Pak to get F-16 planes for sure: Minister

AHMADPUR SIAL, March 01 (Online):Pakistan firmly believes the Unites States will supply F-16 aircrafts to it once the negotiations between two countries on the issue conclude, said Maj (Retd) Habibullah Warraich, the state minister for defence.

Talking to reporters at a press conference here on Monday, he said Pak-US talks on F-16 planes issue were under way at present, however it was not decided yet whether or not the US would supply the planes.

IAF for Su-30s to launch BrahMos

Looking to arm its frontier stations in Punjab, Rajasthan and J-K with precision missile capabilities, the IAF has proposed its Sukhoi-30 fighter to DRDO as a platform for the Indo-Russian BrahMos air to ground missile.

As many have mentioned before, its very unlikely that PAF would be interested in flankers unless its from the original manufacturer (which is extremely unlikely), while China is extremely unlikely to help PAF in this regrad considering the fact that Russia is their primary weapon supplier (and is likely to remain so for years to come even if EU arms embargo goes this year). As for getting the machines from a third country while asking china to supply the spare parts, there r too many issues which would inevitably affect logistics/maintenance/preparedness etc.

PAF is still interested in F-16. Most people here should know the reasons as they have been discussed on several occassions in the past. They would want old F-16 (with MLU of course) as a stop gap and if possible more advanced versions of F-16 or another hi tech western fighter. However, the way things r going, this may not materialise…and if so, PAF would undoubtedly go for chinese J-10. We have heard from top brass of PAF that J-10 is available (please see the June (or was it July?) issue of AFM 2004). Its true that PAF would prefer a western hi tech fighter considering the fact that western technologies are more advanced and mature than chinese (who still have a lot to learn in aviation field vis-a-vis west). Nevertheless, PAF also recognises that J-10 is better than anything currently in PAF, and hence would be a great advance in their capabilities. My personal opinion that a modern fighter (be it Gripen/F-16/J-10 or any other machine) would start its induction into PAF by 2010.

I think, mods need to butt in this thread now. It had been calm for a few days, but the horizon seems cloudy once more. 🙂

The choice will definitely entail source code access, for integration into an Indian/Israeli/French/Russian radar based network, running on Indian software and lets see if the US agrees to that.

Precisely…remains to be seen how many countries r willing to provide source codes for such integration. Unless im mistaken, quite recently russia said they wont if India goes for Patriots.

Here is an article from a swedish business newspaper about Eriey deal for pakistan.
Miljardaffär i Pakistan nära att lyfta för Saab
and follwoing is the rough translation (courtsey of Karl from PDF).

Billion business in Pakistan near lifting for Saab
2005-02-17: Gustaf brave

ISLAMABAD – Försvarsindustrikoncernen Saab end negotiates about a defence contract with Pakistan on 7 billions sek.
In the business, Ericsson’s is included Erieyeradar and management systems and aeroplanes from Saab.

Pakistan needs Erieye in order to monitor your air room and the order has highliest priority.
“the is important for our defence. We must hold even stages militärt with the other countries in the region”, says Tasneem Noorani, State Secretaries on Pakistan’s trade ministries.

Ericsson B
Saab B

The acts about Pakistan’s individual bigliest purchases of war matter electrical during president Pervez Musharrafs years the wide power.

The packet contains air transport carried Erieye AEW&C on Saab 2000-plan. Radarsystemet will be integrated with management systems from Saab. Concurrent wants to the airlline Pia to fit on buying seven second-hand Saab 2000 in order to renew your domestic generous.

The business is worth 6-7 billions sek, but the can become so a lot of as 9 billions, states sources in Pakistan for DI. The depends entirelily on the final content and the financing.

The business willed been clear to the turn of the year, but has drawn out on the time. Saabs vendors are diligent travellers to Islamabad and the discussions are now a lot of intensive.

According to DI: s sources have a settlement been a near pair months. Technical exists a completed solution 9 completed solution as man is agreed about. The only as remains is the price and the financing.
“we have been on-the-spot and we pursue deliberations with Pakistan. The is all I can to say”, says Peter Larsson, pressure manager on Saab.

Saab deals with the negotiations and has responsibilities for the contract.

The value on the contract distributes itself with approximately the half where on Saab and Ericsson, experiences DI. That Saab gets so big part of the cookie depends a lot of on the management system, but also that the aeroplanes must be rebuilt and to be strengthened in order to can to carry radarn.

Pakistan is well-known for careful technical and economic evaluations of new stock. The militära the needs govern and performance is more important than motköp. That obstacles not requirements on transfer of technology and production in Pakistan.
“the is good about a part of the components could be produced locallily. If we can develop maintained in Pakistan and to produce a part of the not entirely so the classified splitters in Pakistan, sows is the a good possibility to create a long-term cooperation”, says Tasneem Noorani.

The business comes that few big importance for the relationships average Sweden and Pakistan, both economic and in the defence exchange.

The latter has already taken rat. Last autumn, a big delegation visited from the Swedish air force Islamabad, an event as submitted a clear trace in the hotel Islamabad Serenas brochure over the last year’s vip-gäster. In November went also a Swedish trade delegation to Islamabad.

Among the participants existed Kennth-Åke Jönsson and Peter Millar, both tip managers on Saab. Also Per Erik Pettersson from Ericsson Microwave systems’ each on-the-spot.

With Erieye gets Pakistan total control over whatever hands in the country’s air rooms. India has recently bought a similar system from Israeli. The is not single-handed. All more countries impose billions air transport carried radarövervakningssystem in order to early to detect threats.

American Boeing each first and has entirely dominated the market with the system Awacs. Ericsson and Saab tries now jointlily to come to a part of the cookie that is many worth billions dollars the nearest years.

Brazil, Mexico and Greece have valt Erieye.

Ex-Air Chief wary of US combat equipment

HAL to unveil Concept Combat Air Trainer

Well the new lass cockpit of K-8 does look rather good.