PAF says 150 JF-17s is not enough. Actually, since the JF-17 will form the base of the Pakistani aircraft industry, the PAF will end up with far more than 150 by the time is JF-17 and all its future variants are done.

Ofcourse, everyone could see it. This is Pakistan’s/China’s first brand new plane that is being built at its home. I wouldn’t be surprised if PLAAF get more than 200 FC-1’s either. These planes are very capable. Sure they might have 7 hardpoints/1 engine but if you look at the sophisticated technologies used aboard this air craft you will surely not under rate it. Lets look at it for a second.

-Able to track air targets from 75~100 KM, lock on and shoot at 75 KM (total SD-10 range)

-Able to track sea targets from 135 KM! Making it excellent for Naval support

-3D digital map, for precise shooting

-Can recieve data from AWACS/ground troops through Data link and Data bus

-Can carry a wide array of weapons

-And believe it or not it even has 5th generation technology integrated onto it

Now imagine having 150+/200+ of these planes and heck, the ranges will dramatically increase with the introduction fo new radars,equipment and not to mention weapons. The most improvement i’ve seen is the F-U-L-L-Y digital cockpit (glass cockpit) with no guage in sight. Also they have made such wonderful achivements including the time when the Divertless Intake System was first bought forth. The best part it ofcourse the one and only design which is ‘un-deniably’ VERY SEXY!

Pakistan is probably gonna have western technology equipped on its JF-17 ( the later versions) while China goes ahead independently relying on itself to get through its problems (eg. WS-13 engine and Klj-7 radar)

Although everything is going pretty smooth and i should be grateful (which i am) I would like to see both countries further push this aircraft to meet their future requirements. Since the JF-17/FC-1 has a low combat radius an A2A refuelling probe which will be introduced in future variants should be pushed at being introduced at a faster rate. But then again Pakistan does not have a refueller so there is no rush for it but for China its a different story.

:rolleyes:

Thank you!

But i would also like to know what verion of the Sea-Sparrow/Harpoon it uses and the weapon specification including range,warhead,height,length,speed 😀

DATE:25/04/06
SOURCE:Flight International

BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE

Letter of request expected for Lockheed jets, but China has yet to confirm deal for advanced fighters

Pakistan has unveiled plans to acquire 18 new Lockheed Martin F-16C/Ds and 26 used F-16A/Bs as part of a major expansion of its fighter fleet, which will also include Chinese Chengdu FC-1s and potentially Chengdu J-10s.

Industry sources say Islamabad is preparing a letter of request for 18 Block 52 F-16C/Ds plus 18 options. The document is expected to be sent to Washington within the next few weeks, with Congress to be notified of the pending deal by late May. Sources say a letter of agreement could be signed late this year for deliveries from 2009.

Last April, Islamabad issued a request for 55 new F-16C/Ds plus 20 options, but withdrew it following a catastrophic earthquake in November, just before Congress was to be notified of the deal. Pakistan has since reduced the acquisition to only 18 firm aircraft to reflect new constraints on its budget caused by ongoing disaster recovery efforts (Flight International, 28 March–3 April).

Pakistan now plans to also acquire 26 F-16A/Bs from the US excess aircraft inventory and is now working on drafting a request that will result in specific aircraft being identified. Pakistan plans to eventually upgrade these aircraft in-country, along with its existing two F-16A/B squadrons and two ex-US Air Force aircraft delivered last December.

Sources say Islamabad is undecided on a final configuration for its new and upgraded F-16s, but plans to ask Washington for Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munition bomb guidance kits.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is moving forward with its purchase of up to 150 FC-1 light fighters, also known as the JF-17 and Super-7. Chengdu so far has only secured an order from Pakistan for 16 FC-1s, but expects to secure a larger deal following deployment of the first batch.

Islamabad is also reportedly seeking to buy up to 36 heavier J-10s for multi-role missions. Chengdu declines to comment on potential exports of the type – which so far has only been acquired domestically – because the programme is still classified.

The China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) denies the J-10 has been added to its export product offering.

———–
upon discovering another article i found out that Pakistan might demand more

ISLAMABAD, April 23: The Pakistan-US Defence Consultative Group will meet in Washington on April 30 to discuss security issues, including procurement of F-16 jets.

Islamabad has apparently indicated to the US the number of F-16 aircraft it wants to acquire. The order includes both new and used F-16s besides upgradation of the ones Pakistan has.

The meeting to be held at the Pentagon headquarters will be presided over by Defence Secretary Tariq Wasim Ghazi and US Under-Secretary of State for Defence Eric Edleman. Pakistan’s delegation will include top military and civilian officials.

The meeting will take place two days after the inaugural session of the Pakistan-US strategic dialogue in Washington.

In the backdrop of Indo-US nuclear deal and India’s massive defence weapons acquisition programme, Pakistan will press ahead with its demand for new military equipment.

This would include defensive weapons systems to enhance Pakistan’s conventional capabilities, sources told Dawn.

Besides reviewing progress of bilateral military cooperation, the group would identify and plan new activities, they said.

The two sides would discuss security issues affecting their relations, it is learnt.

“They will have an exchange of views on counter-terrorism operations, security challenges in Afghanistan and tension along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas, the situation in South Asia, Iranian nuclear issue, terrorism threat, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the Middle East,” sources said.