How mouch did Venezuela pay for the K8s (the aircraft only)? I.e what does the KL8 cost on the open market?

Does the PLAAF use this trainer btw?

Thank god there is Google…

Unit cost 3 – 3.5 million $

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Hongdu_JL-8

How come it was never a problem with the Harrier?

We heard Pakistan is going to have indigenous Predator cause US is not willing to sell. Wasn’t there a rumour that US would assist in developing? Those GBU12 are part of the Reaper/Predator. I bet the Hellfire would have been more valuable.

About the numbers. Well, you cannot blaim the Pakistani. They have seen the US walking out when they needed them the most. The most important part of getting US weapons is probably securing spare parts for the moment you need them. We see its biggest neighbour arming up and there is no suprise what a smaller more vulnerable nation does.

They just inducted one squadron of JF17’s so it is not a big suprise that it will be tested in a bigger format. But just one squadron is not much if you compare the total number of planes in PAF service. But I hope we get to see more then the usual MK82 droppings. It is time to show BVR armed JF17 and hopefully Ra’ad. PAF got many LGB’s… Time to show it.

Red Flag isn’t exactly for top gun pilots but more for “average” to get experience how to act in big scenario’s. It is pretty much coordinated plan and there is no(t much) 1 v 1 time. The MKI went there and had first training time to get used to the rules in the US. Then it could not use all the systems during actual exercise cause of secrecy. And as we know it had only a2g role. Getting all chinese plane up there will have atleast same problems, even if the Chinese allow it to happen. Besides that JF17 is getting weaponised at Kamra. It will do Highmark in september and we need to see what happens after that. I doubt whether JF17 or FC20 will be in Red Flag ever.

Besides that we need to see which role the PAF will have. I bet the F16’s (which are going to be used for WOT) will have a2g role. And if PAF sends f16’s then it will be the block15’s without any upgrades and no BVR. I see no use for that in huge a2a scenario. I mean by that, without BVR, you miss the real part. Before you get in WVR you are probably shot x time. Certainly in an AWACS with a big load of enemies. No link16. Old radar. No BVR. I would not expect to be more then a bomb truck being defended by better planes.

Sending that many planes to US is a bit strange. Why not 6? Will they send the planes to Turkey after the exercise? Wil they fly back the remaining block52’s? Anyway. As with the MKI’s it will be nice to see “exotic” F16 in Red Flag.

It would be extremely cool if we could see IAF and PAF in same exercise. That would be the best pics. I hope I do not make some angry but one has to remember that both India and Pakistan have huge UN force contribution and do work together as a team in a very professional way. I see Turkey and Greece in same exercises and I hope that we can see that with these two very professional air forces in the future.

its been nearly a week since it came out and we haven’t seen any what-if drawings yet!? if it was a Chinese aircraft, we’d already have pics of it in PAF, IIAF, and different types of PLAAF renderings already!

Those plaaf/paf planes are showed sometimes when the reach operational status. JF17 has not even been displayed at Zuhai… But these planes have indeed serious admirers. 😉

both without brahmos.

Of the whole program?, i don’t think so

I think is 50% of the indian modification – read canopy and wiring-

India is still trying to produce LCA and next so talking about PAKFA is like jumping from horse to electric car. Unrealistic if you ask me. So Russia is smart to let India pay for development. With the pase of US trying to inflitrate the Indian market I would rather go for other solutions.