Now Russians are willing to supply their stuffs, and J10, F16, things seem to become more and more interesting. 😀
Pakistan may buy US, Chinese and Soviet planes
By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to purchase state-of-the-art Chinese F-10 (Jian-10) multi-role fighter-cum-bomber planes while the decision pertaining to purchase of US made ultra modern F-16 planes would be made in July next.
Meanwhile Moscow has signalled to Pakistan that like the US, it could also de-hyphenate its ties with Pakistan and India. As a result of this change in thinking, Pakistan could also go for Russian made planes for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
The first batch of high-profile JF/Thunder-17 aircraft jointly being manufactured by Pakistan and China will be ready for induction early next year, ahead of the schedule. These planes would be flying in the same year in the skies of Pakistan and China as part of their respective air forces. Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mahmood Ahmad Chief of the Air Staff will visit China shortly to inspect the project. It will be his first foreign trip as the Air Chief.
Highly placed defence production sources revealed to The News here the other day that Federal Secretary for Defence Production Lt Gen Ali Jan Orakzaie who had gone to China last month has now returned to Islamabad after an extremely fruitful visit. He was tasked by President Musharraf with exploring the possibilities of acquiring the high-tech planes and other weaponry systems for the three services preferably with transfer of technology basis.
During his visit to China in February this year, President General Pervez Musharraf was shown the F-10 (also called as J-10 or Jian-10) considered to be the Chinese most secret flying machine. He was the first foreign dignitary/head of the state who chanced to see the demonstration of the multi-role fighter. It is the part of Chinese fourth generation fighter programme which sent waves of worry in India. Indian sources used to say that the programme had the collaboration of Pakistan, Israel, Russia, France and Italy. The rumour based Indian speculation was never owned or denied by the Chinese who love to maintain their peculiar style. The Indians used to say that Israeli input was visible on design while electronics and weapon technology had the mark of French assistance. The F-10 also has the similarities with Israel’s Lavi fighter, but predominantly it has the edge like Russian Sukhoi Su-30 MK multi-role aircraft that has in some aspects outsmarted the US made F-16. Russians have supplied 100 such planes to China recently for induction in Peoples Chinese Air Force (PCAF).
Sources indicated that F-10 are the aircraft of the new century and they have recently been rolled out. No one knows the number and positioning of the planes as Chinese kept the secret close to their chest till now considering it as their secret weapon. With an understanding about provision of the planes to Pakistan, Beijing has unveiled it since the plane in question would fly for the first time out of the air frontiers of China. The Chinese engineers and scientists are still working to improve it further. Pakistan has decided to buy in first stance two squadrons of these planes. The mode of supply and price would be worked out through the system both the countries have. Secretary defence production has confirmed Pakistan’s intention of buying the J-10 aircraft.
In another related development Pakistan has planned to buy US made F-16 in less number and in all likelihood the number would be cut to half of what Islamabad had initially planned to purchase. Pakistan had made up its mind to buy 55 brand new F-16, but now the number which Pakistan is expected to ask is 25 while 30 used planes will be bought from sources that the United States will identify. The second-hand planes will be later upgraded by the Americans and they could be provided by the US Air Force (USAF) or from any third country, the sources added.
F-16 are considered to be a passion of the PAF since they were the first high-tech flying machines that were inducted in its fleet. Pakistan had made up its mind to buy 75 new F-16 last year. The matter was at its final stage and the required legislation was about to be tabled in the US Congress for facilitation of the supply, but the devastating earthquake of October 8 last year forced Pakistan to request shelving the plan for the time being and Pakistan requested the US to keep the matter pending.
Meanwhile Pakistan is also eying the Russian defence production market. When President General Pervez Musharaf visited Moscow in February 2003, the Russians offered to Pakistan choppers but the deal could not materialize for certain reasons and now Islamabad has received positive signals from Moscow that could encourage it to buy some Russian planes. The Russian technology is very close to that being used by the Chinese and it would not be a difficult proposition for Pakistan to maintain such a system if Russians agree to supply Pakistan, the sources hinted. The Russian defence products are comparatively cheaper than the Western products.
Sources said that Islamabad and Moscow have started making contacts to initiate cooperation in the field of defence in some way. The Russians stakes are high in the case of defence supplies for the Indians but ever since New Delhi has opted to go in Washington’s orbit in a big way, Moscow is considering Pakistan’s request favourably, the sources added.
A visit of Ali Muhammad Jan Orakzaie to Washington in July next is on the cards.
The Joint Defence Consultative Group (JDCP) of Pakistan and the United States has been convened in early May in Washington. Federal Defence Secretary Lt Gen Tariq Waseem Ghazi will lead Pakistan’s delegation in the JDCP while the host country’s delegation will be led by Eric S Edelman under secretary of defence (Policy) of the United States. The group had its meeting in Pakistan early last year and it is expected that the May meeting of the group will take stock of Pakistan’s needs especially for its efforts to eliminate terrorists from its soil. The lists pertaining to Pakistan’s requirements in this regard are being finalized, the sources said. The ministry of defence production will be represented in the JDCP by its additional secretary.
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