USAF Denies To Acquire More Fourth Generation Fighters

The US Air Force has denied any plans to purchase another tranche of Lockheed Martin F-16 or Boeing F-15 combat jets following reports it could seek bids for up to 72 new aircraft.

According to comments attributed to a senior US Air Combat Command official at an international fighter conference in London last week, the current Lockheed F-35 procurement plan could prove unaffordable, and another fighter wing of F-15s, F-16s or perhaps even F/A-18s is being considered to supplement the current fleet – which will serve into the 2040s as F-35s are delivered.

The air force is seeking 1,763 F-35As through 2038, and in the interim it intends to modernise and upgrade its F-16s and F-15s with new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and electronic warfare systems.

Asked to categorically confirm or deny any new fighter purchase, a spokesman for the service’s acquisition office says: “At this time the air force has no plans to acquire 72 new F-15s or F-16s, although the air force is always looking at options to be prepared for a dynamic global security environment.”

In his final press engagement at the Pentagon on 24 November, outgoing air force acquisition chief Bill LaPlante was dismissive of suggestions that another F-15 or F-16 fighter wing is being sought, but he agrees that the F-35 is difficult to afford.

“That story was news to me,” he quipped. “We’re always struggling to get the production rate as high as we can get it on F-35. That’s as true as saying it’s cold outside. It’s always true.”

The conventional take-off and landing A-model costs just shy of $100 million per aircraft, but LaPlante says the F-35 joint programme office and the Lockheed industry team are trying to reduce that to $85 million as the manufacturing process matures.

The service stopped acquiring fourth-generation F-16s and F-15s many years ago to instead focus on developing and procuring stealthy F-22s and F-35s, but both acquisitions were far more expensive and lengthy than originally planned.

The opportunity to purchase more legacy jets, which have been kept in production through foreign military sales, is closing fast, with the Lockheed F-16 and Boeing F-15 and F/A-18 assembly lines potentially closing before the turn of the decade if no more domestic or foreign orders materialise.

The air force has budgeted for 44 F-35s in fiscal year 2016 and 48 in 2017, and is building toward a production cadence of 60 jets per year by 2018 and then 80 beyond 2020.

From The "Anatolian Eagle-2015"

Pakistan and Turkey started Joint Air Drill 'TUSAP Raiders 2014'

Pakistani and Turkish Air Forces team up for a joint training exercise codenamed 'TUSAP Raiders 2014' in Konya, Turkey from 1st-12th of September. The aim of the exercise is to boost an already mature cooperation between Pakistan and Turkish Air Force. Its worth noting that both countries regularly exchange F-16 pilots on deputation duties. Pakistan Air Force has deployed 6 F-16s for the exercise while Turkish Air Force has dispatched 27 F-16s and and Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft among other assets.

My Nominees For The Talks: Taliban Isues on The Head of An Analyst in The "defence.pk" forum

In a news thread of "http://defence.pk" forum, a Pakistani member said the comment " My nominees for the talks", through means of the image below: 

"My Nominees For The Talks"

 Its an old news that Indian Govt. helping and nurturing Pakistani tribal terrorist sitting from Kabul through borders. They (Indian Espionage agents-specially hated RAW) bought heads of tribes in North Pakistan and Baluchistan, give them steak of Dollars and these mother less cow boys washed their (tribes) brains against the Pakistan Army & State Machine, and ultimately make them angry to attack them. Mostly these bloody Indians says them "Pakistan Army demolished the well formed Taliban Govt. from Afghanistan, so, they should be punished".

Some years earlier, these money sucker so called religious terrorists (mainly payed by Indian Govt.) attacked Pakistan Navy's "Mehran Base" at Karachi to destroy those ultramodern "SAAB Eriye-2000" AEW&Cs, which are only belongs to Pakistan in the region. These possession makes India jealous or anxious that Pakistan could watch out their illegal activities in the Kashmir region and they can see forth them beyond their borders far more inside the India!

 Here is a link where the foreign (Indian) involvement in the attack is described well:

Wednesday, May 25, 2011 Foreign hand behind PNS Mehran Base attack

And lastly its a clear fact that India uses this so called Islamist Terrorist card against Pakistan, Bangladesh in the region to establish her fucking wish of "regional big brother"! Analysts said that Delhi's "south block" prepares a bloody strategy to achieve her goals to gain the edge over!

A terrorist was strongly connected to the RAW operators in Kabul Station

But, luck doesn't favors until wishes are cleaned from devil shadows, because Indians are the worshiper of most "EVIL GODS" in the world! So, time will say who will be fucked on ground! :) 

A History of Disgrace_N-series of the F-16s

Introduction

The US Navy was the only operator of the special N-series of the F-16. They were specifically designed for the Navy to be used as agressor aircraft in a dissimilar combat environment. The airframes featured a strenghtened structure and although derivatives of the C/D-models they had the older APG-66 radar installed.

US Navy aggressor: VF-45 'Blackbirds' TF-16N #163281 [Photo by Keith]

Inventory

F-16N & TF-16N

The U.S. Navy announced in January 1985 that it had selected the F-16 to fulfil its dissimilar air combat training (DACT) requirement. The F-16s were going to be used as adversary aircraft, emulating Soviet aircraft capabilities and tactics. A total of 22 single seat F-16N's and four two-seat TF-16N trainers were ordered by the Navy.

The F-16N and F-16N aircraft were based on F-16 Block 30E models, and were all built during 1987/1988. They were optimized for one thing only: the Dissimilar Air Combat Training mission. The airframes were made lighter, and they were strengthened to cope with the continuous high-G loads associated with air combat manoeuvring. To save weight, the F-16N was fitted with the less cabable but lighter APG-66 radar of earlier F-16A/B models, the M61 A1 internal gun was removed, and all provisions for external stores were removed. All F-16Ns used the General Electric F110-GE-100 engine. TF-16N models are identical to F-16Ns except for the addition of a second seat.

Deliveries of the F-16N to the Navy began in early 1987 and ended in May 1988. In April 1987, VF-126 Bandits based at NAS Miramar achieved IOC with 6 aircraft. Three other units followed: VF-45 Blackbirds from NAS Key West, VF-43 Challengers from NAS Oceana, and the Navy Fighter Weapons School at NAS Miramar. The latter operated one aircraft in "Marines" markings to represent the USMC's participation in the adversary program.

Despite the fact that (T)F-16Ns were strenghtened, the airframes were experiencing metal fatigue before the end of their operational lifetime. This resulted in their premature withdrawal from service. In 1991, the Navy temporarily grounded its F-16 fleet. The adversary training mission was more and more shifted to F-14s and F-18s. Finally, in 1994, the US Navy announced the retirment of the (T)F-16N fleet; the last F-16N arrived at Davis-Monthan AFB in January 1995.

Embargoed Pakistani F-16s

After the withdrawal of the (T)F-16N's, the Navy found itself lacking a high performance aggressor aircraft, and the decision was made to re-introduce the F-16. Fourteen airframes, ordered by Pakistan in the early nineties but never delivered to the country because of a weapons embargo, were taken out of storage and delivered to the Navy. Since the aircraft were stored at AMARC straight from the production line, these airframes have a very low airframe life, making them useful for the demanding aggressor task. These aircraft are also the last Block 15s ever built, and are more advanced than any other F-16A/B stored at AMARC. Additional Pakistani aircraft will go to the USAF.

U.S. Navy F-16B #92-0460, one of fourteen embargoed Pakistani F-16s, now used for Dissimilar Air Combat Training by the Navy. [Tailslides photo by Fred Krause]

Modifications & Armament

Armament

The F-16N was optimized to conduct DACT. The only 'armament' they could carry was an ACMI pod under the engine intake.

Avionics

Contrary to normal C/D models, these aircraft had the earlier A/B models' AN/APG-66 radar installed, mainly to save weight. The (T)F-16N aircraft were fitted with an ALR-69 radar warning receiver, instead of the standard ALR-56M fitted to USAF F-16s, plus an ALE-40 chaff/flare dispenser.

Arrestor hook

It is worth noting that even though the U.S. Navy F-16Ns and TF-16Ns retained the standard runway arrestor hook fitted to all F-16s, it was not able to land on aircraft carriers. The F-16 and its landing gear in particular are simply not designed to absorb the high impact energy associated with carrier landings. The arrestor hook is used only in emergencies, e.g. to prevent runway overruns.

Source: www.f-16.net

Warplanes Kissing Pakistan's Air Spaces

Some Stunning PAF Videos

PAF’s firepower demo marks precise hit at enemy targets

THAL RANGE, Apr 6 (APP): Making bomb runs with dive deliveries of weapons and hitting at enemy’s mock bunkers, the fighter aircraft of Pakistan Air Force on Tuesday demonstrated a high level of tactical preparedness featuring speed, precision and strength.With thunderous supersonic boom, the aircraft representing PAF’s fleet including F-16s, JF-17 Thunder, Mirages and F-7 JP appeared in the blue skies during PAF’s Firepower Demonstration at Thal Range, that spans over an area of 34,000 acres. 

The demo started with two A-5 aircraft - one carrying a National Flag and the other with a welcome banner, flew past the audience including Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, services chiefs, parliamentarians and PAF officials.
Two Mirage aircraft showcased the recently acquired aerial refuelling from the IL-76 refueller, maintaining a skilful distance of just 13-26 metres from the tanker.
An F-16 aircraft flying at an ultra-low altitude and releasing chaff and flares for self-defence, dropped two mark of 2,000 pound bombs at the target, that received a loud applause by the audience.
Four JF-17 thunder aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, dropped their weapons at 1,900 feet, targeting the mock hideouts of militants at 3 o’ clock position.
In an impressive performance, a Mirage aircraft flying at extremely low 200 feet, dropped its weapons at the enemy targets, while two F-16 at 250 km and maintaining a speed of 480 knots released two mark 84 bombs of 2000 pounds, at the targets. 

Four Mirage - the Night Hawks, capable of low level penetration, allowing minimum time to the enemy and achieving surprise, dropped 5,000 pounds bombs. The weapons generated a high explosive effect against the hardened bunkers.
The H-2 weapon - a wide-range television guided missile, was dropped by two Mirage aircraft at a mud platform, staying at 100-140 kms away from the target, thus making it possible to create a lethal and precise attack at far-off range.

  The PAF’s Special Service Wing demonstrated the targeting of terrorists’ hideouts in their exercise. A C-130 demonstrated the air to container delivery operation, while the MI 171 used as assault and anti-terrorist aircraft, showed the direct action by commandoes of Pakistan Army who landed swiftly from the aircraft and moved to the compound of terrorists.
The SAAB aircraft flew past the audience, that has a Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW & CS) with a capability to see and scan a target at 450 km distance.
In the end, the audience was enthralled as the ‘Sherdils’ - the aerobatic team of PAF Academy RisalPur, with T-37 aircraft approached emitting out red and green coloured fumes, and presented exquisite maneuvers followed by a wing-over demo. 

The entire exercise was carried out in a near real situation with an objective of depicting fighter pilots’s capabilities of avoiding collateral damage and inflicting maximum damage to the enemy targets.

Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group to Produce 1,200 J-10 Fighters

J-10A

J-10B Fighter Jet In Production

Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group will produce a total of 1,200 J-10 fighters for the PLA Force to counter F-16 fighters over the Taiwan Strait and Western Pacific, according to our sister paper Want Daily.

The Moscow-based Voice of Russia says the J-10A uses the Lyulka-Saturn AL-31FN turbofan engine imported from Russia due to difficulties in the development of China's WS-10 Taihang engine. The newer J-10B variant will be fitted with the Taihang engine.

Geng Ruguang, senior vice president of China Aviation Industry Corporation, said the development of the J-10, Taihang engine and PL-12 air-to-air missile shows China has become the fourth nation in the world to design and produce its own advanced fighter.

Geng said the J-10B's active phased array airborne radar enables the fighter to track six targets and engage four of them simultaneously. Geng also said the J-10's radar system can also lock on to US F-16 and Japanese F-2 fighters without difficulty. Furthermore, the PL-12 air-to-air missile designed for the J-10 boasts similar specs to the US-built AIM-120 air-to-air missile used by the F-16A/B fighters of Taiwan's air force.

Taiwan currently has 388 fighters, of which 145 are F-16A/Bs purchased from the United States. The imbalance in the size of the size of the fighter fleets on opposing sides of the Taiwan Strait is a matter of serious concern for Taiwan's security.

Between 2014 and 2015, 36 J-10B fighters will also be supplied to the Pakistan Air Force under the name FC-20.

 

In Symbolic Move, US Delays Delivery of F-16s to Egypt

 

 

WASHINGTON — The decision by the Obama administration to stop delivery of several F-16s to Egypt, confirmed Thursday after word leaked that the fighters would be held at Lockheed Martin’s plant, would delay completion of a deal that is about two-thirds completed as the US debates how to support a military regime that overthrew President Mohammed Morsi earlier this month.

Of the 20 aircraft ordered in 2010 at a cost of $213 million, roughly a dozen have already been delivered — 14 according to one source — and the remaining half dozen are nearing completion, sources said. The deal predates the ouster of one-time ruler Hosni Mubarak; Congress originally was notified of a deal for upwards of 24 aircraft in 2009.

 

But the optics of delivering aircraft to a military that has recently removed a democratically elected president in Morsi has complicated matters. The administration has been careful to avoid describing the government transition as a coup, largely trapped by a law that requires the cessation of foreign military aid in such an event. Egypt receives roughly $1.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing, a key lever of influence for the US with the military regime.

Because so many of the fighters have already been delivered, the decision is largely symbolic, part of an ongoing calibration of how to convince the Egyptian military to return the country to democracy, said Phil Finnegan, an analyst with the Teal Group.

“The US is walking a tightrope with this,” Finnegan said. “The US doesn’t want to encourage any sort of resumption of an authoritarian regime. It’s a carrot and stick. We want a close relationship, but you have to move convincingly towards elections.”

While the F-16s are being delayed, administration officials have been careful to caution that the move does not mean military aid will be stopped.

 

“This was a very specific decision made at this specific time about this specific case,” said Jennifer Psaki, spokeswoman for the State Department. “So I would caution you to read further into it.”

Without using the word “coup,” Psaki acknowledged that the administration is considering its obligations in regards to aid.

“We do not believe that it would be in the best interests of the United States to immediately change all of our assistance to Egypt,” she said. “We are reviewing our obligations under the law and are consulting with Congress about the way forward. Given the current situation in Egypt, we do not believe it is appropriate to move forward with the delivery of F-16s at this time.”

For Lockheed Martin, the contractor producing the aircraft, the decision has little impact. Since the sale was routed through the foreign military sales process, a technique that means the US government procures products and then in turn sells the equipment to overseas allies, the contractor will continue to produce the planes and will get paid regardless.

Asked about the delay, Lockheed issued a statement directing questions to the administration.

“This is an FMS program between the U.S. Government and the Government of Egypt,” the statement said. “As such, any questions should be referred to the USG.”

Once the remaining half dozen aircraft are built they’ll likely be stuck at Lockheed’s Fort Worth, Texas, production line until delivery resumes. No date has been announced, but the aircraft are likely to remain in limbo until elections are held, experts said.

At that point, the appearance of supporting a military regime that supplanted a democratically elected one would be eliminated.

That the military regime leans toward the secular encourages continued efforts to aid its leaders, despite the optics, Finnegan said.

“On the one hand, we don’t want to deal with people who overthrow democracy,” he said. “On the other hand, the people who overthrew the government are more closely aligned with our values.”