Pakistan's 5th-Gen Air Force Plans Grounded by Economic Constraints and Acquisition Costs

Pakistan's bold plans to acquire 5th-generation fighter jets are facing severe financial and technological hurdles. The proposed purchase of China's FC-31 Gyrfalcon, still in development and potentially hampered by US sanctions, could strain the country's already fragile economy.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's interest in Turkey's "KAAN" program is clouded by its inability to contribute financially and the project's own engine development delays.

The scrapping of Pakistan's Project Azm, its failed attempt at an indigenous 5th-generation fighter, underscores the country's technological limitations. This reliance on foreign technology raises immediate questions about long-term affordability.

Pakistan's desire for a modern air force is clear, but the current path is unsustainable. The FC-31 deal is a major gamble, while the KAAN appears out of reach without significant investment. Pakistan must urgently address these financial and technological hurdles or risk jeopardizing its airpower modernization.

The country's vision for a fully 5th-generation fleet within 25 years relies on overcoming these barriers—a task that demands creative financing solutions, deft geopolitical maneuvering, and potentially exploring alternative engine options for the KAAN fighter.

 

[Bharat007]

Why India always compare itself with beggar Pak??? Our direct threat is China now. Need to shift our focus from Pak to China because Pak is Chinese Colony. If India attempts to match Chinese military then Pak is nowhere compared to us. So, focus on China.

 

[Pink Panther]

Good for them, let them get them, we are happy with locally made mini 4th gen fighter jets and 62 super expensive foreign made 4th gen jets, India’s IAF is more proud of their foreign watches and intent to acquire more foreign watches for all their relatives rather than thinking about a 5th gen fighter jet for India right now.

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Unnecessary "Cry wolf" article.
FC-31 and Kaan are still in-development articles that Pakistan "may" buy.

Its not like these are rolling of assembly lines today and destined straight to Rawalpindi.

Similarly India has its options if it wants to buy 5th gen planes off the market.

But in either case, our primary concern should be the J-20s which our immediate adversary possesses in its fleet and is rapidly adding to the lethality as well as count of the platform in its fleet. I am certain our planners are accounting their acquisition strategy keeping the J-20 in mind and not Kaan and FC-31.

 

[Ayyadurai Namasivayam]

Pakistan is going in a right way. Only india is going in the wrong way. We are wasting our time only for TOT. . This approach is waste.

 

[Radha Ramanan]

the possibilities of china supplying is there, but turkey , is a big doubt as US will never allow its engines to be exported to Pakistan, though the engines are the same as the ones used in the f-16. there are also other US built components that are hard to replace. Turkey had obtained the production engineering know how from US to build sections of the F-35 as well. They used that knowledge to build the KAAN . We faced that ordeal after the phokran blasts. Engines, actuators and many things apart from the engine .Today i dont think there are many US parts on the LCA.
The other reason is US does not want a cheaper alternative to compete with the f-35.

US will not forgive or forget turkeys back stabbing by buying the s-400 missile system in spite of being a NATO partner, Turkey is the European pakistan. Turkey has a great advantage as a nato partner and get all sub systems from western countries as an ally and copies them . If you see the the turkish short range IIR CCM missile its a virtual copy of the US aim -9x . so is the copy of the amraam.

Now flying a prototype of the KAAN is one thing and producing it is another . they will certainly not enjoy the economies of scale as the US built f-35. The first ones were sold at 150 mil$ or more leave alone the support system cost. Now the cost per unit is nearly 80 mil$ which seems crazy.. cheaper than the Rafale base unit. More over it had extensive help from BAE for the overall design of the fighter and help in practically every thing. The US will have a trick or two under wraps to stop the export. That`s why they a re desperate to strike a good deal with rolls royce for an independent engine development like what we are trying for the LCA. Any engine is 10 + years to build and certify .

 

[Frank]

Turkey is building 5th gen fighter jets while we are wasting money on vanity projects like Gaganyan..

 

[Hari Sud]

Is Turkey giving it free to Pakistan or IMF will fund this acquisitions.

 

[Sangram]

But I read news KAAN first batch is come in 2028

 

[Nishant]

Why India always compare itself with beggar Pak??? Our direct threat is China now. Need to shift our focus from Pak to China because Pak is Chinese Colony. If India attempts to match Chinese military then Pak is nowhere compared to us. So, focus on China.

Pak is still nowhere compared to us. But Pak is Chinese vassal state.

But it feels nice to read that Pak's economy is in shi**y state and they will not be able to afford any 5th Gen jet.

 

[desigandu]

keep dreaming Pakis...Bhikaris...

 

[Sunnyj]

Porkis marching ahead while we are busy with intergalactic tests, lobbying, tenders,RFI-RFx,brochuritis 🤦‍♂️

 

[Surendra Barsode]

Pakistan will get J 31 on lease from China as and when required; it need not buy anything from either China or Turkey. China would certainly help Pakistan in event of war with India. So we should be ready to deal with this scenario and deal with it appropriately. Ideally, we should ensure that no PAF aircraft can take off from any airstrip and if airborne, should be sorted by S 400. The rest will be handled by Rafale, Su 30 MKI and Tejas Mark II.

 

[Indian1]

Wow! A country where children going to school and sick people going to hospital are considered as offences set out on making stealth fighter jet.

 

[SURESH RAO]

Now Pakistan will warn India like this. "We will buy Rafale F4 which is superior to Rafale F3".

 

[Puneet]

India vs speed up AMCA and not worry about others

 

[Sandeep]

No matter what Turkey wont be able to sell these fighters to Pakistan. On their jet there is a lot of western technology from the USA and NATO allies and the USA will not be happy to have any technology shared with China because of the close relationship with both of them. If they did buy it then China would definitely study and look at the advanced technology and learn how it works so they can reverse engineer as much as possible for their own intellectual progress in fake 5th generation jet.

So India shouldn't worry too much about all of the noise and hype about Pakistan getting any stealth jet at all. Not even China would trust them to keep any advanced technology a secret as it would definitely sell the technology to the USA who would gladly pay to find any weaknesses in so called Chinese stealth jets.

 

[Aayush Pratap]

Arey kapde bhi bik jayenge. Bas Karo yaar, rulaoge kya? 😂

 

[Sujoy Basu]

We need to do AMCA development more quickly. HAL also needs to increase its manufacturing capacity, so that more TEJAS are available every year.

 

[Sujoy Basu]

Arey kapde bhi bik jayenge. Bas Karo yaar, rulaoge kya? 😂

😂😂