Has this not been argued over many times before?

Its essentially one air forces word against another.

Well, given the PAF states that it needs PGMs for its ongoing ops, they may have asked the US to expedite delivery, so these were pulled from USAF stocks. IIRC a similar approach was taken when the Israelis asked for PGMs asap to top up their depleted stocks.

Also, the numbers could be different, because these are part of the batch and not the entire lot. The PAF overall GBU 12/et al LGB orders stand at some 1600, so this could be part of the batch.

Now, about the compatability issue, I think even that can be addressed. IIRC to properly explot the capabilities of an AMRAAM C7, one really does need the APG-68V(9) but a LGB can be dropped by just about any Viper, provided the proper s/w update is done to the stores management and weapons control system.

I have been doing a bit of digging but still cant find any link that testifies this is a separate order from the original, hence my query If you do come across something, please share it.

Sigh, it may be the batch, it may not. Does not matter, PAF has more then enough PGMs. The fact we got 1,000 in on delivery means these were probably US stocks, we will only pay for brand new bombs. Guess we may never know, but being a Major Non NATO Ally and acess to EDA means it is not even an issue…….

However, you may be able to work out that these are a new batch from this report. Not the previous order was placed couple of years ago this new batch was requested in December. Also not orginal order did not include GBU-10s while the recent deliveries from US stocks do include them.

I must admit,I do enjoy it when I am right!

US to send Pakistan laser-guided bomb kits
Tue Mar 2, 2010 3:29pm ESTRelated NewsHolbrooke hails Pakistan-U.S. collaboration on Taliban
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Thu, Feb 18 2010
Pakistan shows action, eyes talks, with Taliban arrest
Thu, Feb 18 2010Stocks
Lockheed Martin Corporation
LMT.N
$84.12
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7:00pm UTC
Raytheon Company
RTN.N
$56.56
-0.12-0.21%
7:00pm UTC
WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) – The United States will deliver 1,000 laser-guided bomb kits to Pakistan this month and is considering additional arms sales to help the Pakistani air force crack down on insurgents in the Afghan border region.

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Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told reporters on Tuesday the arms sales came in response to a request made by the air chief of the Pakistani air force in December.

“There continues to be a dialogue back and forth,” Donley said, noting that the U.S. government had already agreed to sell Pakistan munitions and night vision goggles, and was also stepping up training.

Pakistan is also expected to receive new F-16 fighters made by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) this spring or summer, Donley said, noting that the fighter jets would give Pakistan’s air force greatly expanded capabilities in its fight against “radical elements” in the border region.

Lockheed spokeswoman Laurie Quincy said the first of the 18 F-16s ordered by Pakistan was accepted by the Pakistani government in December but was still completing preparations to be ferried to the country later this year.

Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jeffry Glenn said the United States delivered 1,000 MK-82 500-pound bombs to Pakistan last month, and was considering additional requests for those bombs and more laser-guided tail kits.

Glenn said an initial batch of 700 GBU-12 and 300 GBU-10 Paveway laser-guided bomb kits built by Lockheed and Raytheon Co (RTN.N) would be delivered to Pakistan this month, allowing the Pakistani air force to outfit the MK-82 bombs delivered last month with sophisticated technology that allows better targeting of the weapons.

The expected delivery later this year of 18 F-16s to Pakistan will bring its inventory of the planes to 54. Pakistan has been operating F-16s since 1982.

Donley said Pakistan was also upgrading the capabilities of its older F-16 fighter jets. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0217277420100302?type=marketsNews

PAF COAS launching High Mark 2010 (That or checking his Facebook status!) 😉

I would think JF-17 is certainly top aicraft before MLU/Block 52s arrive.

It certainly outlcasses our F-16A/Bs in avionics.

PAF will always rate the A/B as its major frontline platform as it has over 25 years experiance on this platform and as we have seen alot of equipment and spare parts are free.

Brigades like 16 AA and 3 CMDO are very composite. Rarely do all three CMDOs or all three PARA units go into battle with it.It is almost always just 2 battalions or 2 plus a regular inf battalion acting in the Airborne or Marine role.

Often a PARA or CMDO regiment will be in training or on other duties.

For this reason Britain will need more then just 2-3 Armoured units in order to throw in a dedicated Armored Brigade as in 2003.

some units will be in rest periods other will be in training. What Britain did in 2003 was actually steal tanks and parts from units not participating in GW2.

If they cut down any further they will have no units to “steal” from or borrow manpower from.

Cutting down a tank force to anything below 250 odd units and you will look less and less lilely to be able to send an armoured brigade away.

This logic is less likely to apply to light specialised units like the PARAs and Marines as no such equipment is required bar C-130s/Chinooks for the PARAS.

They have replied to the RFI and did a demo on F 35 capabilities to the IN.

Yes India is unlikely to get early slots, but IAC 2 is some way away by the time I think F 35 would be ready.

F-35 was NEVER demoed to IN. Can you show me some proof of IN having seen anymore then a powerpoint preso on this?

How is 30y old Chinese copy, of 50y old Russian design, with 20y old radar, and firing 32y old AIM 9L … a “quantum” leap over current MiG29 (few as they are) and MiG21 Bis ??? JF17 would hardly be a “quantum leap” over those, let alone AC it replaces.

Not quite, but not far from the truth. However F7s would hardly help that situation. Like i have said, if they wanted to go down that path why not upgrade existing MiG21s to Bison??? Get proper BVR capability. Because they are not interested in spending money on obsolite design. Rather stick with what you have until you can procure something worthwile. .

Also,since when is the AIM-9M 30 years old? What books have you been reading?

Read above.

Neither do I… ever. MiG29/35 on the other hand makes perfect sense. Heck we even have facilities to conduct complete overhaul and maitenece in Serbia.

You also seem to not reading what ive said. Gripen would be perfect for us.. but the problem is US content and weapons… so why would you suggest 30y old AIM9L which made by which country???? :rolleyes:

Only reasonable thing to do with all versions of MiG21/F7s at this point in time, is scrap metal. Cheap models like JF17,LCA, T50 (FA50) with much better preformance and equipment levels nulify only reason that justified those aircraft being kept in existance …. which is cost.

If you look at Romanian Lancer example you will see that a MIG-21 airframe with amodern radar (which Grifo certianly is) and AIM-9M is a potent combo for basic interception duties.

I wont reply to the cheap snipe at JF-17, its not part f this thread,and shows some ignorance.

As mentioned, such a capability would be better then 30 year old MIG-21s and MIG29s. In fact, we dont even know if the current Serb AF would be capable of availability let alone upgrades….

You are right, in an ideal world you should wait for Gripen, but it seems you dont have the time or money. I also doubt you have the trained manpoer to operate such adavnced aircraft without a long period of training Serb pilots and engineers.