PAF eyeing Euro Fighter!?

Pakistan starts search for substitutes of F-16s

By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan would acquire hi-tech multi-role aircraft for its air force from other sources if F-16s were not supplied by the United States, highly placed sources told The News on Sunday.

They said Islamabad has started making search in the international market for the substitute planes. They said Pakistan has not given up hope for the supply of F-16s, as the authorities in the United States still stand by their earlier commitment.

Pakistan will go for more than one source for its needs of high-tech planes even after getting more F-16s, as it has done in the case of medium-tech and low medium-tech planes, which are fulfilling the purpose in an excellent manner, the sources said.

Islamabad is eyeing on Euro-fighter, which has outsmarted F-16 and other contemporary planes in various roles. The Euro-fighters are available to Pakistan on cash payment but the supply of the planes would commence in a couple of years, which could make the proposition difficult for Pakistan, the sources added.

Pakistan and China, in the meanwhile, are accelerating the pace of production of their joint venture of multi-role plane JF-17 Thunder. It is expected that JF-17 would be inducted in the PAF much earlier than expected, said the sources mentioning that the plane has already undertaken its test flight successfully last month.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat is leaving for China on a one-week visit today (Monday) to discuss important matters pertaining to the production of JF-17 with the high command of Chinese forces, the sources said adding that he is visiting China for the second time in eight weeks.

The Air Chief had also visited the United States last month and had held useful meetings with high officials in Pentagon. He had declined to make any comment on the possibility of the availability of the much-discussed F-16s. He had said, “There is no point of worry about the question as Pakistan’s air defence would remain impregnable.”

In a brief chat here on Sunday afternoon, the air chief made it clear: “We are not sitting idle and any adventurer resort to any foolishness will bite dust. We are fully aware of developments taking place around us.” He said in confident tone: “Pakistan is engaged in preparing to thwart any threat. F-16s or no F-16s, we will ensure to offset any imbalance in our part of South Asia.”

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/oct2003-daily/20-10-2003/main/main6.htm

err..how much one EF costs?