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Newbie Joined: May 04, 2007 Posts: 6 Status: Offline

I saw the PAF ACMs interview on Dawn News Channel . He says the F-16 is a very capable jet and even though the PAF was offered a very good deal for Saab Grippens they chose the F-16 as it is truly multi role and the Grippen is more suited for air superiority, Saab is making a multi role version called the Grippen NG. The F-16s have played an integral role in PAFs air defence and they will always be treasured. It is the most mature 4th gen platform. He also said that he doesn't expect the PAF to order any more than the 18 F-16 Blk-52s which will be delivered till 2009, as recent indications have made American foreign policy towards Pakistan uncertain and a budget allocation has been made to pay for them in 3yrs time.

$9bn have been allocated for PAF modernization. With regards to a question with respect to the replacement of the aging fleet, he says 250 Jf-17s and 36 FC-20s have been decided for induction. The JF-17 surpasses PAF expectations with regards to flight characteristics and maintenance. It is only inferior in range and payload to the F-16 but it handles similar to the F-16 and they are very happy with it. The JF-17 is cheap because it is being made by PAF's own manufacturing facilities and it had low development costs.

The PAF has re designated the J-10 to FC-20, as it is better than the F-16 and JF-17. PAF has requested the Chinese to customize/improve avionics and endurance. He said the PAF is still evaluating the SD-10 as they havn't assessed its full capabilities and only once they are sure it fits the bill they will place an order.

He says 25-30 JF-17s will be produced in Pakistan every year and as they immediately need replacements it is highly likely that the PAF order jets from the assembly line in China. Also JF-17 will be produced 60-70% in Pakistan and the avionics will be 80-90% made in Pakistan after TOTs.

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Actually Sweden denied Pakistan Gripen jets because the country is a military dictatorship. The aircraft itself has always been multirole. That was a design requirement from the start.

Anyway, other than that thanks for the good update.

Newbie Joined: May 04, 2007 Posts: 6 Status: Offline

Yes Sweden had refused the Grippen for some time but they changed their mind just when the USA resumed co-operation at military level with Pakistan. They have inked an approx $1bn deal for 6 Erieye AWACS with the PAF.

Newbie Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 15 Status: Offline

I reckon the Block-52+ will be allocated to PAF Southern Command for primarily maritime operations. It would make sense given the Link-16 data-link with the P-3 based Hawkeye 2000 the PN is getting, as well as the Harpoon Block IIs. The Block-52+ would do a good job supporting the Pakistani Navy against the Indian Navy's aviation assets too. However Southern Command will still make use of the Block-52+ along the Western border as well...the JDAM and bunker buster purchases for example.

Though it would've been nicer if PAF got hand of the originally planned 50-55 Block-52+ prior to the 2005 Earthquake. They would have directly replaced the ROSE-I and ROSE-II/III Mirages out of air-superiority and precision-strike missions. Now we'll have to wait for the JF-17 to come up to those standards in the attack role before we can replace those 50+ year old jets.

No restrictions on sale of F-16, TOW missiles, says U.S
December 23, 2007

WASHINGTON: The United States has said that there are no restrictions on the sale of F-16 aircraft, TOW missiles or P-3C surveillance planes to Pakistan.

A senior US official also said that the secretary of state will issue the report Pakistan needs to get $50 million Congress withheld last week from a $300 million annual military assistance.

The lawmakers asked the secretary to confirm that Pakistan is making progress in the fight against terrorism and is taking steps to restore unfettered democracy before the money is released.

“We’re confident that we’ll be able to report to Congress on developments in areas that they have identified,” Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told a briefing in Washington. He noted that the lawmakers had asked only for a report and not for formal certification, which has a broader implication.

The Congress also required the US administration to ensure that Pakistan spends the remaining $250 million on strengthening its capability to fight terrorism.

This led to speculations that the restrictions may affect the deals Pakistan had already signed for acquiring about 700 air-to-air missiles, an unspecified number of F-16 fighter aircraft and P-3C surveillance planes from the United States.

Mr Boucher, however, clarified that the restrictions do not affect those deals.

“In terms of the use of the money that we’ve used for foreign military financing … it goes to TOW missiles. It goes to tactical radios that their forces can use to plan military operations. And it goes to support the programme for P-3C aircraft that help them do maritime patrols,” he said.

“This (restriction) does not affect the F-16 programme. The F-16 programme is a Pakistani purchase, their money, they’re buying them. Our military assistance goes for different purposes and is not involved at this point in the F-16 sales,” he added.Mr Boucher said that the US military aid programmes support Pakistan’s capability to fight terrorism ‘in a variety of different ways’ and Washington plans to continue them.

He noted that for the second time Pakistan is in command of the Combined Task Force 150 that patrols the seas off Pakistan and the Arabian Gulf to prevent terrorist activities on the high seas.

“So that’s where we are. The requirements of Congress, I think, are ones we’re comfortable with and we look forward to reporting to Congress and having a dialogue with them,” he said.

Mr Boucher, the top US diplomat for South and Central Asia, said any gap between the Bush administration and Congress over democracy and counter-terrorism in Pakistan fell between “minuscule and small.”

Pakistan will hold a general election on Jan 8 and Washington is working with Islamabad and Pakistani civil society “to try to keep moving towards an election that is as transparent, as fair and as free as possible,” he said. “Lifting of the emergency was a big step, removing a heavy burden that had been placed on the election period.”

US TIES WITH PAKISTAN, INDIA: The United States will continue to build a close relationship with India while maintaining a partnership with Pakistan, says US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

In her end-of-the-year press conference this week, Ms Rice reviewed US foreign policies during 2007 and explained how Washington planned to pursue its foreign policy goals during 2008-09.

She noted that there has been some progress towards democracy in Pakistan. “Free and fair elections … will advance the goal of a moderate, democratic Pakistan that is a partner in the war on terrorism,” she said,

“At the same time, we will continue building a new and very important strategic relationship with India,” she added.

In Afghanistan, Ms Rice said the US and its Nato and Afghan allies were engaged in a fight against Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists that they “must and will win”. The US, she said, would continue to support the Afghan government.

On Iran, she expressed a readiness to meet her counterpart “anyplace and anytime and anywhere and we can talk about anything” provided it does just one thing — “suspend its enrichment and reprocessing activities”.

“Let’s see if countries are prepared to take that path. But the US doesn’t have permanent enemies,” Ms Rice added.

http://www.paffalcons.com/news/2007/No- ... 232007.php

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