It has been reported by Financial Express that, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will be finally phasing out around 250 fighter jets over the next decade.
To begin with, the PAF is finally starting with the phasing out its oldest fighter jet French-built Mirage III.
Notably, PAF has about 150 Mirage fighter jets manufactured by the French firm Dassault Aviation, which have been in the service for nearly 50 years.
Besides, another fleet of Mirage 5 is also under the retirement plan.
Rather according to a report, PAF will phase out its 250 aircraft.
However, the only viable option for Pakistan to replace these aircrafts is with the China manufactured next-generation aircraft like J-10C and F-17s.
Under the modernization plan, PAF has already purchased 22 J-10 CE fighter jets. In fact, according to the deal, PAF may acquire another 100 jets with specific enhancements.
About J-10CE Fighter Jets
The J-10 CE is a medium-weight, single-engine, multirole combat aircraft capable of all-weather operations, configured with a delta wing and canard design, with fly-by-wire flight controls, and produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF).
The aircraft is mainly designed for air-to-air combat, but can also perform strike missions.
it is equipped with an indigenous AESA fire-control radar and is equipped with imaging infrared seeker (IIR) PL-10, WS-10B engine and PL-15 air-to-air missiles.
The unit cost of the combat aircraft is expected to be USD 27,840,000–27,840,000.
