Pakistan's F-16's …

FLASH : Pakistan gets 2 USAF F-16’s … http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123013553&page=2

About Pakistani F-16’s … there has been no indication that Pakistan will get US BVR missiles with the 75 F-16’s whose sale the USA has cleared. The sale of AAMRAMS to Pakistan by the USA is also highly unlikely, given Pakistan’s relations with China and its history of illegally transferring F-16’s to the latter and China’s history of cloning American missiles.

These F-16’s are tipped to be the paf’s frontline fighters … and in the event of conflict will have to face a potent combination of Phalcon AWACS + R-77’s + Su-30 MKI’s and MRCA’s with radars of greater ranges.

The only fighter that fires BVRAAM’s, that Pakistan will have in the future (if the sale of engines to Pakistan is approved by Russia & if the Chinese manage to finish the remodeling on time) is the JF-17 (FC-1).

Pakistan’s decision to buy so many F-16’s in spite of its plan to buy several FC-1’s, reflects on the performance of the FC-1 as seen in the eyes of the PAF.

And these are to be the lead fighters of the PAF. History has shown us how problematic the supply of spares and after-sales support for Pakistani F-16’s has been.

This leaves me to question the rational behind purchasing large numbers of expensive F-16’s that will not get BVR missiles and the latest radars and will have to face fighters with powerful (perhaps AESA) radars and BVR missiles working in conjunction with the Phlacon AWACS.

Wouldn’t the J-10 be a better choice? (in terms of BVR ability, costs, maneuverability and after sales support) I mean surely China would sell it … its Pakistan

Your thoughts ?