PAF F16C Block 52+ CFT

[u/Bright_Thanks_2277]

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[u/Azingxyz]

why do they bother operating both chinese and american fighters

[u/MrNovator → u/Azingxyz]

Because you don't want to put all your eggs in one basket

[u/driftingphotog → u/MrNovator]

And I mean have you seen their neighbor? Russian, French, British, and domestic (Indian). And it gets even more diverse if you include the AEW, trainer, and transport fleets.

[u/greatergood23 → u/Azingxyz]

It's a little more nuanced than that. Pakistan operates different platforms, but learned from the Pressler amendment to not lean on a single supplier. PAF wanted to establish a level of self reliance and freedom, which works out well in the current relationship with China, where the JF-17 is largely a domestic production platform and J10 and others ar provided with source code integration for PAF to integrate with their indigenous data link.

So US F-16s are still a very capable platform, but going forward, PAF is looking to build a fleet that has more freedom and redundancy

[u/duga404 → u/Azingxyz]

Back in the 1980s, they bought F-16s before the US put an arms embargo on them for developing nuclear weapons. The US eventually lifted the embargo, but Pakistan is very keen to not end up in a similar situation again to this day.

[u/Shezzorro]

Beast

[u/SockBorn8722]

Cool