAF must have thought into this matter before IL-78!

"In past, Pakistan air force has lacked the capability to attack Indian air force airfields in Kolkata and Assam which were deep inside India, but with the introduction of tIL-78MP Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Indian air force will no long be able to hide its fighter jets and other assets in the Northeast of country as it was able to do in the past."

This might show my lack of knowledge in defence matters but in any case where will be the refueling be done it should be over India or around Indian cost in both case will not the Indian forces try to attack the planes in the refueling process. This is assuming the possibility will be in war like conditions where both the forces will be very alert.If it is not good for India then where will it benifit Pakistan.Can these planes be put to some other uses also.

In a state of war with Pakistan (Air Force), India shall need all it's latest air-craft. They cannot put fourth Mig-21 or Mig-29 and take all other aircraft behind the war-zone.

If PAF wipes out all frontline aircraft, IAF is likely to transfer aircraft from other air-bases and squadrons to the front bases till the last aircraft.

However, let's imagine IAF is totally wiped out, and PAF needs deep-strike into the Indian territory, 2-4 F-16s would be sent loaded with MGU-31 or MGU-29 with escort or any aerial refueler. This is least likely as any Indo-Pak breakout would mean use of Nukes which means no need for deep strike by Air Force but strategic command.

There are many possibilities.

 

[Bratva]

fighter jet to fighter jet refueling also has potential to strike inside india....we can remove radar from one of our jf-17....put a fuel tank in it...add a long pipe in the front....it can be used to refuel planes short of fuel in air.....

this could happen only if we have twin engine aircraft and instead of removing radar,we can remove one of the engine and fit a "long" and "Thick" pipe there and that aircraft can "penetrate DEEP" in to india.

 

[air marshal]

PAF No. 10, Ilyushin Il-78 Midas

Designed by Zeeshan Bangash

 

[fatman17]

]"In past, Pakistan air force has lacked the capability to attack Indian air force airfields in Kolkata and Assam which were deep inside India[/B], but with the introduction of tIL-78MP Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Indian air force will no long be able to hide its fighter jets and other assets in the Northeast of country as it was able to do in the past."

This might show my lack of knowledge in defence matters but in any case where will be the refueling be done it should be over India or around Indian cost in both case will not the Indian forces try to attack the planes in the refueling process. This is assuming the possibility will be in war like conditions where both the forces will be very alert.If it is not good for India then where will it benifit Pakistan.Can these planes be put to some other uses also.

still dont need to attack them. we need to ensure that IAF bases on our eastern border are interdicted successfully and for that the a/c in our inventory should suffice.

The refueling of F16 Looks alot more difficult compared to the JF17 thunder , its like a steal rod is jabbing the plane from top you miss it and you end up with big scratch on paint job

the fuel line is retractable/extendable. all the work is done by the airmen in the KC-135. the F16 pilot needs to maintain speed and altitude for a successful 'tank-up'!

 

[DANGER-ZONE]

 

[Cool_Soldier]

Kool pic indeed

 

[Windjammer]

Two Refuellers along with a C-130 parked at Chaklala air base on 9th September 2012.