PAF F-16 | Discussions

[Gripen9]

Any chance we’re after additional stored aircraft from the U.S.? Forget if we’re still in theory at least a ‘major none NATO ally’.

Any airworthy blk40+ available airframe is now being directed towards Ukraine.

 

[Gripen9]

I hope/wish the SLEP is done at Kamra

 

[Ibbi32]

Any airworthy blk40+ available airframe is now being directed towards Ukraine.

Not really the current Ukrainian fleet is still blk-15 based and because only EPAF are supplying it for now we dont have to worry about all the planes going to them just yet.

 

[Gripen9]

Others have asked the question as well. Didn't our F-16 already have Link16 installed? Or is it just the blk52+ that have Link16?

If this is just Comms upgrade + SLEP with V kits being declined/not offered as a follow up, will we be allowed to pursue Turkish upgrade option?

@Oscar alluded that the vipers may be primarily tasked as "bomb trucks" go forward. Will we be allowed to integrate non US munitions suchbas Turk SOW / SOM etc? Otherwise we'll only have paveways or JDAMs available for ground attack. We have junked our old AGM65s years ago.

 

[Gripen9]

Not really the current Ukrainian fleet is still blk-15 based and because only EPAF are supplying it for now we dont have to worry about all the planes going to them just yet.

I believe the vision is to equip UkAF with about 100+ refurbished F16s in the next 2-5 years. Sticking point is Donnie wants Ukraine to pay for it. Tgat is why zelensky is hedging on acquoring Gripens.

 

[Yasser76]

i have to say it was good time from f86 to f104 to f16
View attachment 164786

Was not just the planes, but everything that came with them (training, ethos, safety culture etc) that greatly helped PAF

 

[Ibbi32]

Was not just the planes, but everything that came with them (training, ethos, safety culture etc) that greatly helped PAF

We jumped from a British culture to an American culture which greatly helped us compared to indian pilots which mostly adopted a soviet culture

 

[Fatman17]

I hope/wish the SLEP is done at Kamra

The maintainers have been trained in the USA and TAI. upto 40 airmen as I can recall

 

[Fatman17]

If PAF intends to purchase new munitions for the F-16 fleet than the necessary upgrades have been requested.
Link-16
Avionics/ software
Safety - to replace possible worn out parts.
Remember the 2 F-16s stranded in the azores a few years back. The USAF tech had deemed some parts as unsafe and they had to be replaced before the aircraft flew to the USA for the MLU.

 

[Ibbi32]

If PAF intends to purchase new munitions for the F-16 fleet than the necessary upgrades have been requested.
Link-16
Avionics/ software
Safety - to replace possible worn out parts.
Remember the 2 F-16s stranded in the azores a few years back. The USAF tech had deemed some parts as unsafe and they had to be replaced before the aircraft flew to the USA for the MLU.

What i havent heard people comment on is the new adu-981 missile adapater unit. Could anyone with more knowledge on the aircraft or us systems please explain the significance of this

 

[Fatman17]

If PAF intends to purchase new munitions for the F-16 fleet than the necessary upgrades have been requested.
Link-16
Avionics/ software
Safety - to replace possible worn out parts.
Remember the 2 F-16s stranded in the azores a few years back. The USAF tech had deemed some parts as unsafe and they had to be replaced before the aircraft flew to the USA for the MLU.

PAF F-16A block 15 #84713 is seen at Lajes Field, Azores after a test flight on February 11th, 2008. This jet remained at this location for 4 months and 3 days. [Photo by Leandro Rocha]

 

[Corax]

I thought the MLU and Block52s were already Link16 capable? Not sure about the ADF variants. And if they're not, why not?

 

[kimjongun]

The maintainers have been trained in the USA and TAI. upto 40 airmen as I can recall

isnt that confedential like how many people are trained in one thing?

 

[Ali_Baba]

As I say, I am not into military hardware much. But I do pay attention to credible 'experts' out there for their views and also pay particular attention to what the adversary is saying. And it seems obvious that Indians are really worried about this sale. Anyway, here is Pakistan's retired Air Force official Khalid Chisti. He is a measured person and speaks carefully and per him, this upgrade is very good for Pakistan.

In this video he is saying that during the May 7, 2025 encounter with India, Pakistan's F-16s were put into action but they were not as effective due to the limited missile range. This upgrade offered by the Americans helps with that deficiency. Imagine 70+ F-16s in Pakistan's fleet becoming significantly more lethal against India with a mere expenditure of less than $700 million?!!
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The Link-16 will help with the situation awareness of the F16s as they can be fed from Pakistan core infrastructure with conversions from Link-17 to Link-16 protocols and terminals.

Is there a chance that the PAF already has link 16, but is upgrading to a Software defined radio variant(SDR) to help counter jamming efforts of the IAF in the future as being SDR, it can be changed/upgraded quickly ?

This wont fix any "distance" issues as the F16 will still have the C5 variant only, but it may make the F16s as flexible as the JF17/J10CE's are in PAFs new operational doctrines.

Had these F16s gotten the SABR radar, "then" you could try and argue they are getting close to the Rafales unless the claim is the Link-16 integration brings a much wider tactical and targeting picture which brings it on par.

 

[Ibbi32]

I thought the MLU and Block52s were already Link16 capable? Not sure about the ADF variants. And if they're not, why not?

What i think people are overlooking is that the sale of 92 link 16 systems is listed separately as a MDE purchase of 37mln compared to 650mln upgrade of f-16. This likely means that whilst related the systems aren’t automatically to be assumed as mounted on the f-16s. I still believe my theory that the systems will be mounted on other platforms to communicate with our f-16s better. Also notably just because we already have link-16 on our planes doesn’t make then the same, a more mordern version may include better data transfer speeds transferring more types of data faster and more securely for example.