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.

 

[beencensured]

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.

No matter how shit+y they will beg borrow and steal to get.

 

[Pad UwU]

Let's just problemize our own 5gen aircraft if the GoI is seriously on it's materialization.... If we keep on envying the fooking Pakistanis 5gen aircraft... If we want to really FasTrack AMCA we should ask help from Saab, Bae Systems, KAI, LM, Boeing, Rostec or literally jump to 6gen joining with GCAP... Sadly SCAF NGF is still not ready inviting outside countries fron European continent

 

[Pad UwU]

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.

I believe we should ask partnership to foreign developer from Europe, US, Russia or just jump in 6gen joining GCAP especially if AMCA is just a pipe dream let's move forward not stuck in sh!thole like the current time we are in now😺

 

[Pad UwU]

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.

Even tho Kaan and FC31 are still in development they are already flying their prototype while our own d@mn AMCA is still in drawing board 😹😹😹

 

[Pad UwU]

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.

It's because our over obsession of ToT's from foreign countries 😹😹😹 we are going backwards

 

[Tarun Suri]

I’m so happy Pak is planning to get the 5th gen fighters. Unki economy ki vaise hi lagi padi hai and now with 5th procurement they are bound to be doomed . For now they don’t have diesel for tanks and soon will run out of fuel for these expensive jets as well. Khareedo khareedo jaldi khareedo lolz

 

[Pink Panther]

I believe we should ask partnership to foreign developer from Europe, US, Russia or just jump in 6gen joining GCAP especially if AMCA is just a pipe dream let's move forward not stuck in sh!thole like the current time we are in now😺

With the current timeline of all the projects, it is just impossible for AMCA till 2040 at least, at that time all or enemies will be flying 5th or 6th gen aircrafts, when we will be making or upgrading 4th gen aircraft.

 

[Pad UwU]

With the current timeline of all the projects, it is just impossible for AMCA till 2040 at least, at that time all or enemies will be flying 5th or 6th gen aircrafts, when we will be making or upgrading 4th gen aircraft.

Yeah, but our government and other agencies don't see that the way we are in now is not efficient, we are just wasting time till war broke out in Taiwan nor in ASEAN REGION or worst world war iii.... We will be sitting duck against China and Pakistan... I hopefully that we won't loose more territories 😅😺

 

[Pad UwU]

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.

Kakakakak you still believing Turks won't modified it's western aircraft parts that will be also certified and NATO standard compliant 😹😹😹
You need more rice bruh

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Even tho Kaan and FC31 are still in development they are already flying their prototype while our own d@mn AMCA is still in drawing board 😹😹😹

Kaan and FC-31 are aircrafts of different intentions.

Kaan is Turkey's attempt at fielding a Fifth Gen aircraft. But realistically speaking, how good are chances of an islamic republic whose economic output survives on technology inflow from the mainland Europe, to develop a true blue Fifth gen fighter in its first attempt within the next 10 years?

On the other hand FC-31 is built from ground up as an export variant. Basically a glorified 4.5 gen aircraft in the shell of 5th gen aircraft. China will never let its allies lay hands on their creme-de-la-creme 5th gen platform i.e. J-20, so rest assured FC-31 would be fair game for our Rafales and LCA Mk-2.

 

[Sandeep]

Kakakakak you still believing Turks won't modified it's western aircraft parts that will be also certified and NATO standard compliant 😹😹😹
You need more rice bruh

How do you think they can modify it by replacing those NATO technology or components with their own indigenous technology or parts? If turkey knew how to do that then why do they even need those foreign technology and components? They need to use it because they don’t have the knowledge or capability to make it themselves.

 

[Pad UwU]

Kaan is Turkey's attempt at fielding a Fifth Gen aircraft. But realistically speaking, how good are chances of an islamic republic whose economic output survives on technology inflow from the mainland Europe, to develop a true blue Fifth gen fighter in its first attempt within the next 10 years?

Nah, Turks already learned something from it's collaboration with f35 program and secretly modified it's other needed vital parts in aircraft plus other military technology before they were kick out from the f35... Being a member of NATO had beneficial from Turkiye being long time init you think they already get license and had contingency plan of having alternative from most of it's needs except a fully reliable afterburner engine comparable to European and US engine technology.... That's the fruits of their long time NATO membership and a ala Pakistan mindset.... They've fully realize it when it's relationship with other NATO members got sour.... Look at their AESA technology, drones, missile, tanks and more are more advance than us... The only thing is because they had western parts, but now slowly being replaced and can be also use by it's fellow members as parts in their own needs. Turk's are exporting advance tech than us... Sooner or later they already had it's own alternative of s400...

Bruh the only thing I can really see that we are ahead of Turks is our space program and nuclear weapons 😹😹😹 the rest are mix bags IMHO 😺

 

[Pad UwU]

How do you think they can modify it by replacing those NATO technology or components with their own indigenous technology or parts? If turkey knew how to do that then why do they even need those foreign technology and components? They need to use it because they don’t have the knowledge or capability to make it themselves.

You don't know that they have a license technology transfer for it and the word "reverse engineering"????🧐🤔.... I saw it in their Turkish news that the already slowly replacing and fielding vital part in every military technology needs. Doesn't matter if they don't classify it in details because they say the foreign parts are simultaneously being use with its own alternative and it's ambition of other NATO members who got tight budgets get it without any provisions or strings attach...

For your query of why the faq they would but foreign military technology parts is maybe it's more cheaper or a bit little higher quality from them... But higher quality means high price and their comparable alternative is still bit not mature enough to supply it's whole country needs.... You just too much negative just because those sh!tty politicians like Erdogan are obsess of !slam!c Ottoman glory... We are not even different to Erdogan because we are too prideful of H!ndu Glory and most of our other commentators here are haters of !slam!c radicalism😹😹😹
Oh don't forget the Chr!stains too