^

‘Pakistan shot down ‘made in China’ ‘spy’ drone belonging to its own police force’
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/spy-drones-could-belong-to-pakistans-punjab-police-sources-1021010.html?utm_content=buffer0512b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Quiet hard to believe as police in neither India or Pakistan monitors the border areas, especially the disputed Line of Control. Also the range on theses kind of drones is not enough for it to have been flown in from a sufficiently long distance, this must be used by the forces protecting the border. Good idea to use a cheap commercial drone for deniability.

Awesome JF-17 War load…

Are these C802s? Haven’t seen a pic with the Raad missile yet

Actually it is a combination of, it 30 years of war, curruption & mismanagement. Heavy increase in military expenditure from 2006 to 2009 was justified since there was a bloody war. But the former Secretary of Defense explained the defense budget could not be reduced much due most weapons bought on loan/credit. We are still paying for equipment bought many many years ago. So whats the point in buying 12 – 14 JF-17 on credit during peacetime?

sometimes it is cheaper to get a new product in the long run than spend a lot of money on maintaining older models.

They will go for JF-17 as it is available for export.

Tejas will be available only after 2025 for export + Dependency on US for engines. Unless SL puts some spell on India and GoI divert the deliveries.

IAF would be more than happy for someone to take the current batch off their hands. Maybe India can also do a very cheap deal for political reasons.

Chinese fighters are already flying in India’s east, west and south (China itself in North)

Not sure if internal politics in India will let HAL sell fighter jets to Sri Lanka though.

That is a valid criticism. I assumed the chinese would have spares but that may not be true. Future upgrades – interchangeable with similar subsystems from say the J10/j31… Or various other programs.

There seems no other plane of comparable performance and cost (assuming 10 million a piece)… Or is there?

Unfortunately avionics and other sub-systems can not just be picked and dropped into any aircraft without some integration and testing. Who will foot the bill for this? its unlikely the OEM will. Than there are issues with reliability and maintenance of an older fighter.

However it all comes down to the requirements of the customer. Do they need a dedicated interceptor with limited to no potential of upgrade and dwindling spares or invest in a newer multirole aircraft with potential of upgrade and newer weapon systems. An upgraded J8 might last them another 10 years but a new fighter will last 20+ years. So do the maths again.

Does anybody know if the JF-17 will give an aerobatic disply or will they be on atatic display only?

1 flying, 1 static display and 1 reserve

I wonder if this is going to lead anywhere.

http://www.aereo.jor.br/2015/05/04/tapete-vermelho-em-cordoba-fabricantes-de-caca-chines-vao-conhecer-a-fadea/

Translation:

It’s all prepared. During the week of 11 to 17 May, the Argentine authorities extend the red carpet to welcome the manufacturers of Sino-Pakistani lightweight fighter-bomber JF-17 (FC-1 in Pakistan), which arouses the interest of the Argentine Air Force (FAA ).

Visitors will meet an extensive program of technical meetings, but also have some political nature of appointments.

Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, the leaders of the Chinese export agency aeronautic equipment CATIC (China National Aero Technology Import & Export Corporation), the Chinese Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC, its acronym in English), will travel to the city of Cordoba, where they will be greeted by the president of Airplane Factory Brig San Martín (FAdeA), Matías Savoca, the vice president of the company, engineer Franco Giuggioloni and the general manager of the company, Tulio Calderón.

The direction of FAdeA hopes to participate in the production of JF-17 jets if the military aviation your country buy a larger batch of these devices (about 20 units), or the Chinese industry convinced the Air Force of Ecuador also acquire the model.

In Cordoba, Chinese and Pakistanis know the jet production line subsonic Pampa II, the workshop where the EX-03 Pampa II registration has been modernized to the Pampa III version, the mounting area of ​​the freighter jet components Embraer KC-390 and the repair shop in attacking the twin-engine Pucara ground.

FAdeA – part assembly of the KC-390
Sign pointing the mounting area of ​​the KC-390 components

Asians will also be taken to the city of Las Higueras, in the same province of Cordoba, to inspect the Area Material Río Cuarto, largest installation of logistical support from the FAA and military organization chosen by the corporation’s command to give maintenance in modern fighter aircraft that Argentines come to buy.

Visitors will have other commitments away from the factory floor.

In the Argentine capital they will be greeted by the head of the General Staff of FAA, brigadier, Mario Callejo, and the defense minister, Agustín Rossi. It is also possible that they be brought to a hearing protocol with President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.