Pakistan Air Force | News & Discussions

[Rational Philosopher]

For PAF to operate more sqs need to expand bases too. May be one in balochistan and the skardu one upgrade them so PAF can house more jets and not in front line too can't put many sqs in centralization for enemy attack.

No resources for that. It's probably gonna decrease.

 

[Bentley777]

No resources for that. It's probably gonna decrease.

They should have made another facility for jf17 don't know why they didn't do that so we would have taken additional 2 sq of jf17 block 3 while delivering azeri ones and 1 sq of j10 and 1 of j35 in next 4 years. One new sqs a year. While retiring 2 sqs of f-7pgs. plus 2 sqs addition total.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Expecting J35 in August 14 2025

 

[Hussain]

Expecting J35 in August 14 2025

I hope it happens, but if it doesn't, which is more than likely, your credibility takes a serious hit. Can you explain the suicidal logic behind it?

 

[PakShaheen_79]

Expecting J35 in August 14 2025

Oh Please not again. NEVER GONNA HAPPEN!

 

[PakShaheen_79]

If anything PAF numbers may go down not up. No need to replace F-7PGs and Mirages on one for one basis with J-10C/J-35

Predicted threat matrix advises otherwise. Rest assure, it is choice by the state. Compromise on aerospace power in future is going to cause us dearly.

 

[RajaBaja]

They should have made another facility for jf17 don't know why they didn't do that so we would have taken additional 2 sq of jf17 block 3 while delivering azeri ones and 1 sq of j10 and 1 of j35 in next 4 years. One new sqs a year. While retiring 2 sqs of f-7pgs. plus 2 sqs addition total.

Another facility for JF-17 isn't needed. That money will go into PFX now. The numbers will increase and at the end, one to one replacement will be done plus more numbers will be added.

With expected economic growth starting in a year and CPEC / Gawader getting operationalized soon, the sea lines need a proper dedicated naval arm. That's now due.

Our requirements have changed twice in the past 6 years, first time in 2019 and second, in May 2025. In the next 5-7-10 years, I can guess the PAF having around 450-500 jets and PN will have 50 combat ships.

 

[Rational Philosopher]

They should have made another facility for jf17 don't know why they didn't do that so we would have taken additional 2 sq of jf17 block 3 while delivering azeri ones and 1 sq of j10 and 1 of j35 in next 4 years. One new sqs a year. While retiring 2 sqs of f-7pgs. plus 2 sqs addition total.

Like I said, no resources to even fund any of this stuff you're writing. The money simply just doesn't exist unless you bankrupt yourself all in military purchases instead of other forms of national development and economic expansion.

 

[RafaleSlayer]

For PAF to operate more sqs need to expand bases too. May be one in balochistan and the skardu one upgrade them so PAF can house more jets and not in front line too can't put many sqs in centralization for enemy attack.

We should only increase the number of jets per squadron to 20, making it 5 teams of 4 jets each, which will ensure that at least 4-4 jet teams are always available. 20 fighter squadrons of 20 jets each are enough to take care of India any day .

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Oh Please not again. NEVER GONNA HAPPEN!

They said pilots went for training 1 year ago how much more training they need ?

 

[Pak-Warrior]

They said pilots went for training 1 year ago how much more training they need ?

Who said? If not announced by Government / military then no need to believe in any hearsay

 

[PakShaheen_79]

They said pilots went for training 1 year ago how much more training they need ?

1. There is no official agreement for J-35. Just 2-3 yrs old statement of CAS.
2. Did PAF announce its pilots being trained for J-35s? I am curious please share the link if you have.
3. Even if J-35 are to join PAF, they are not coming in next 2 years minimum as PLAAF needs to fulfil its own requirements and production hasn't entered in full swing yet.

So, be patient.

 

[Pak-Warrior]

The numbers will increase and at the end, one to one replacement will be done plus more numbers will be added.

One to one replacement is impossible. Remember, we bought one of the cheapest aircrafts F-7s first in 1988 and then in 2002 to fill up numbers. These were 2nd generation aircrafts bought at the time of 4th gen aircrafts (F-16s, M2Ks, SU-27s, etc). So these were two generations down from the topline fighers of the time. Those weren't some cutting edge or "game changer" stuff even at their induction. So you can't expect such gap fillers / cheapest aircrafts to be replaced with 4.5 gen fighters. It will be ridiculously expensive to aim for one to one replacement.

Also have to remember there weren't any UCAVs 20 yrs ago. For airforce, these UCAVs are also an addition and a platform. It requires its own hangars, it requires it own pilots, their own trainings, UCAVs maintenance etc. So don't forget that resources being allocated to UCAVs are being deducted from airforce budget and those platforms will be taking important roles from manned platforms like for COIN etc or even against india as SOWs delivery platforms. So naturally your manned aircraft strength will reduce when you are pouring resources at UCAVs as well. BTW, this trend will continue, UCAVs will keep increasing and manned fighter strength will keep reducing. A time will come when we will have more squadrons of UCAVs and less squadrons of manned aircrafts but extremely advance.

 

[Pakistanithinktank]

One to one replacement is impossible. Remember, we bought one of the cheapest aircrafts F-7s first in 1988 and then in 2002 to fill up numbers. These were 2nd generation aircrafts bought at the time of 4th gen aircrafts (F-16s, M2Ks, SU-27s, etc). So these were two generations down from the topline fighers of the time. Those weren't some cutting edge or "game changer" stuff even at their induction. So you can't expect such gap fillers / cheapest aircrafts to be replaced with 4.5 gen fighters. It will be ridiculously expensive to aim for one to one replacement.

Also have to remember there weren't any UCAVs 20 yrs ago. For airforce, these UCAVs are also an addition and a platform. It requires its own hangars, it requires it own pilots, their own trainings, UCAVs maintenance etc. So don't forget that resources being allocated to UCAVs are being deducted from airforce budget and those platforms will be taking important roles from manned platforms like for COIN etc or even against india as SOWs delivery platforms. So naturally your manned aircraft strength will reduce when you are pouring resources at UCAVs as well. BTW, this trend will continue, UCAVs will keep increasing and manned fighter strength will keep reducing. A time will come when we will have more squadrons of UCAVs and less squadrons of manned aircrafts but extremely advance.

PAF is already deploying UCAVs in organized fashion, especially from Murid Airbase.
A dedicated UCAV squadron structure is plausible and could support Surveillance,
Precision strikes and Area denial missions.
Also under PFX program, Pakistan supposed to add 100+ fighters jets.

 

[RajaBaja]

One to one replacement is impossible. Remember, we bought one of the cheapest aircrafts F-7s first in 1988 and then in 2002 to fill up numbers. These were 2nd generation aircrafts bought at the time of 4th gen aircrafts (F-16s, M2Ks, SU-27s, etc). So these were two generations down from the topline fighers of the time. Those weren't some cutting edge or "game changer" stuff even at their induction. So you can't expect such gap fillers / cheapest aircrafts to be replaced with 4.5 gen fighters. It will be ridiculously expensive to aim for one to one replacement.

Also have to remember there weren't any UCAVs 20 yrs ago. For airforce, these UCAVs are also an addition and a platform. It requires its own hangars, it requires it own pilots, their own trainings, UCAVs maintenance etc. So don't forget that resources being allocated to UCAVs are being deducted from airforce budget and those platforms will be taking important roles from manned platforms like for COIN etc or even against india as SOWs delivery platforms. So naturally your manned aircraft strength will reduce when you are pouring resources at UCAVs as well. BTW, this trend will continue, UCAVs will keep increasing and manned fighter strength will keep reducing. A time will come when we will have more squadrons of UCAVs and less squadrons of manned aircrafts but extremely advance.

"Over time", not only the older jets will be replace 1:1, our fleet strength will increase also. So in fact, we'll replace 1:1 + add more. I think we'll see a 450-500 jet PAF in the next few years.

All the planning and work being done is to take Pakistan in increments to a near $700 billion economy, then to $1 trillion and above. Our trajectory will be visible in 2 years IA.

Post 2028, we'll need to protect Chinese trade through Gwader and offer proper security to future Central Russian nations who want to use Gwader. For that, we'll need a dedicated air arm for the navy. That's easily 2-3 squadrons plus 180 replacements. Add near 50 combat ready ship (frigates, destroyers) for PN also! That's our next ten years pipeline.

So as the economy grows, funding for PA, PAF and PN will grow too. At a $700 billion economy, a 3% defense budget is $21 Billion. At $1 trillion, it's $ 30 billion. The size of enemy we face is massive (Indian defense budget is $80 billion per year!!), so our defense budget needs to be at least $ 20 billion or more to get proper capability. So the end result over time? The PAF will have near 450-500 Jets, all with latest gear and near 80-100 stealth jets included.

If the above seems "too much" because we've never seen economy grow before, take a look at Indonesia. Their economy is over $ 1.2 trillion. They are investing $10 billion into KAAN, have KF-21 partnership with Korea, operate F-15 EX, Rafale, F-16's, SU-30's, etc. Because they can purchase! We are establishing our own defense industry so we'll build ourselves, with joint ventures with Turkey and China after 2030 and sell to others also. So good and mature planning is in place IA.