Ah yes, those mythical PAF Herk-spotters. Probably just as mythical as the Pak AIM-9B -> China -> PL-5 link, as the PRC in 1967 already had their hands on a former Taiwanese AIM-9B that got stuck (unexploded) in the tail of a J-5.

Let me dig out your “mythical” from the archives of US Congress hearings.

Golden D,
Thanks for clarifying because I doubted Assisi from the very on set on this issue.

Most recently GD the Chinese poster was boasting on the Chinese thread that China always had access to the F-16 to further refine their F-10 project. And it is not for the first time that I hear that.

This is no evidence. If you look closely with an open mind and eyes, J-10/F-10 resembles IAI Lavi more than F-16. But even IAI and China denies that they used Lavi for J-10/F-10 project.

I would second what Sean said if the US Congress has found this evidence of giving the US tech to PRC, no armaments for Pakistan, full stop!

If what PAF is thinking/wishing the number of F-16 they are in around close to 100, which includes the current 32. PAF is hoping to get 20-30 A/B with MLU and another 40-50 advance version. If they achieve this number of F-16 according to PAF ACM they will buy J-10 from China. So, we are looking to have:

150-175 JF-17
100 F-16 MLU & Advance
60-100 J-10
50 F-7PG

These are no hard facts. So stay cool!

10 Orions
3 Atlantics
5 F-27

France to accelerate work on PAF, PN projects
By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
ISLAMABAD: France has assured Pakistan of accelerating pace of work in ongoing projects concerning defence requirements of Pakistan Air Force and Navy preferably.

France will upgrade Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) Mirage aircraft that will bring the capability of about 120 plans at par in different characteristics with the high-tech multi-role F-16 and other high profile contemporarily plans.

The well placed official sources told The News here on Thursday that the high level delegation of French Armament Directorate, led by its director general, visiting Pakistan these days and discussing with authorities here about the in hand joint projects and devising methods for trouble shooting if any in carrying forward them. Currently the PAF Mirage III and V are undergoing the process of up gradation of its delivery system that has become the most accurate and turned the planes system wise very close to the high-tech one. The process is almost complete while the same plans would be undergoing another up gradation when they will be having the most sophisticated nave (navigational) and attacking system. With this the fleet of the Mirage, aircraft will become world class high-tech machine, the sources said.

The French delegation has come to Pakistan on the invitation of Air Martial (retd) Zahid Anees, secretary ministry of defence production and is led by a four-star general of the French armed forces.

The overall up gradation of the Mirages will be completed by mid-2006 and that will pave the way for up gradation of more Mirage plans already acquired by Pakistan through various sources.

France will provide Pakistan more efficient system for overhauling the aircraft that will help Pakistan’s technicians to overhaul and maintenance of their plans in shorter period of time. This will also help the PAF to keep even bigger number of the plans with airworthiness for much more hours.

Meanwhile, the sources said that Pakistan would keep its efforts on for finding the most sophisticated high-tech aircraft for the PAF fleet, as the F-16 is still a proposition that has already been ruled in by the quarters concern. Pakistan is hopeful that the United States will provide Pakistan more F-16 aircraft since no hurdle is in place in supply of the plans except the false hue and cry made by the Indians.

http://www.jang-group.com/thenews/index.html

What more upgradation are these Mirages getting and the news of that the upgradation will continue till 2006 is very interesting

Will India’s Scorpenes have the ability to fire the BrahMos, or would they only fire Exocets?

Can you tell when is the first Scorpen being inducted in IN?

Q: No intention of deviating from the topic Flanker but why did Malaysia buy Flanker when they already have Fulcrum and Hornet?

IM use/used Agave for the Sea Eagles right? Since there are ‘mixed’ reports about Elta 2032 what does this mean for the Sea Eagle? Are the sea eagles mated with non-existant Elta 2032?

Didn’t RAF withdraw Sea Eagle from operations because of poor servicebilty?