PAF Confirms Talks for Purchasing Russian Su-35

(IHS Janes)The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has discussed buying Su-35 'Flanker-E' fighter aircraft from Russia in potentially the largest defence deal between the two countries, but a final decision is yet to be made, a senior Pakistani government official has confirmed to IHS Jane's .

The official was responding to Russian media reports that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had said talks were underway for an unspecified number of Su-35s, which follow a recent agreement to provide Mi-35M 'Hind E' attack helicopters to Islamabad.

While the official said "it's too early to say if a deal will conclude and the terms", the fact that discussions have taken place shows Russia's willingness to sell advanced hardware with Pakistan despite Moscow's longstanding ties with India.

The official said Pakistan's interest in the Su-35 was driven by the PAF's need for a twin-engine fighter "that can fly for a longer range than the JF-17 and penetrate more deeply into the enemy's territory". The PAF flies a mixed fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s, Dassault Mirage-5s, Chinese-manufactured F-7s, and the JF-17 Thunder, which is jointly produced by China and Pakistan.

In November 2014 a senior Pakistani official told IHS Jane's that Pakistan was in discussions with China to buy 30 to 40 FC-31s - the export version of China's J-31 fifth-generation platform. At the time, the official told IHS Jane's that Pakistan was interested in the platform partly because it was fitted with two RD-93 Russian Klimov engines, which also powers the JF-17. PAF officials have also told IHS Jane's in the past that they have considered the purchase of up to 40 Chengdu J-10 fighters.

ANALYSIS

So, It is official now!

Finally Pakistan is looking for building a response for expanding Indian maritime aviation threat after induction of Mig-29K on board INS Vikramaditya. Pakistan Naval Aviation and PAF both have no match for such potent aircraft in Indian arsenal. Need for a twin engine fighter for this particular role was there since long time. But Pakistan's problem are multi-folded. Not only IAF and IN have high tech fighter jets in numbers, India has a long coastal line along Arabian Sea which runs southwards deep into Indian Ocean. This coastline provide strategic depth to IN and IAF against any PN/PAF response in case of war. Keeping all these point in mind, SU-35 is perhaps the most suitable fighter PAF must procure. It has both the range and higher payload. PAF's current fighter inventory lack on range parameter particularly. According to IHS Janes, the negotiations are still in early phase hopefully this time PAF would not make a mess like they did in 1990's when Pakistan was interested in securing a deal of SU-27 Basic flanker model from Ukraine!

J-11D: China continues to improve its Flankers family

By Shahzad Masood Roomi

Secrecy always remains the hallmark of Chinese military programs especially the military aviation projects. Since 2004, when Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) first introduced the Chinese version of Soviet Sukhoi SU-27, as J-11B, this military program has been an intriguingly attractive for military experts around the world. So far, SAC has introduced various versions of Chinese flanker program. Latest addition to the family is J-11D. Prior to this, J-15 (carrier born version) and J-16 (strike version) were introduced. J-11D is yet another proof that Chinese have not done looking into their own flankers family for the room of further improvements.

As mentioned earlier Chinese remain highly secretive about their military aviation projects, any information reaches to open-source domain is through online Chinese military forums.  According to internet forums, J-11D is further development of J-11B with focus on integration of modern technologies built by Chinese firms like Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, composite metals and radar absorbing materials along with capabilities to carry latest Chinese built Air to Air missiles. J-11D would carry PL-10 WVR AAM and PL-15 BVR AAM. PL-15 is the latest addition in Chinese long range AAM which has become new principle BVR weapon on board PLAN/PLAF aircraft. The missile has a range in proximity of 100 Km and incorporate new duplex datalink and new active/passive dual mode seeker with enhanced ECCM capabilityApart from this, the under wing weapon stations have been increased from 2 (in J-11B) to 3 (in J-11D).Its forward IRST/LR appears to have been offset to the starboard side of the windshield, suggesting an IFR probe was installed on the port side, an arrangement similar to that of J-15.

WS-10B Block II has been sighted as the future power plant for J-11D. Chinese sources also hint that some earlier J-11B would also be converted into J-11D. As per IHS Janes, This variant also reportedly features a news indigenous full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system to improve the performance. Janes also mentioned, a new glass cockpit and electronic war suit for this latest incarnation of Chinese flankers.

Compared to Su-16, J-11D is smaller in size but Its radar, EW systems, FBW systems, and communications equipment are the same as those aboard the Shenyang J-16. First flight of J-11D prototype D1101 took place on 29 April 2015.