PAF F-16 | Discussions

[MirageV3ff]

What advantage would AIM120-D provide us that we already dont have ? With Indians jets getting knocked out at maximum range of PL-15, Indians will likely maintain a buffer zone of 200-250 kms in the next conflict. What good would the AIM-120 D do with range of 150-180 km which even our PL-15E's cover. Secondly there are rumours of Israel offering Indians Sky Sting missile with the range of 250km. So what exactly good these AIM-120 Ds would do ?

Doesn't add anything substantial but it gives us numbers
You have more AESA equipped fighters with long range BVR missiles

A platform with which PAF has immense expertise in. It just helps with the modernisation effort. Also allows PAF to participate in NATO and US exercises

 

[Tariq Habib Afridi]

Well, let’s see the 80 new Rafales are coming in within the next couple years. If UAE keeps some of the Mirages as well their fleet would already be well over its current numbers.

Block 60s are getting older, and they will be replaced relatively soon. I don’t think this has anything to do with J-35 but is a gradual shifting out of their fleet.

Mirages will be donated + some F-16s and eventually when a platform to replace the F-16s arrive they will all be given away/retired.

I still doubt this news though, we’ll see.

Considering there 19 billion usd deal with dassault for 80 rafale and some heli's it shows they would also pay alot if they wanted their F-16 fleet to v kit upgrades. But i think the issue is from usa. UAEAF is eyeing 5th gen since 2021. But they are still no where with it. They may also be afraid of israeli F-35. If they have lost hope from USA for F35 they may have secretely made deal with china for J35 considering israeli threat? And they have a lot of money and may have decided that we will disclose these deal when j35 start coming to UAE? Just to add more fuel to these theory and considering UAEAF history as they are all trained by PAF. My father too retired from UAEAF in 2005. They pakistani pilots if they are getting training om J35 maybe for UAE?

 

[Yasser76]

High chance, that’s what I’ve been considering ever since the ACM visit.

$1-1.5bn PAF deal is a small amount compared to a $10bn+ deal with India for F-35s (which might not be possible due to S-400 but USA always has a variable attitude towards different countries so S-400 might actually not be an issue for India). Trump is a businessman. He is trying to get India onboard.

I won’t be surprised if India starts some sort of fake 2-4 year long talks with US for F-35s, halting the PAF F-16 deal and in the end slipping out of the talks without anything for the US. They’re notorious for this.

But if any F-16 deal goes down, We will see J-35s sooner than expected because the PAF has kept that option as a bargain chip.

PLAAF will gradually start replacing J-10B with J-35 so we can get further 2-4 squadrons if we want to. USA knows that we aren’t out of options. High chance is that any F-16 deal that goes through will eventually materialize.

I think after 20 years of MRCA tamasha, mosyt western companies have wised up to Indian tactics of talking a good game but not placing orders. Hence why Trump is not waiting around anymore

 

[Philip the arab]

Considering there 19 billion usd deal with dassault for 80 rafale and some heli's it shows they would also pay alot if they wanted their F-16 fleet to v kit upgrades. But i think the issue is from usa. UAEAF is eyeing 5th gen since 2021. But they are still no where with it. They may also be afraid of israeli F-35. If they have lost hope from USA for F35 they may have secretely made deal with china for J35 considering israeli threat? And they have a lot of money and may have decided that we will disclose these deal when j35 start coming to UAE? Just to add more fuel to these theory and considering UAEAF history as they are all trained by PAF. My father too retired from UAEAF in 2005. They pakistani pilots if they are getting training om J35 maybe for UAE?

F-16E is more advanced than the F-16V. The APG-80 outclasses the APG-83, and its EW systems and engine is better. F-16E/F is the epitome of the F-16 platform and is the best it will ever be. 19 billion for the Rafales is chump change for them, look at the size of their population, and economy and how fast its growing.

Yes, Israeli F-35s are a worry which is why they're looking for a 5th gen fighter but currently there are no ready options. J-35 isn't geopolitically feasible, and neither is the SU-57. F-35 isn't happening and they won't be fine with a downgraded model either way.

KAAN and KF-21 are both options for them, and would avoid antagonising America which has many tech/AI deals that they wouldn't risk. You are correct PAF has an interlaced history with the UAEAF, but as of recently it isn't as large as it once was and a vast majority of pilots are all Emirati.

 

[Scorpio]

What advantage would AIM120-D provide us that we already dont have ? With Indians jets getting knocked out at maximum range of PL-15, Indians will likely maintain a buffer zone of 200-250 kms in the next conflict. What good would the AIM-120 D do with range of 150-180 km which even our PL-15E's cover. Secondly there are rumours of Israel offering Indians Sky Sting missile with the range of 250km. So what exactly good these AIM-120 Ds would do ?

In conflict number do better as well

We know that we can't use F16s as offensive against india

But they can be used as defensively against india if they cross there same limits

Don't forgot india stiff have numbers edge

 

[Scorpio]

Money metters, j35 is not there prime jet its still j20 , which eventually will replaced with j50 and j36

J35 is specially for expert earnings

 

[Scorpio]

But you cannot deny their buying power China may sell them some what lesser rated plane as compared to PAF since China perfectly knows our requirement and how we buy stuff from them. Like for e.g. to UAE PL15E might be ranging 145KM only while for us E means Extended range rather than export version

Arabs are not kids...

 

[Scorpio]

Well, let’s see the 80 new Rafales are coming in within the next couple years. If UAE keeps some of the Mirages as well their fleet would already be well over its current numbers.

Block 60s are getting older, and they will be replaced relatively soon. I don’t think this has anything to do with J-35 but is a gradual shifting out of their fleet.

Mirages will be donated + some F-16s and eventually when a platform to replace the F-16s arrive they will all be given away/retired.

I still doubt this news though, we’ll see.

Rumors where there in past for deal of mirage 2k transferring to india

 

[Tariq Habib Afridi]

Rumors where there in past for deal of mirage 2k transferring to india

yes i also heard those in the old defence forum. remember UAE mirage 2k are upgraded recently again around 2019 i guess?

 

[Scorpio]

yes i also heard those in the old defence forum. remember UAE mirage 2k are upgraded recently again around 2019 i guess?

Yes they were upgraded , dont know the year

 

[Philip the arab]

Rumors where there in past for deal of mirage 2k transferring to india

Not India, Morrocco/Malysia/Indonesia are the likely reciepients.

 

[Tariq Habib Afridi]

Yes they were upgraded , dont know the year

Seems like 30 are going to morroco. dont know about remaining other mirages. in 2017 they had 300million euro deal for mirage 2k upgrade. i dont know that materialized or not

https://armyrecognition.com/news/ae...-fighter-jets-to-morocco-with-frances-consent

https://www.military.africa/2025/01/uae-mirage-2000-9e-jets-heading-for-morocco/

 

[Salza]

Arabs are not kids...

They don't face any direct threat since US fights for them. Saudia/UAE/Qatar/Kuwait - all they need is to throw money. PAF always maintained a stance of first shoot capability and that too a long one against our adversary.

 

[Philip the arab]

They don't face any direct threat since US fights for them. Saudia/UAE/Qatar/Kuwait - all they need is to throw money. PAF always maintained a stance of first shoot capability and that too a long one against our adversary.

Do you understand that there are always plans for certain circumstances? America has plans in place to invade Canada and Mexico for example even though they're both allies.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Doesn't add anything substantial but it gives us numbers
You have more AESA equipped fighters with long range BVR missiles

A platform with which PAF has immense expertise in. It just helps with the modernisation effort. Also allows PAF to participate in NATO and US exercises

The vast majority of the F16s in NATO consist of Block 40/50's at best, ie non-AESA. They can still seem to participate on NATO exercises. If they can do it on those versions, why can't PAF do it on Block 52 variants ? What you are saying is not a requirement to participate in exercises.