with changing AD environment the low level CAS function has become much more dangerous. I think the time has come for CAS to be done from medium height using PGMs other than for attack helos. don’t mistake me, I’m a big fan of the frogfoot but I think that role doesn’t make too much sense now.
the LCA with PGMs will be a much better option. more so because of the cheap availability of DRDO’s new laser guidance kit.

You don’t just shift CAS role to any other fighter jet for the sake of doing it. You need defined operational requirements for doing it and accordingly you can allocate resources to done that job. CAS basically envolve supporting ground forces denying or supporting enemy attack or ambush. PGM equipped aircraft can never be a weapon of choice for this purpose, because there are dangers of inflicting the damage on our own troop in case PGM get misfired.

Frankly speaking, Mig-27 and Jaguars Pilots trained in IAF have much more aptitude for undertaking CAS role then anyother average MKI Pilot.

There are certain scenario’s under which your garrison of soldiers are sorrounding by hostile enemy forces or rebels or Terrorist groups, under such circumstances you just cannot bring in PGM equipped aircraft to get rid of hostile forces. Under such circumstances, SU-25 or A-10 like Ground attack Jets are of immense importance given their pilot specifically trained for exactly this purpose.

PAF guys must be happy that they are getting many beefy real fighters with actual meat :diablo:

if Pakistan and India ever come to war again (god forbid the former mughal empire provinces do that again..).. will the UAE and Saudi Arabia send its pilots or aircraft?

I don’t think so UAE or Saudi Arabia or anyother country for that matter will ever come in help of Pakistan in case of War. Because India has having rapid rate of good relationship building with many Middle eastern country and UAE-SA are forefront at it. Unless India start war and create invasion like scenario then I think many nations would love to remain neutral as has always been the case.

:rolleyes:

I have one:
How many PAF fighters are equipped with BVR currently, I mean right now? I have a request, answer should be to the point. A source of info will be great.:)

I guess there newly acquired F-16 Block 52 must have AIM-9X as recognized part of BVR arsenal, other then that they have projected to have Chinese SD-10 as a baseline BVR on JF-17.

Atleast this unfortunate Leh Natrual Tragedy will wake up our Babus from their deep slumber and accelerate the process of modernizing our current AN-32 fleet. Given such slow response as far as transport of equipments is concerned, we seems to be woefully short of having necessary Transport jets to bring in required help at such a peak time.

A few bits from the latest AFM issue.
There was some confusion in the past about CFT on PAF F-16. It is now confirmed that they will have CFTs. It was a PG & Mirage that made motorway landings. PAF chief insists that french avionics sale for jf-17 will go ahead. At present production rate for jf-17 stands at 2 per month, and 2nd squadron is likely to stand around by the end of the year. Chinese ZDK03 system will be a rotodome-not a balanced beam.

How can two squadron will get ready in just one year, because even if production rate is of two fighter jet a month, then only it will take some time in certifying the same in test flights.

Matt, I must clarify that I am not against privatization per say. The statement that I made was specifically for the Indian context.

We do not have developed Mil-Ind complex. And inspite of that, for every delay in DRDO project, we have tonnes of newbies asking for its privatization.

The article posted by Kramer showed that even for the software of an MFD (which should be pretty simple as compared to developing an entire weapon system) the private company made mistakes. Only after several tries, has the workmanship improved. Thus there was delay there as well.

Hence my statement. For indian context, blind privatization is not the answer to everything. There has to be gradual process. This what Teer, Kramer and other knowledgeable posters have been saying too.

~Ashish.

One way of such gradual process can be to provide Incentives to Private industry as well as retail Investors for investing in such private companies. Similar to what Govt pursuing to develop full fledge solar industry in India.

One thing I fail to understand, why cannot india rather then increasingly focusing upon long range cruise missile, should instead focus on short range cruise missile in order to replace ageing inventory of both Russian and French air launched ASM.

What is the maximum endurance in terms of hours has MKI ever flown in single flight? It would be highly helpful to provide the figures for both Mirage-2000 and Mig-29 as well.