Pakistan Receives Ilyushin-78MP Mid-Air Fuel Tanker from Ukraine

bhramos

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Pakistan Receives Ilyushin-78MP Mid-Air Fuel Tanker from Ukraine

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman has said that the Pakistan Air Force plans to complete the induction of up to four Ilyushin Il-78 aircraft fitted with a mid-air refueling capability, extending the capacity of its fighter aircraft to patrol areas over the border region by 2010.

In an exclusive interview with Jane’s Defense Weekly, Rao Qamar said, the refueling capability is an "extremely significant" development. "This is an absolutely new capability we are getting, which we are inducting. We never had this capability in the Pakistan Air Force," he said.

Answering to a question, he said, US-supplied F-16 multirole fighter aircraft can stay for up to four, five, six hours in Pakistan’s northern areas bordering Afghanistan.

He said the PAF’s operations in the north have brought significant pressure to bear on Taliban militants, who were on the advance until the recent military campaigns in Swat and Waziristan began reversing the tide.

"They [Taliban militants] never see us on the ground. The only time they find out that an aircraft has struck is when the bomb explodes on them. It creates a great psychological impact", he said.

Replying to a question, Rao Qamar went on to say, the PAF was focused on enemy air forces. We remained focused on enemy land forces and enemy air forces and, therefore, we were preparing ourselves to fight against organized modern air forces and against modern armies.

"We never thought we would be required to fight against militants or be involved in counter-insurgency operations. When we started this [counter-insurgency], we had to learn while on the job. We had to re-orient our thinking, we had to refine our ... existing SOPs [standard operating procedures] and we had to develop new SOPs for this kind of warfare. However, we did that very quickly", he said.

The recent operation has led the PAF to identify new areas for development, such as acquiring more precision-guided bombs, enhanced night precision attack capabilities and the capability to monitor communications and track the movement of militants, he said.

The PAF’s other, already established, requirements include the development of the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, co-produced with China, he said.

The PAF plans to eventually induct up to 250 JF-17 fighters, making the aircraft the backbone of its inventory, he said, adding that, the first ’fully made in Pakistan’ JF-17 is expected to be produced by the end of this year at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra, north of Islamabad. However, there is still a requirement for a more advanced fighter aircraft, as the PAF prepares to counter the future edge that may be acquired by the IAF once it completes the planned purchase of 126 multirole combat aircraft (MRCAs), he said.

"We knew about this requirement of the Indian Air Force for 126 latest-generation fighter aircraft. Yes, it is an alarming development because when they get 126 such capable aircraft, then we also need to have something matching to counter that threat," ACM Qamar said.

Replying to a question, he said, the PAF has finalized the technical proposal for the FC-20 and informed the Chinese of its requirements.

"[The technical proposal] is more or less finalized now. There are some changes that are required, which [the Chinese] are making," he said.

The next stage of the contract will involve financial negotiations between China and Pakistan, he said. Air Chief Marshall Qamar believes that, following the signing of a contract, it will take two to two-and-a-half years before the first FC-20 aircraft is received.

Rao Qamar Suleman answering to a question said the PAF has also signed a contract for the purchase of four Chinese airborne early warning and control aircraft. The first of these is due to arrive in 2011 and the remaining three will be delivered in 2012.

ONLINE - International News Network
 

bhramos

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IL-78MP


Customized variant of the Il-78M, fitted with PS-90 engines and UPAZ refuelling pods for Pakistan Air Force. It's Tanker/transport as opposed to tanker only version, thus fulfilling the requirements of Pakistan Air Force for both transport and air refueling.

The Il-78 has two, removable, 18,230 l fuel tanks installed in the freight hold, giving a transferable load of 85,720 kg (188,584 lb) with hold tanks and 57,720 kg (126,984 lb) without hold tanks. Controlled from the Gunners cockpit, which is stripped of military equipment, 3 aircraft may refuel in flight, simultaneously, from the UPAZ-1A (Il-78) / UPAZ-1M (Il-78M) refuelling pods fitted to the outer wings and rear fuselage. In addition 4 aircraft can also be refuelled on the ground using conventional refuelling hoses extending from the freight hold. Due to the high weights after take-off, which, in an emergency, would mean landing at weights well in excess of maximum allowable landing weight, the Il-78 has a fuel jettison system, with jettison ports at the wingtips.


Fitted with the improved UPAZ-1M refuelling pods, the maximum fuel flow is 2,340 l/min (514.8 Imp gal/min).


General characteristics
Crew: Six
Capacity: 138,000 kg (304,233 lb) of fuel
Length: 46.59 m (152 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in)
Height: 14.76 m (37 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 300 m² (3,230 ft²)
Empty weight: 72,000 kg (202,821 lb)
Useful load: 85,720 kg (188,980 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 210,000 kg (462,962 lb)
Powerplant: 4× Aviadvigatel D-30 KP turbofan engines, 118 kN (26,500 lbf) each
Special equipment: 3 x UPAZ-1M 'Sakhalin', (oonifitseerovannyy podvesnoy agregaht zaprahvki - standardised suspended refuelling unit), refuelling pods; Two on pylons under the outer wings, and the third on the port side of the rear fuselage.

Performance

Maximum speed: 850 km/h (460 kn, 530 mph)
Range: 7,300 km (3,942 nmi, 4,551 mi)
Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,360 ft)
Thrust/weight: 0.23

4 ordered in total, 1 delivered to PAF.
 

A.V.

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"We knew about this requirement of the Indian Air Force for 126 latest-generation fighter aircraft. Yes, it is an alarming development because when they get 126 such capable aircraft, then we also need to have something matching to counter that threat," ACM Qamar said.

so expect a pak MRCA tender soon is it?
so which bird are they looking at to overpower the mrca , who is wiling to sell pak arms and can they afford any other bird other than the gifted ones?
why sound so stupid when the word knows the reality no need to appeal to the masses even they are smarter than the powerholders
 

Rahul Singh

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"We knew about this requirement of the Indian Air Force for 126 latest-generation fighter aircraft. Yes, it is an alarming development because when they get 126 such capable aircraft, then we also need to have something matching to counter that threat," ACM Qamar said.
What matching he is talking about? His country can best buy 10-12 or may be 20 Gripen C/D(dare not to think about 'IN' or 'DEMO') leave aside others jest. Or, is he saying that J-10B is comparable to any contender of 126 race? He should remember that AL-31 is not going to fall in their basket and without this J-10 is a duck(a bird which can not fly). So, Mr. ACM - PAF, please do not utter the words you can not afford, your poor tiny nation can not spend $10-12 billion on multiple defence deal forget on single type.
 

F-14

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there is a basic diffrence between IAF Midas's and PAF MIDAS's ours is MKIzed its built specfic for India this is just general but still it is a Massive Capability boost for the PAF
 

bhramos

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even PAF Midas have Tanker / Transport option , it can be converted which and when in need but IAF Midas dont have that option.
 

proud_hindustani

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Now India will probably do something to answer Pakistan's new purchase of Airfuel Tanker. India and Pakistan always compete each other in augmentation of their defense strength.
 

Rahul Singh

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even PAF Midas have Tanker / Transport option , it can be converted which and when in need but IAF Midas dont have that option.
With such a large fleet of heavy transport aircraft(IL-76) IAF does not necessarily need a duel use platform. These type of aircrafts are for poor air forces. However the new batch of refuellers in IAF will be duel use platforms. In my opinion, reason for this decision could be sudden shortfall in transport fleet due to lack of spares and for time being IAF want to use something like A330 as a filler till IAF receives her C-17, C-130J and MTA.

Now India will probably do something to answer Pakistan's new purchase of Airfuel Tanker. India and Pakistan always compete each other in augmentation of their defense strength.
Wrong assessment! What India do today pakistan tries to adopt tomorrow. Take the case of refuellers. IL-78MKI is serving in IAF for more than four years and it is only today that PAF got mid air refuelling tankers. AWACS deal was signed by MOD for IAF years back then pakistan stepped in to counter(to their belief) it by buying Erieye. AFAIK which they have not formally inducted as of yet. There are numerous examples like BMs, nuclear weapons etc. I think i am clear to you.
 

proud_hindustani

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With such a large fleet of heavy transport aircraft(IL-76) IAF does not necessarily need a duel use platform. These type of aircrafts are for poor air forces. However the new batch of refuellers in IAF will be duel use platforms. In my opinion, reason for this decision could be sudden shortfall in transport fleet due to lack of spares and for time being IAF want to use something like A330 as a filler till IAF receives her C-17, C-130J and MTA.



Wrong assessment! What India do today pakistan tries to adopt tomorrow. Take the case of refuellers. IL-78MKI is serving in IAF for more than four years and it is only today that PAF got mid air refuelling tankers. AWACS deal was signed by MOD for IAF years back then pakistan stepped in to counter(to their belief) it by buying Erieye. AFAIK which they have not formally inducted as of yet. There are numerous examples like BMs, nuclear weapons etc. I think i am clear to you.
I understand what do you mean. Pakistan always tries to acquire what we already have. I have read somewhere pakistanis saying they seeks for the opportunity to get licenses or rights for acquisition of / production of similar or better military toys as India has or develops. suppose, If India successfully develops ICBM / MIRV missile, pakistan will definitely try to get it tomorrow. claiming " we too have the right to get such missiles for our defense purpose" there has always been rivals between these two nations. They are somehow fortunate enough to get aids from USA and saudi arabia. without their aid, pakistan can't even compete India.
 

enlightened1

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even PAF Midas have Tanker / Transport option , it can be converted which and when in need but IAF Midas dont have that option.
All the IL-78MK-90 variants can be modified for cargo ops...but it is rarely done because it is not easy.



 

Ray

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We should recognise the separatist parts of Ukraine and be done with it!
 
S

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This is a baaad photoshop
haha dude its not indian its taken while they were flying near HINDUKUSH RANGES as ukraine is near our border with turkmanistan.:dfi-1:
some specs:
Il-78MP
Customized variant of the Il-78M, fitted with PS-90 engines and UPAZ refuelling pods for Pakistan Air Force. It's Tanker/transport as opposed to tanker only version, thus fulfilling the requirements of Pakistan Air Force for both transport and air refueling
 

bengalraider

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DETAILS OF PAKISTAN AIRFORCE MORDENIZATION PLAN BELOW:
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief of Staff Tanveer Mehmud Ahmad gave an interview to AFM and was published in the September 2008 issue.

-By 2015, PAF would comprise 240 JF-17, 60 F-16's, 40 FC-20's (PAF version of J-10), 50 F-7PG's [for a total of 390 combat aircraft, versus 335 in 2008], along with 4 SAAB Erieye, 4 ZDK-03 (PAF version of Y-8), 4 IL-78 Midas. In 2015 the PAF will remain at its current strength of 15 Squadrons.
The current order status comprised 150 JF-17's, 32 F-16's (variant unspecified), 4 Erieye's, and 4 IL-78.
The Block 52 F-16's will be based at PAF Shahbaz to replace Mirage air defense aircraft.
-The Peshawar based 26 & 16 Squadrons will be the first to convert from A-5 to JF-17 in 2009. Delivery of JF-17 had started and once the assembly facility had been completed at AMF, the induction pace will pick-up to eventually allow delivery of 25-30 aircraft per year to achieve the final numbers by 2015 [this makes no sense, with a 30/year production rate only yielding about 150 aircraft by 2015, not the stated 240]. The 150 JF-17's are expected to equip 7 or 8 squadrons.
-The FC-20 order would be confirmed in 2009. The current J-10 technology was not up to PAF requirements, and PAF hoped to include western equipment in the J-10. This would create a different version than the PLAAF J-10, which would be known as FC-20 in PAF service. The FC-20 would not be required to have conformal fuel tanks, since it had sufficient internal fuel capacity as well as AAR by Il-78 Midas tankers. The FC-20 requirement was 2 squadrons of 36-40 single and dual seater aircraft.
-The IL-78 Midas tankers would provide aerial refueling for all PAF fighter aircraft excepttf the US manufactured F-16s. The F-16s can only refuel with a boom system, and the Midas will be equipped with a probe and drogue underwing pods system. First Midas delivery will commence early 2009. PAF is holding out hope that a KC-135 could be acquired from the US in the near future.
-While the Erieye's will datalink the F-16's, they will not be able to do so with the Mirage fleet. The first Erieye will be delivered in 2009, followed by the remainder by 2011. The Chinese origin fighter aircraft will have AEW&C support from the planned acquisition of 4 ZDK-03 (Chinese Y-8 AWACS). The ZDK-03 contract was close to be being finalised for the required 4 aircraft.
-The PAF is acquiring 2 Squadrons of the Italian Falco UAV with coversion taking place for operations from PAF Mushaf and PAF Peshawar. Eventually, the PAF plans to field 5-6 UAV Sqn's.


Also on the PAF Midas

The pakistani midas is a modified air crago version "not an aircraft built as a refueller from scratch". these are 20 yr old airframes bought from surplus ukraininan stock which were then convertyed for air to air refuelling by ukrainain techincians in the ukraine.
@ SSG -These are capable aircraft nevertheless but they are 20+yrs old. they were soviet airforce planes that were transferred to ukraine and then transferred to the PAF i.e they are third hand airframes.You guys should really start checking how much you pay for such aircraft.



my 1000th post :)
 

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