Pakistan Defense Page

PAF vs IAF-Defined by IAF

Hamza: 3rd Agosta class Pakistani made Submarine launched

JF-17 Thunders

Beyond the JF-17 Thunders. The J-10s etc.
The Y-89 AWACS

Hataf, Ghauri, Babar, Abdali missiles

Su-27s and Su-35

Russia elides India in Flanker Su-30 development Trail of tears and failure: Indian missiles Pakistani Unmanned Arial Vehicles Submarines “Made in Pakistan”

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The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has acquired 18 F-16 of the Block 52 series taking its total to 64, a squadron of jointly produced (China-Pakistan) JF 17 Thunder fighters. It has ordered some 36 J-10B fighters upgraded to the the Super 10– an upgraded version of the J-10 with a locally made Chinese TVC engine (beyond the WS-13). The PAF produced the K-8 trainer and is also working with the Chinese to produce L-15 supersonic trainers. The “Shaheens” have already ordered eight Erieye AEW&C from Sweden and now owns IL-78 Refueling tankers tankers for mid-flight refueling. The PAF is also producing the AWACs with Chinese help. It has received a dozen S-70 Super Cobra helicopters from the US. The PAFs current published strength is reportedly 383 combat capable aircraft including the older upgraded Chinese A-5, 129 F-7 PG/MG (Chinese revamped version of the MiG-21), nearly 113 upgraded Mirage III/V, some 64-plus F-16 fighters and a squadron of JF-17 of which some 500 are being built locally (25-75 per annum). PAF officials are aiming to finally acquire a whopping 150 J-10Bs from China in the next decade. The PAF is also eyeing the J-14 (J-XX, Chinas’ 5th gen stealth fighter which it calls 4th generation)

The IAF’s current strength is around 600 of which the MiG21 fleet of (FL, M, MF and Bis types) comprise 293 aircraft. The IAF has MiG-23 (BN&MF), Mi-17 helicopters, Mi-25/35 attack helicopters, Mi-26 super heavy helicopters, Mirage-2000 multi-role fighters, MiG-29 and Mig-27s. The IAF slowly phased out the Fairchild Packet C-119, the Dakota DC-3, Caribou, Otter, Toofani, Mystere 4A, Gnat, Ajeet and the Hunter and later the Canberra light bomber aircraft as well. It has about 30 1996 vintage Sukhoi 30MKI (Flanker: 140 have been ordered and 140 will be assembled from kits). It also is bying the PAKFA (aka FGFA) whose 5th gen credentials have been challenged by international agencies. The IAF has no credible trainer aircraft, a reason given t the highest crash rate in the world. The HPT-32s have been grounded. The HTT-34 was a total failure.

The Mig 21s have pretty much been grounded. The Il-76 have been grouned, so the IAF really has only about 300 aircraft of unprdictable value. Due to the unavailbility of the LCAs, has ordered 126 planes as part of the MCRC program. However the MMRCA (ten C-17, eight Boeing P8I LRMP (for the Navy), six Lockheed Martin C-130J, six second-hand Sea King helicopters (for the Navy) won’t be delivered for a decade. The IAF may also be buying 12 Mirages from Qatar.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) possesses some 1653 combat capable aircraft. ThePLA Navy has 290 of which some 30 per cent are current generation including 84 J-10, 116 J-11(Su-27), 97 Su-30MKK, 156 JH/FB-7, 516 J-8, and 540 J-7. Since its unveiling in 2003-04, the PLAAF has already inducted 84 J-10 fighters of the roughly F-16 class.China has the capacity build 40 to 50 fighters per year, a capacity it is increasing exponentially. China has built the first ever Airbus outside Europe and rolled out a Cessna-162 basic trainer the first of some 1500 of these aircraft. According to Aviation Week & Space Technology (AWST) Annual Review Resource Book 2009, ‘Aircraft Forecasting’ Report, China would rank among the major producers of modern fighters in the current decade with the capacity to produce 45 to 48 fighters of the J-10 and J-11 class. This means that the PLAAF would field some 1500 to 2000 modern fighters by 2020