plawolf
Lieutenant General
I think a big factor in the PAF not going for the J10 is because they are waiting on the Chinese single engine 5th gen.
A J10 buy will only grant them technological parity, but does not really change the strategic balance due to Indian numbers.
A 5th gen will fundamentally change the entire strategic balance as it will allow the PAF to defeat a numerically superior opponent with high confidence.
I think the PAF would be much more clued in on the projected timeframe for the J31/35 or maybe even an equivalent offering from CAC. As such, they might have decided to save up to buy straight into the future Chinese single engined 5th gen once that becomes available.
With recent Indian shenanigans on the boarder, China is probably in the mood to shit in India’s curry, and may expedite approvals and export clearances. Although I would expect that China would demand at a minimum equivalent security measures as what the BlK60 F16s are getting, and may even limit the PAF 5th gens to operating from Chinese bases while in peacetime. That means the planes can fly into Pakistan for training, but must return to bases on the Chinese side to ensure hostile foreign forces do not gain unauthorised access.
A J10 buy will only grant them technological parity, but does not really change the strategic balance due to Indian numbers.
A 5th gen will fundamentally change the entire strategic balance as it will allow the PAF to defeat a numerically superior opponent with high confidence.
I think the PAF would be much more clued in on the projected timeframe for the J31/35 or maybe even an equivalent offering from CAC. As such, they might have decided to save up to buy straight into the future Chinese single engined 5th gen once that becomes available.
With recent Indian shenanigans on the boarder, China is probably in the mood to shit in India’s curry, and may expedite approvals and export clearances. Although I would expect that China would demand at a minimum equivalent security measures as what the BlK60 F16s are getting, and may even limit the PAF 5th gens to operating from Chinese bases while in peacetime. That means the planes can fly into Pakistan for training, but must return to bases on the Chinese side to ensure hostile foreign forces do not gain unauthorised access.
