How can MIG-29 do 180 to 250 hrs. Old MIG-29 life is 2500hr while upgrade is
to 4000hrs. So the MIGs will run of steam pretty quickly.

This NEWS ITEM should make it clear that when it comes to Swedish Equipment Sweden is not influenced by any other foreign country.

http://www.nni-news.com/
Pakistan to get Swedish Radar system in few months: envoy

No deal with Pakistan on JS-Gripen fighter planes

ISLAMABAD: : Ms. Ann Wilkens, the Ambassador of Sweden has ruled out any deal between the Swedish and Pakistani authorities on the JAS-39 Gripen fighter planes, during President Musharraf’s visit to Sweden, as reported in the Pakistani press.

“This matter was not on the agenda for the discussions during the meetings between President Musharraf and the Swedish leadership”, she said.

The Swedish ambassador said this in an exclusive interview with this Agency here today.

To a question Ms. Wilkens said, the impression given in the Press that the Swedish parliament had turned down Pakistan’s plea for fighter planes, does not hold any ground since the Swedish parliament never discussed sale of fighter planes to Pakistan.

When asked whether Sweden can still sell these planes to Pakistan in future, the Ambassador said, ”that is mainly linked with the regional development. Positive regional developments can put this issue on the agenda, but for the moment that is not an issue and it’s still an open question”.

To a question about provision of a radar system to Pakistan, the Ambassador said, the deal has been cleared by the Parliament and officials from both sides are looking into the pros and cons of this matter. This can however take a bit longer before both sides finalize the transaction, the Ambassador added.

“The Swedish companies are in the process of elaborating the estimation for a concrete offer and the same will be handed over to the Pakistani authorities by the end of this month. It may then take another couple of months for this transaction to complete”, Ms. Wilkens hoped.

She also dispelled the notions that Sweden always needed to seek US approval for the sale of defence materials to Pakistan. “I would like to clarify here that the defence materials which contain American components would have to be approved by the United States. But if it is all Swedish equipment, it has nothing to do with the US approval”.

To yet another question she termed President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Sweden as landmark in the sense that it has opened up new avenues of cooperation between the two countries.

The Pakistan President, she said, interacted with the Swedish business community and invited it to come to Pakistan and explore business opportunities. The President had also highlighted his government’s steps towards the improvement of investment facilities offered to foreign businessmen.

“The trade and economic activity between the two countries needs to be improved and both sides, keeping in view the importance of this, have already geared up their efforts in this regard. A high-level Swedish trade delegation is planning to visit Pakistan in the near future, with the aim to further enhance the level of trade and economic activity”, she said.

Ms. Wilkens disclosed that PIA would buy over a dozen passenger planes from Sweden. A final deal to this effect is likely to be finalized shortly.

When asked to give her views on the role, which Pakistan has played in the war against terrorism, the Ambassador said, Pakistan has taken on this challenge very seriously, i.a. since it was itself confronted with this issue both on domestic and international fronts.

On Pakistan-India relations the Swedish Ambassador said, both sides have initiated various peace moves, which of course is an encouraging development. The main area of tension between the two countries is indeed the Kashmir issue, which cannot be solved overnight. It will take some time, but if both sides remain committed to the peaceful resolution of this issue, in consultation with the Kashmir people, one can hope for a coming breakthrough.

“We are trying to influence both parties to hold on to the peace process and not let this opportunity go away. But of course the three parties themselves have to deliver on this subject”, she added.

To a question, the Ambassador said, SAARC can also be developed on the lines of the European Union and it can be turned into an entity which could help member states sort out their conflicts as well.

To a question about democracy in Pakistan, Ms. Ann Wilkens said that democracy is always a process. Improvement of the literacy rate, among other things, could set the basis for a strong democratic order in the country. “You need to have educated people in order to have true democracy. People have to know what they are doing when voting and they must be able to differentiate between the candidates as well”.

She said, the candidates on their part, should focus more on substantial welfare policies during their election campaigns, instead of mere political slogans and lofty promises, made to win the elections.

She assured that Sweden would continue extending all sorts of support to Pakistan under the aegis of the European Union, United Nations and through NGOs. The Ambassador said, military take-over at different times, had affected the trade and economic activity between the two countries, even then Sweden continues to be the potential partner of Pakistan in the fields of socio-economic development

Closest non NATO ally? You mean Pakistan? This is a bad joke… Why are US struggling for F-15K and F-15T deals to *non-allied* countries like Southern Korea or Singapore but refuse to sell even rusty Alpha Lawndarts to the *closiest friend*? As I can see it, Pakistan is one of the last on US list, just a bit better than another *allies* like Syria or Libya.

Pakistan has been a non NATO allay for one month. Wait untill it remains so

for 40 years just like Japan and Aussies than talk. Don’t make illogical

comparisions.

that B-52 picture seems strange if it is loaded on one side what will happen

Quite frankly I do not see Pakistan getting Swedish AEWs because of the China factor, what better way to let China catch up to the west anyway, if they do get something, it will be a dumed down version, Uncle Sam is not dumb, it is not even willing to sell second hand F-16s to its “closest non NATO ally”.

I think you are confusing Israel with Sweden. Sweden didinot recieved US AID
for Past 40 years nor i think ERIEYE involves US tech.
So the only decision makers are Swedes themselves not somebody else.
Regarding China all the major European powers want to lift the embargo. It is just matter of time. You should think more about your own PHALCON safety if India does not send troops on time to Irak than expect not only delay but downgraded version also 😀

http://www.analisidifesa.it/articolo.shtm/id/4306/ver/EN
ITALIAN ANALYSIS
ITALY PONDERS ARMS SALES TO CHINA

from DEFENSE NEWS – Tom Kington

Rome, 28 June – A law winding its way through Italy’s parliament will boost military cooperation with China and could usher in arms sales that would flout a European Union (EU) ban. The law, which was given preliminary approval on June 16 by the foreign affairs commission of the lower house of the Italian parliament, would ratify a 1999 agreement on “military equipment and technology cooperation” between the defense ministries of Italy and China.
The accord creates a joint committee to further defense cooperation. It also allows Italy and China “to purchase military equipment and technology from one country to the other, subject to the consent of the two parties and after the completion of the relevant legal procedures.”

😀

I guess you do not get why I posted it, you do not even make sense and do you own AFM, who gives you such a right, yawn. 🙂

My statement make perfect sense. Your handle is on every PAF related thread from begining to the end. I am curious why so much interest in PAF acquisition and at the same time wants break from it.

Some of our distinguished members on the forum stated that Pakistan is going to get Rafales and EF’s 😮

i am asking about newsreport not opinions.