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The next article is a bit from an upcoming quarterly report on the Pakistan Air Pressure’s (PAF) modernization plans, which will probably be obtainable to Quwa Premium subscribers on 29 March 2024.
In a public relations video launched in January 2024, the PAF stated that Air Headquarters (AHQ) made the “strategic resolution to part out legacy programs” whereas exhibiting footage of the Dassault Mirage III and 5, Chengdu FT-7P, Karakoram Eagle (KE) airborne early warning and management (AEW&C) plane, and CN-235 mild transport plane.[1] Total, the PAF is working to part out older plane and, at the least amongst its particular mission plane, consolidate its fleets.
Fighter Plane
The PAF’s push to exchange the F-7P, FT-7P, and F-7PG in addition to Mirage III/5 isn’t a surprise. In 2016, the PAF acknowledged that it aimed to exchange 190 legacy fighters by 2020.[2] Then Chief of Air Workers (CAS), Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sohail Aman added that the PAF sought to take care of a 400-strong fighter fleet in order that it may maintain a 1:1.35 to 1:1.75 ratio in opposition to the Indian Air Pressure (IAF).[3]
The promotional video means that the PAF is now urgent forward with changing its legacy fighters. Whereas it didn’t disclose a revised timeline, it seems that the entire shift away from the F-7 and Mirage III/5-series may happen within the short-term, i.e., the subsequent three to 5 years, or 2030 on the newest. The brand new fighters will comprise of the J-10CE and the JF-17C (Block-III) in an interoperable high-low combine. At present, the PAF has 20 J-10CE and 30 JF-17Cs, however Quwa expects that the PAF will purchase extra airframes throughout each fighter sorts by the 2020s.
However in November 2023, studies emerged of the PAF talking to the Aviation Business Company of China (AVIC) for an unspecified variety of Hongdu L-15Bs for a lead-in-fighter-trainer (LIFT) want. The truth is, the PAF sought a brand new LIFT since at the least 2017 to raised put together its pilots for 4/4+ technology jets just like the J-10CE, JF-17, and F-16. The PAF had initially deliberate to make use of the JF-17B for this function in 2015, however in 2017, it pivoted to looking for a separate platform. Apparently, the PAF laid out that its new LIFT ought to have an afterburning engine, multimode radar, and tactical datalink (TDL).[4]
The PAF’s LIFT necessities level to a totally purposeful fighter, and on that entrance, the L-15B delivers…
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Particular Mission Plane
The obvious plan to retire the KE AEW&C was surprising. Inducted in 2009, the KE pairs the ZDK03 PESA radar to the Shaanxi Y-8F600 turboprop-powered transport plane. The KE has been a key a part of the PAF’s maritime operations, the place the PAF deployed the AEW&C in joint maneuvers with the Pakistan Navy (PN). It appeared that the KE was interoperable with the PN’s property.
Transferring ahead, plainly the PAF is standardizing on the Saab 2000-based Erieye AEW&C. The PAF had initially deliberate to solely function the Erieye within the early 2000s. Nonetheless, within the late 2000s, it complemented its fleet of 4 plane with 4 KEs from China. In 2012, the PAF had misplaced three of its 4 Erieye AEW&C to a terrorist assault on Minhas Air Base. Mockingly, the 4 KEs had been a crucial asset for the PAF because it stuffed the protection hole brought on by the lack of Erieye AEW&Cs.
By 2016, the PAF restored its Erieye fleet to its unique power of 4 plane and, in 2017, ordered one other three plane. This was adopted by an order for at the least two extra programs in 2020, the deliveries of which occurred from 2020 to 2023. Thus, the PAF has a complete of 9 Erieye AEW&Cs…
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Logistics Plane
It additionally seems that the PAF is phasing out its 4 CN-235 mild transport plane. Since buying the unique batch in 2005, the PAF didn’t develop the CN-235 fleet with extra items…
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For extra insights on the Pakistan Air Pressure:
[1] “PAF Checkmates Pakistan’s Enemies.” Pakistan Air Pressure (PAF) Press Launch. 16 January 2024. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_2Osf0r-p4&ab_channel=PakistanAirForce
[2] “Pakistan Air Pressure Must Change 190 Planes by 2020.” Daybreak Information. 15 March 2016. URL: https://www.daybreak.com/information/1245714/pakistan-air-force-needs-to-replace-190-planes-by-2020
[3] Bilal Khan. “Pakistan’s Subsequent – Close to-Time period – Steps for Bridging Airpower Hole.” Quwa. 25 March 2018. URL: https://quwa.org/2018/03/25/pakistans-next-near-term-steps-for-bridging-airpower-gap/
[4] Alan Warnes. Interview. Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Workers, Pakistan Air Pressure. IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly. 22 Could 2019.
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