Why every other Super Power is offering Pakistan Fighter Jets and what’s in it for Pakistan?

Couple of years back Pakistan was thirstily looking for a possible acquisition of fighter jets and no country besides China was offering them any. Now! US, Russia & China have offered fighter jets to Pakistan, good times to be in the top command of Pakistan Armed Force.

How will the deal go down is a question for the future but things are starting to get interesting. I don’t have all the details but these acquisition are not possible by paying the amount in cash, it is certainly a deal on credit. But the real question is what has prompted these countries to offer one of their leading jets to Pakistan, a country which is at odds with a so called Super Power. 

Let’s first take a look on what China is offering. FC-20 or more popularly known as J10B. Pakistan engineers/pilots were hooked on the jet a long time, the time when J10 was on trial. Pakistanis were so interested that they requested several modification and upgrade to the jet, which later lead to the creation of J10B. Now when the plane is ready Pakistan is having trouble with financing the acquisition, even though the chances of credit terms (they still have to pay back the loan). Then there is also the question of maintaining the plane. A new kind of jet means huge maintenance cost as they have to develop a whole infrastructure for it. News is that one of the trial plane is flying with a Chinese Engine – regular planes have Russian engine which is cause of concern – just in case relationship deteriorates with Russia.

Second in the line of offering is Russian SU35 fighter jet. The fighter has develop it’s identity as one of the most agile modern fighter jets – ideal for dogfights, which Pakistan is famous for. Though there is a School of Thought which believes that the age of dogfights is over – but not Pakistanis. Thanks due to sanction for most of the previous decade Pakistan was denied acquisition of latest fighter jets which have the capability to fire missiles that are beyond visual range (i.e BVR missiles), Pakistan has acquired the art of getting closer to the enemy and then popping up for a dogfight. The SU35 is not just about dogfights, it is one of most potent fighters in the Industry and the most advance product in offering for Pakistan. The reason Russia has offered it to Pakistan can be associated to

1. India inclination to the United States has prompted Russia to take sides
2. They are just finding new customer for their product
3. Pakistan inclusion in SCO. A SCO member should be elevated to a superior standard.

And then there is ever so popular F-16s, which Pakistanis are ever so hungry for, they even jump in dumpster on chance of finding some part of the jet. Pakistanis give preference to the jet mainly because of two reasons. First, they already have a well set infrastructure for the plane, they can maintained the jets even through the sanctions and second that their pilots a very much accustom to the plane, reducing the training time plus they know the plane capabilities to furthest extant. What every fighter they choose, Pakistan would defiantly buy some of these fighters. The reason United States has offered the plane can be associated to

1. Counter the Russian offering, prompting Pakistan to side with the US.
2. Depleting Pakistan Air Force budget so they can’t focus developing JF-17 – A strategy the west have used repeatedly all over the world
3. They have to utilize the grant given to Pakistan inside US only – I hate, when they do that.

With the above offerings Pakistan is really in a fix. Firstly, they have to side with someone. They also want to keep China happy, as they are the only one which would be offering them 5^th Generation fighters when they ready. Whatever the outcome be, Long Live Pakistan

The writer is not an expert in the field. Any observation above are personal and should not be taken under consideration for any decision. The information summarized above is gained through news and open forums.