PAF F-16 | Discussions

[Fatman17]

Duplicate thread

 

[Fatman17]

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’.

Unlikely

 

[Yasser76]

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’.

Surely we would have got the airframes first before ordering the datalinks for them?

 

[Night Memory]

Highly disappointing stuff from USA. Do they wanna take the V upgrade to their grave? We already have AESA in J-10C and JFBlock3. Give our F-16s the V upgrade and save us some money.

 

[Yasser76]

Highly disappointing stuff from USA. Do they wanna take the V upgrade to their grave? We already have AESA in J-10C and JFBlock3. Give our F-16s the V upgrade and save us some money.

This deal does not mean V upgrade is off the table. This update would have needed to be done with or without the V upgrade.

 

[Ibbi32]

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’.

I wouldn’t hold out hope for acquiring aircraft from us. The us fleet is getting really old and nearing ends of service life and getting any deal through a congress would be an absolute nightmare with supportive trump admin or not. I find it much easier to believe that if new aircraft are to be acquired Pakistan may approach jordan first

 

[Corax]

Although the Viper fleet is still very capable, assuming the Mirages and most F7s are retired soon, it would be the new "low end" of the PAF fleet, with potentially more advanced JF17s and J10s joining over the next few years, followed by J35. Additional used airframes may be useful, if nothing more than just for spares, but if I was the PAF I wouldn't sink too much further funding other than keeping the fleet updated and operational to the end of their useful lives.

 

[Night Memory]

This deal does not mean V upgrade is off the table. This update would have needed to be done with or without the V upgrade.

I have a deep worry with regards to our rare earth potential and China.

They have already passed a ruling in October which they have temporarily suspended until Nov 2026 in which any chinese companies that wants to help Pakistan extract rare earth needs Chinese govt approval.

This means China could heavily impact our minerals deal with USA.

The best outcome would be for China to participate with us and kind of treat our reserves as an extension to theirs.

But this tells me that we need to diversify our weapon acquisition. USA needs to stop playing a fool and put its money where its mouth is.

You cannot buy leverage without actually supporting your deal partners.

 

[Yasser76]

I have a deep worry with regards to our rare earth potential and China.

They have already passed a ruling in October which they have temporarily suspended until Nov 2026 in which any chinese companies that wants to help Pakistan extract rare earth needs Chinese govt approval.

This means China could heavily impact our minerals deal with USA.

The best outcome would be for China to participate with us and kind of treat our reserves as an extension to theirs.

But this tells me that we need to diversify our weapon acquisition. USA needs to stop playing a fool and put its money where its mouth is.

You cannot buy leverage without actually supporting your deal partners.

Way off topic now

 

[TAC]

I wouldn’t hold out hope for acquiring aircraft from us. The us fleet is getting really old and nearing ends of service life and getting any deal through a congress would be an absolute nightmare with supportive trump admin or not. I find it much easier to believe that if new aircraft are to be acquired Pakistan may approach jordan first

Only a thought and long shot in the dark with a blindfold on but to my knowledge no Congressional approval required for excess defence articles.

 

[Yasser76]

Although the Viper fleet is still very capable, assuming the Mirages and most F7s are retired soon, it would be the new "low end" of the PAF fleet, with potentially more advanced JF17s and J10s joining over the next few years, followed by J35. Additional used airframes may be useful, if nothing more than just for spares, but if I was the PAF I wouldn't sink too much further funding other than keeping the fleet updated and operational to the end of their useful lives.

Agreed, with Link -16 and being able to "talk" to Erieyes and ground radars and witth great precision attack capability F-16s could form a formidable second line for both air defence and close air support leaving offensive counter air and deep strike to J-10/JF-17/J-35

We could do with a few more airframes though, say get the fleet up to around 100 to support a fleet of 200 JF-17s, 72 J-10s and 36 J-35s

 

[Trailer23]

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’.

Negative.

So it's pointless discussing it further.

[Haan] things could change tomorrow, but as of now it's just what is mentioned.

Note: To sell (used) Airframes, Congress Approval is NOT required. Just the nod from White House will do the trick, but we're far from it.

 

[Yasser76]

Negative.

So it's pointless discussing it further.

[Haan] things could change tomorrow, but as of now it's just what is mentioned.

Note: To sell (used) Airframes, Congress Approval is NOT required. Just the nod from White House will do the trick, but we're far from it.

Used airframes under EDA do not require congressional approval I think, that was the point of MNNA status

 

[r3alist]

I speculate that part of the motivation for this package is to keep one foot in the Pakistani Air force ecosystem

From an American perspective, the momentum is clearly China and Turkey for Pakistan, and those f16s which were once tremendous leverage can no longer be used as leverage, it's the Americans going back to being more open hearted let's say

For the paf, they get a good upgrade package, more prolonged use from an old favourite, upgraded, and I suppose allow the Americans to feel that Pakistan is not totally lost to them, but on a legacy fighter jet that has a medium term demise path

 

[r3alist]

I have a deep worry with regards to our rare earth potential and China.

They have already passed a ruling in October which they have temporarily suspended until Nov 2026 in which any chinese companies that wants to help Pakistan extract rare earth needs Chinese govt approval.

This means China could heavily impact our minerals deal with USA.

The best outcome would be for China to participate with us and kind of treat our reserves as an extension to theirs.

But this tells me that we need to diversify our weapon acquisition. USA needs to stop playing a fool and put its money where its mouth is.

You cannot buy leverage without actually supporting your deal partners.

Can you expand on this in another thread? Not this one please. A bit more interested to understand what you mean more fully