Oh I have no doubts! They would have mapped the radar signatures by now and probably stored them for use in their radars. Knowing Pakistanis, they would just give the Chinese signature data in exchange for a coal Powerplant or two..
US personnel is supposedly watching paki f16 ?? Only allowed to fly them with US permission?
The us know who the pilot is when the aircraft is being flown for a sortie?
It is maintained by US personnel and only leaves the hangar after US gives the so it is easy to assume that US knows which pilot is flying and the mission
first i do not think this going to materialise....for next one year they will decide , next one year they negotiate , next five years the menufecturing hub will setup...the first aircraft can't rollout before 2025........also both are expensive aircraft @100m$......
Big mistake then in the fighter selection. Both the flight characteristics are similar to the LCA.
I seriously doubt this source. I lost confidence when author mentioned about Pak f 16s.
Possibly. I never said it's authenticity was beyond doubt. Agree to what you say, but you don't look at the Chinese side of the equation. Chinese intelligence is now at a level where they are killing CIA agents. How hard would it be for them to smuggle technical documents out of Pakistan especially when Pakistan will just hand over a copy if requested? Pakis themselves smuggled blueprints for nuclear reactors out of Netherlands, how hard is it for them to pass it on within their own country?
If spares are blocked, Pakistani fleet will become obsolete, they have some spares supplied by Turkey but that is license production.
I really doubt there was a reason for any military intelligence to cover the adversary aircraft closely as the details get know before installation. The only problem is the series in the legacy timeline as a continuation of the force. By force I mean the airforce.
Is this an assumption?..................
You fail to look at the bigger picture. PAF isn't going to use the F16 forever. It's already shifting its major supplier from USA to china. Once the order for the JF17 is fulfilled, Pak will go straight for the J31 which China has made clear that it's a fighter intended for export. It will be ready in 3-5 years. What happens then? India will be stuck with (another??) hundreds of aircrafts with an airframe from the 70s along with a production line for the same. Who's airforce will be at a disadvantage then? They will be flying the shining new J31 and us the old workhorse F16. When the countries start going for modern fighters which they will inevitably, we will be stuck with a production like without much of any orders. This isn't thinking ahead ... you are missing the bigger picture for the want of a small advantage which will be nullified soon anyway.
So even more reason for India not to use the F16. Indian pilots have experience with the F16. Ok. But tell me, PAF Pilots do too. Is it wise to fly into combat with a jet that the enemy knows well or with one who's capabilities the enemy knows little to nothing about?
No. the latest F16 even though it has an obsolete airframe is jammed with the latest goodies interms of radar, avionics, flight control computers,Mission computers, EW suites and the whole package. If you think USA will transfer TOT for these (which is what India really needs) you are mistaken. do you seriously think we will get it? It will be the T90 saga all over again. I have made this point already in one of my earlier posts about the M777.
Building our own is the end goal. But F16 is the wrong route to it.
Mk2 will make progress onlay after technological infusion. Even if, you copy nothing, just the knowledge of some technologies next door will be technology booster for local design and production.
I agree here. If we have 100% knowledge of F-16, it can validate our advancements for MK2.
Do you seriously expect 100% TOT on the Ditigal terrain system, latest EW suite, HMD, Fire control radar, modular Mission computer among others ? Do you think we will get all these (even this being a small list of the subsystems)?
Tangent: The oxygen problem was faced by F22 Pilots too. Hypoxia was a regular trend among the F22 Pilots. They say they have fixed the issue.. but still, to have nagging problems on a platform that's over 15 years old .. that too by the country with the most experience in fifth generation aircrafts and operating them for the longest time...As people here talking about F-35 will be offered to india in future by US..This is happening right now in US
Dozens Of F-35 Fighters Grounded After Oxygen Problem, Pilots Fell Sick
The F-35 stealth fighters were grounded Friday due to five incidents since May 2 in which pilots experienced hypoxia-like symptoms.
WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES: The US Air Force has temporarily grounded dozens of F-35 stealth fighters while it investigates an oxygen supply issue aboard the expensive planes, officials said Monday.
The 56th Fighter Wing of Luke Air Force Base, Arizona "will continue their pause in local F-35A flying to coordinate analysis and communication between pilots, maintainers, medical professionals and a team of military and industry experts," spokeswoman Major Rebecca Heyse said in a statement.
The planes were grounded Friday due to five incidents since May 2 in which pilots experienced hypoxia-like symptoms.
Currently, the Wing has 55 F-35A planes that are used to train pilots from the US and other air forces that are buying the jet.
Heyse said it was unclear when the "pause" would be lifted, but noted that none of the incidents were serious and pilots were able to use their training to avert any problems.
"The safety of our airmen is paramount and we will take as much time as necessary to ensure their safety," she said.
Another spokesman, Captain Mark Graff, said in a statement that a backup oxygen system kicked in as designed.
The F-35 comes in three versions, with the "A" model being that of the Air Force.
The Marines have a version that can land vertically, and the Navy's variant will be able to land on carriers.
With a current development and acquisition price tag already at $379 billion for a total of 2,443 F-35 aircraft -- most destined for the Air Force -- the F-35 is the most expensive plane in history, and costs are set rise further still.
Once servicing and maintenance costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft's lifespan through 2070, overall program costs are expected to rise to $1.5 trillion.
Proponents tout the F-35's radar-dodging stealth technology, supersonic speeds, close air-support capabilities, airborne agility and a massive array of sensors giving pilots unparalleled access to information.
But the program has faced numerous delays, cost overruns and setbacks, including a mysterious engine fire in 2014 that led commanders to ground planes until the problem could be resolved.
Other problems include software bugs, technical glitches and even a faulty eject system that risked killing pilots who weighed less than 136 pounds (62 kilograms).
