Good points SOC, but if the JH-7 isn’t indigenous what is it based on??? Thought the Flounder/Flying Leopard (please God, if you’re up there tell the NATO planners to think of better names than Flounder…geez!!!) was 100% Chinese 😮

JH-7 is quite similar to the Orao in terms of appearance.

SOC i disagree with you strongly on the JF-17/FC-1 matter. It is one platform that will end up better than anything China has right now (J-10 and J-11 aside). Excellent replacement for J-7’s, F-8’s.

Hi guys, gr8 pics, regarding the cobra attack choppers, PAK Army only operates 18!The 40-60 that were on order are still in the States. Though talks began in 2003, but since then the PAK side has been asleep and no progress has been made on them so far unfortunately.

Ok cleared it up. PA operates 20 of these right now. The AH-1’s they received till now were meant to be used for spares.

Another 20 were ordered in late 2005 which are due for delivery by mid-2007. These will be re-furbished AH-1F’s.

20 right now and 20 more AH-1F’s by mid-2007. Sweet. 🙂

Can anyone confirm whether all 26 412EP’s have landed in Pakistan or are some still due for delivery ? 10 more Kazan/Mil Mi-17 have been acquired and the Mil Mi-35 attack/assault helicopter is under consideration.

Good news !

DRDO working on new missile
Rajat Pandit
[ 14 Sep, 2006 0112hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1988827.cms

RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates

NEW DELHI: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) cannot be faulted for at least one thing: thinking big. Despite frequent technical glitches and time and cost-overruns in its missile programme, it’s going ahead with development work on the beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile ‘Astra’.

BVR missiles are fired by fighter jets to destroy enemy aircraft at ranges beyond 40 km. They are urgently needed these days since BVR combat, as compared to dogfights or WVR (within visual range) combat, has become the norm in modern-day aerial warfare.

Being a complex system, only a few countries like US, Russia, France and Israel have managed to develop BVR missiles. IAF’s frontline fighters like Sukhoi-30 MKIs and Mirage-2000s, for instance, are armed with expensive BVR missiles of French and Russian origin like the “Matra Super 530D” and “AA-12 Adder”.

DRDO is not deterred by all this. Holding that the “systems design, aerodynamic configuration design etc of various sub-systems” of Astra have now been completed, DRDO plans to soon conduct “controlled flights” of the missile “from under-slung ground launchers”.

The DRDO, incidentally, had conducted test-firing of three primitive Astra prototypes from the Chandipur-on-Sea interim test range in May 2003. But nothing much was heard after it. On March 31, 2004, the government approved the Rs 1,000-crore project to develop Astra, with a 80-km “head-on range”.

“I don’t think DRDO will be able to deliver Astra to IAF by 2009 as promised,” said an expert.

PAK-U.S. Exercises

-In this picture released by Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense, U.S. and Pakistan naval vessels during the joint exercise at northern Arabian Sea near Karachi, Pakistan on Friday, Sept. 8, 2006. The two-week U.S. Pakistan joint naval exercises dubbed Inspired Union 06, which begun on September 4, are aimed the improving counter-terrorism capabilities, U.S. and Pakistan naval officials said. AP

-A helicopter hovers over U.S. and Pakistani naval vessels during joint naval exercises in Arabian sea near Karachi September 8, 2006. The 15-day U.S.-Pakistan joint naval exercises named ‘Inspired Union’ which commenced on September 4, are aimed at improving counter-terrorism capabilities, a Pakistan navy spokesman said. Reuters

-In this picture released by Pakistans Ministry of Defense, a Pakistani officer observes the U.S. and Pakistan navies joint exercise at northern Arabian Sea near Karachi, Pakistan on Friday, Sept. 8, 2006. The two-week U.S. Pakistan joint naval exercises dubbed Inspired Union 06, which begun on September 4, are aimed the improving counter-terrorism capabilities, U.S. and Pakistan naval officials said. AP

-U.S. Navy personnel patrol during Pakistan-U.S. joint naval exercises in Arabian sea near Karachi September 8, 2006. The 15-day U.S.-Pakistan joint naval exercises named ‘Inspired Union’ which commenced on September 4, are aimed at improving counter-terrorism capabilities, a Pakistan navy spokesman said. Reuters

-A Sea King helicopter drops personnel from Paksitan’s Special Services Group on a ship during Pakistan-U.S. joint naval exercises in Arabian sea near Karachi September 8, 2006. The 15-day U.S.-Pakistan joint naval exercises named ‘ Inspired Union’ which commenced on September 4, are aimed at improving counter-terrorism capabilities, a Pakistan navy spokesman said. Reuters

-U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Ryan Crocker, right, and Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Ehsan-ul-Haq witness joint naval exercises in Arabian sea near Karachi September 8, 2006. The 15-day U.S.-Pakistan joint naval exercises named ‘ Inspired Union’ which commenced on September 4, are aimed at improving counter-terrorism capabilities, a Pakistan navy spokesman said. Reuters

I don’t see IAF going for F-18 or F-16. Heck they won’t accept LCA with american engine, why would they be idiotic enough to ask for 100+ american planes. I am guessing the fight is mainly between Mig-35 russian lobby and Rafale. Eurofighter may or may not have a chance. Gripen ..not in a million years.

I think its going to be the Mig-35. Infrastructure/Logistic wise it is the best suited option. Rafale would be too expensive for IAF, especially if a large numbered purchase is in mind.