F-7 of Pakistan Air Force

[ghazi52]

 

[Oscar]

Yes, we are doing both offensive and defensive strategies in unmanned domain. However, to my knowledge, drone hunting with fighter aircraft is not on the cards. The C-UAS tech of soft and hard kills is mostly by ground equipment, both static and mobile.

The anti-UAV role used to be with FT-5s and K-8s from the days of 2002- 2008 late standoffs based out of Chandar but the overall vulnerability of these platforms(as witnessed recently with the Yak in Iran) basically had the PAF decide not to risk it AFAIK.

 

[AeronautIR]

afaik fighter jets are not that good at interceting slow moving uavs , especially an interceptor like f7 . our z10me and other heils would be way way better at shooting down these slow uavs . most ukrianian anti uav system i have seen are helis and slow moving engine planes
also super mushaks would be perfect for this role
we should task our helis+SMK+AA for these slow shahed type uavs .

SMK is debateable... too costly to install guidance system.

 

[AeronautIR]

The anti-UAV role used to be with FT-5s and K-8s from the days of 2002- 2008 late standoffs based out of Chandar but the overall vulnerability of these platforms(as witnessed recently with the Yak in Iran) basically had the PAF decide not to risk it AFAIK.

I have flown 'Turtle Intercept' missions in F-7PG but that was for bigger ISR UAVs. An Alouette or SMK would fly at 90 kts and we will practice interception. However, loitering munitions are different and wasting an AIM-9L on those will not be feasible.

 

[T80UD]

I have flown 'Turtle Intercept' missions in F-7PG but that was for bigger ISR UAVs. An Alouette or SMK would fly at 90 kts and we will practice interception. However, loitering munitions are different and wasting an AIM-9L on those will not be feasible.

It makes me wonder, if it's worth it to develop our own APKWS type weapon they have been used quite extensively to hunt drones in Ukraine and now the Gulf.

 

[AeronautIR]

It makes me wonder, if it's worth it to develop our own APKWS type weapon they have been used quite extensively to hunt drones in Ukraine and now the Gulf.

Actually, this discussion started with exactly this idea.

 

[T80UD]

Actually, this discussion started with exactly this idea.

Mb didn't see that comment, but I think the Idea is worth looking into, India recently announced they would mass produce Shahed type drone and while Indian procurement is a joke if they are able to get them in production then they could build thousands of these per year with their Industrial base.

They will become a massive problem in the future, I think investing in building intercepter drones should also be priority.

 

[AeronautIR]

Mb didn't see that comment, but I think the Idea is worth looking into, India recently announced they would mass produce Shahed type drone and while Indian procurement is a joke if they are able to get them in production then they could build thousands of these per year with their Industrial base.

They will become a massive problem in the future, I think investing in building intercepter drones should also be priority.

Indians claim a lot of things but the list of their missed deadlines is very long. We may not see F-7PG in frontline service in a few years. Our C-UAS strategies will not include a 3rd gen aircraft as drone hunter in my opinion.

 

[m52k85]

The main problem is lack of EW suite and vulnerability to SAMs in our 3rd gen aircraft. They may become good drone hunters with putting in systems but that is not economically feasible in my opinion. The improved ground defenses are a more cost-effective option for C-UAS role.

Bhai, what we are seeing now is you want to keep UAS swarms at arms length, that's why the US and Israel are taking them down at advance ranges with fighters. Any that get through are swated with the ground defences you mention. It is too risky to leave a swarm completely for ground defences to take care off.

 

[AeronautIR]

Bhai, what we are seeing now is you want to keep UAS swarms at arms length, that's why the US and Israel are taking them down at advance ranges with fighters. Any that get through are swated with the ground defences you mention. It is too risky to leave a swarm completely for ground defences to take care off.

We are talking about F-7 PG.

 

[Ak01]

if it's worth it to develop our own APKWS

The reason why APKWS drone interception is cheap is because 100k+ guidance kits have been produced.

If we were to build something alike, it would not be particularly cheap.

Something like the Iranian 358 missile, but scaled down, would be a very interesting counter drone solution, particularly considering its a loitering munition anyway, with mostly off the shelf bits. Or something made up of commercial hobbyist rocket stuff perhaps?

Could turn the Cobras into drone hunters

 

[T80UD]

The reason why APKWS drone interception is cheap is because 100k+ guidance kits have been produced.

If we were to build something alike, it would not be particularly cheap.

Something like the Iranian 358 missile, but scaled down, would be a very interesting counter drone solution, particularly considering its a loitering munition anyway, with mostly off the shelf bits. Or something made up of commercial hobbyist rocket stuff perhaps?

Could turn the Cobras into drone hunters

A few intercepter drones designs have come out from local defense firms but they are kinda shit

 

[Ak01]

A few intercepter drones designs have come out from local defense firms but they are kinda shit

most things we do are shit.

they're probably just someone elses design being marked up 100x and sold off to the forces.

 

[T80UD]

most things we do are shit.

they're probably just someone elses design being marked up 100x and sold off to the forces.

It makes me wonder why they haven't gotten Ukrainian input on drone intercepters considering the extensive partnership that already exists

 

[Ak01]

It makes me wonder why they haven't gotten Ukrainian input on drone intercepters considering the extensive partnership that already exists

because we're too caught up trying to play non aligned camp. We get sweet statements from Russia at times so i guess its worth it...