Re: Which Aircraft Should PAF opt for?
In my view we should keep in mind that PAF is going to buy either Erieye or Hawkeye ( app. 1,5-1,7 billion dollars ), hopefully the deal will be closed this year or next year. Once that is done, then there is the JF-17, and the initial order is for 150 planes (so 150 * 20 mill (my guess) = 3 billion ) , more to follow, this is also going to be expensive. At the same time PAF is also upgrading the mirages and the F-7's.
Given all these expenses and i know some of the members have pointed out that the senate will provide extra funds and that PAF has been saving up for a decade or so, i still dont think that PAF can go out there and buy decent ( 60+ ) number of Rafales or Eurofighters. I admit they are excellent planes and worth their price tag, and are more then a match for anything IAF has at the moment. But expensive loans to get these planes wont do PAF or Pakistan any good.
Therefore in my opinion PAF should primarily focus on J-10 as the 4 gen fighter. It is looking quite capable at the moment considering its price tag, and if one considers the rate at which the chinese are going, then in few years ( 2-3+) time i think it will be able to give the SU-30 a good challenge. And another thing that might benefit the J-10 program is if the EU lifts the arms ban on China. That way the chinese could possible get the bits they cant produce themselves at the moment from the EU, thus making the J-10 even more capable.
About the F-16s, i'm like many others pakistanis sick of hearing about them, but if we can get them at a cheap price then why not? as long we are getting the J-10 or another decent 4 gen fighter.
Here is my "wish" list (over the next 5 years or so):
1) J-10 : 100
2) JF-17: 250
3) F-16: the currrent number plus whatever we can get (32 + 25?? )
4) Mirages: what we got at the moment, max upgrades
5) F-7: what we got, max upgrades
6) 6-7 ERIEYE!!!! if not then some Hawkeyes
7) Air-Air refueling?? can someone shed some light on what options PAF has with regards to this?