JF-17/FC-1 Fighter Aircraft thread
- Thread starter johnqh
- Start date
Ohh ... it is not from the 3. Division, but from the 18. !??
plawolf
Lieutenant General
I admit that this story is only tangentially relevant, but critics have often used continued Pakistani purchases of F16s as 'evidence' of some deficiency with the JF17.
This article proves that a massive part of the reason the PAF keeps buying F16s from the US is because the US massively subsidies those fighters.
So, Pakistan was supposed to pay a total of $270m towards the fighters, with the US footing the remaining $700m tab. Meaning Pakistan was paying $33.75m for a $121m plane.
This article proves that a massive part of the reason the PAF keeps buying F16s from the US is because the US massively subsidies those fighters.
US 'drops planned Pakistan F-16 fighter jet subsidy'
By Brajesh UpadhyayBBC News, Washington
- 10 minutes ago
- From the section
Image copyrightAFP
Image captionThe eight F-16s and their equipment would cost Pakistan over $700m
The US will no longer subsidise the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, a senior state department official has told the BBC.
The decision means that Pakistan will have to pay more than $700m (£480m) - two-and-a-half times the original cost - if it wishes to buy the aircraft.
It comes after Congress refused to approve funding for the deal.
Some US lawmakers had accused Pakistan of not doing enough to fight militants. India also objected to the sale.
However, Pakistan has argued that the jets are needed for anti-terror operations, and so the US should help with funding the purchase.
People close to the deal say it is highly unlikely that Pakistan will be willing to pay the full cost of the fighter jets, so it seems to be off for all practical purposes.
A spokesman for the Pakistan embassy in Washington, Nadeem Hotiana, told the BBC that arms sales were a long process and that he would not comment on the deal's current status.
"F-16s provide precision strike capability to Pakistan's ongoing campaign against militancy," he said.
"Pakistan believes that the threat from terrorist networks requires continued capacity building and both governments continue to work together towards this objective through a range of measures including the sale of these aircraft."
Image copyrightReuters
Image captionPakistan is battling several militant groups at its borders
The senior US state department official, who asked to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak on the matter, says the Obama administration is still very much in favour of selling the fighter jets to Pakistan as it believes it is in the national interest of the United States.
However, Pakistan would have to bear the full cost of the F-16 fighter jets if it wished to proceed, he said.
The original arrangement had been that Pakistan would pay close to $270m, with the US foreign military financing budget paying for the rest.
However, top US lawmakers have expressed concerns over the US government's decision to sell the jets to Pakistan, saying they could be used against India rather than for combating terrorism.
Speaking on Wednesday, Congressman Matt Salmon : "India-Pakistan tensions remain elevated, and some question whether the F-16s could ultimately be used against India or other regional powers, rather than the terrorists as Pakistan has asserted."
So, Pakistan was supposed to pay a total of $270m towards the fighters, with the US footing the remaining $700m tab. Meaning Pakistan was paying $33.75m for a $121m plane.
Nations named as major non-NATO allies are eligible for the following benefits:
- entry into cooperative research and development projects with the (DoD) on a shared-cost basis
- participation in certain initiatives
- purchase of rounds
- priority delivery of (ranging from to )
- possession of of DoD-owned equipment that are kept outside of
- loans of equipment and materials for cooperative research and development projects and evaluations
- permission to use American for the purchase or lease of certain defense equipment
- reciprocal training
- expedited export processing of
- permission for the country's to bid on certain DoD contracts for the repair and maintenance of military equipment outside the United States
Key information from that online report:
*. The launching ceremony was held 3 days ago(2016.4.27) at CAC, representatives from Pakistan attended, leading by Air Marshal Muhammad Iqbal
*. That big bump on JF-17's back should be a signature of the dual-seat version.
*. Maiden flight was scheduled around the end of this year, delivery to PAF was expected @ April 2017.