PAF No. 27 Squadron Zarrars to be equipped with JF-17 Block II Thunders

Palistan Airforce No. 27 Squadron, nicknamed Zarrars, is a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) squadron tasked with the role of tactical attack. It is assigned to the No. 34 Tactical Attack Wing stationed at PAF Base Rafiqui (Shorkot), which is under the PAF's Central Air Command.

This is the 3rd squadron to receive CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder aircraft, jointly developed by Pakistan and China. These Block II JF-17 have a new Multi-mode Radar with improved A2G modes including SAR, Terrain following Radar, Improved navigation systems, and FLIR .Addition of these aircraft will greatly improve the tactical strike capability of Pakistan Airforce .

The squadron was formally raised on 19 April 2007 at PAF Base Rafiqui and was previously equipped with Dassault Mirage 5EF ROSE III combat aircraft. The first commanding officer was Wing Commander Shafqat Mushtaq and the first Senior Engineering officer was Squadron Leader Najam-ul-Hasnain. The Zarrars are tasked with to carry out night air assault operations, and currently participating in recent air assault target operations.

China Preparing To Sign Contract of Su-35 Fighter Jet From Russia

Su-35 Multi-Role Fighter

Russia will supply a series of new multirole fights, Su-35, to China in compliance with a contract, which should be prepared by the yearend, an official of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation told Itar-Tass on Monday.

“A decision to supply the Su-35 fighters to China was taken long ago. The parties work hard to coordinate financial and technical conditions of the future contract, which is due to be prepared by the yearend. At present, the details of the contract are being specified. Upcoming supplies of the Su-35 fighters to China are ‘an open secret’. It is not clear yet what none talks about it in public,” the official said.

Russia Will Deliver Su-35 Fighters And S-400 Triumph Air Defense Systems To China

Su-35

Su-35

 China hopes to acquire new Russian S-400 Triumph air defense system by 2015, but only the question of delivery of Su-35 fighters to this country is being discussed at the moment, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports.

"The Chinese party has shown interest in acquisition of a number of Su-35 jets and submitted a proposal to us in 2011. At present this problem is being elaborated by the designated institution of Russia", - said the First Deputy Director General of Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation, Alexander Fomin.

Speaking of prospects of air defense systems deliveries to China, Fomin has reminded that during a period from 1993 to 2010 a large number of Russian air defense missile systems, including S-300PMU2 “Favorit”, have been delivered to China.

"As for further cooperation with China in the area of air defense, at present the Chinese partners are showing interest in acquisition of next-generation S-400 Triumph air defense systems. They want to acquire the first batch in 2015", - Fomin said.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

MiG-21 Fishbed,Mongol

Mig21

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-21; NATO reporting name "Fishbed") is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek (English: pencil) by Polish pilots due to the shape of its fuselage. Early versions are considered second-generation jet fighters, while later versions are considered to be third-generation jet fighters. Some 50 countries over four continents have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations a half-century after its maiden flight. The fighter made aviation records. At least by name, it is the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history and the most-produced combat aircraft since the Korean War, and it had the longest production run of a combat aircraft (1959 to 1985 over all variants).

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19

MiG-19 Farmer

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 (Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-19)
(NATO reporting name: "Farmer") is a Soviet second-generation, single-seat, twin jet-engined fighter aircraft. It was the first Soviet production aircraft capable of supersonic speeds in level flight.
A comparable U.S. "Century Series" fighter was the North American F-100 Super Sabre, although it would primarily oppose the more modern McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and Republic F-105 Thunderchief over North Vietnam.

CGI of J-15S Flying Shark Naval Fighter Jet

CGI of J-15S Flying Shark Naval Fighter Jet

CGI of the Chinese J-15S Flying Shark carrier borne fighter aircraft fully armed with the weapons like PL-8/PL-10 Short Range WVRAAM, PL-12 BVRAAM, YJ-12AShM and YJ-83K AShM.

J-20 Black Eagle 3rd Prototype 2003 Emerges

J-20 Black Eagle 3rd Prototype 2003 Emerges

J-10 B is a so-called"fourth and a half" generation fighter

Zhang Jigao, deputy chief designer of the J-10 fighter, spoke about the improved model J-10 publicly for the first time in the AVIC flight test center. Zhang Jigao told People's Daily Online reporters that the overall performance of the J10 will be comprehensively improved in areas such as aerodynamic layout, mission system, and the approach to maintenance. 
In March 2009, pictures of our improved model J10 fighters appeared for the first time on the Internet, and netizens quickly began to call it the "J-10B".

Over the last five 5 years, several images of the test J10B have appeared online,attracting widespread attention from netizens, military enthusiasts, and even foreign media.

U.S. military expert Richard Fisher recently pointed out that the J-10 B is a so-called"fourth and a half" generation fighter equipped with modern airborne technology and advanced radar system, which is about to be delivered to the PLA Air Force.

J-10B 

Zhang Jigao disputed the term "fourth and a half" generation. In contrast, he suggested that the current international criteria to classify generations are more applicable.
He pointed out that single combat is rare in modern warfare, and that the majority of cases now involve system combat and network operations, so that the combat capabilities of a 
fighter depend on many factors. "This does not mean that the optimization of an aircraft's radar, avionics, and missile detection ranges are bound to improvements in operational performance."

China Reveals Two-seat FC-1/JF-17 at Paris Airshow

First delivered in 2007, the Chengdu FC-1 Xiaolong (Fierce Dragon) is a Chinese multirole fighter designed solely for export. The first and so far only customer is Pakistan – which calls it the JF-17 Thunder and is manufacturing it under license – although several other countries have expressed interest.
China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corp. is showing, at the Paris air show a two-seat version of the FC-1, presumed to be for pilot conversion training.
China and Pakistan are accustomed to employing dissimilar types of trainers for frontline aircraft: Witness FT-6s for the A-5 “Fantan” attacker. In recent years, however, the logic for a more representative trainer has become stronger.
Pakistani JF-17s have appeared statically at Farnborough and flown at the Dubai air show, but Le Bourget visitors will have to be satisfied with a model of the new version. There is no evidence that a tandem-seat FC-1 has flown . (phsssss)

Vintage JF-17 Thunder in PAF F-104 Starfighter Livery - II

1965 Pakistan-India War

During the 1965 War, PAF was forced to rely on its small force of F-104A   Starfighters as high altitude interceptors and in its night fighting   role, using the radar of its AN/ASG-14T1 fire-control system, in   conjunction with Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.  

After 1 September, the F-104s were extremely active in Air Defence and   Air Superiority Operations, but of the 246 missions flown by F-104s   during hostilities, 42 were at night against the IAF Canberras. The   rudimentary fire-control radar met the Soviet high altitude bomber   threat of the Cold War era for which it was designed but it could not   illuminate small targets against ground clutter. The standard high speed   intercept tactic employed by PAF’s F-104 pilots was to approach their   targets from below, with a typical height differential of 2-3,000 feet,   against a target they wished to acquire at a range of 10-15 kilomenters.   This limitation was well known to the Canberra jet bomber pilots of IAF   who attacked targets in Pakistan during the 1965 war. They adopted a   standard hi-lo-hi profile to minimize the threat of interception. During   most of their inbound and outbound flight over Pakistani territory the IAF Canberras would stay below about 1000 feet during their approach and   exit phases. This posed a difficult night intercept problem. The PAF’s   F-104s had in these circumstances to be used in an unconventional   low-altitude intercept profile that severely challenged the capabilities of its airborne radar. To pick up the low flying bombers on their scope   the F-104 pilots had to get down to about 300-500 feet above the ground   to point their radars upward and clear of ground clutter at the enemy   bombers. The problem was aggravated by the Canberra’s tail warning audio   alarm that would go off the moment an F-104 got to a near astern position, and enable the bomber to take timely evasive action to shake   off its pursuer.  

The F-104s were highly dreaded by the Indian Air Force (IAF). On 3rd September, 1965, even before the War began, an Indian Gnat surrendered to an F-104 which forced it to land at the abandoned airfield of Pasrur (in Pakistan). Its pilot Squadron Leader Brijpal Singh Sikand became a   POW.  

On 6 September, two Starfighters were sent on dawn patrol from   Sargodha. They were vectored by Sakesar Radar towards 4 IAF Mysteres   engaged in bomb and rocket attacks against a stationary passenger train   at Gakkhar railway station. One of the F-104 pilots was forced to return   to base with a radio failure but the other pilot, Flight Lieutenant   Aftab Alam Khan dived his F-104 with full after burners, going supersonically through the Mysteres formation which promptly scattered. The Indian aircraft tried to escape at about 50 feet above the ground   but they were no match for the Starfighter. Aftab destroyed one Mysteres with his Sidewinder missile thus achieving one of the world’s   first air victories by a mach 2 combat aircraft.  

The other F-104 pilot, Flight Lieutenant Amjad Khan, who had missed his chance the previous day, made amends on 7 September. He was scrambled in   an F-104 at about 05:15 hours and directed by Sakesar radar towards an   incoming raid at Sargodha. He made visual contact with the IAF   Mysteres and headed towards them. By the time he caught up with them,   the Indian aircraft were 6-8 miles away from Sargodha, flying at 150-200 feet on a south-easterly heading towards India. As the Mysteres jettisoned their drop tanks, Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain positioned   himself behind one of them and released a GAR-8 missile, which went   straight into the ground. The Mystere then began to dogfight with the   Starfighter, which used its superior climb and acceleration to lift the   combat from ground level to about 7,000 feet to gain room for manoeuvre. Hussain fired his cannons and was delighted to see the shell hit the   Mystere. The Mystere pilot showed commendable courage in staying   with the F-104, and despite being mortally wounded, scored several cannon strikes on the Starfighter. Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain   managed to eject safely and reached his Base. This was the first and   only Starfighter to be lost through enemy action in the 1965 war. The   Indian pilot Squadron Leader A.B. Devayya was posthumously awarded the   Maha Vir Chakra in 1988, twenty three years after the war, when Indian   authorities learnt of the IAF pilot’s valour through an account of the   encounter published in John Fricker’s book Battle for Pakistan,   published in 1978.  

On 21 September, Squadron Leader Jamal A Khan, intercepted an Indian Air   Force Canberra at about 33,000 feet and shot it down with a Sidewinder near Fazilka, inside Pakistani territory. The bomber’s pilot, Flight   Lieutenant Manmohan Lowe ejected and was made POW while its navigator,   Flying Officer A K Kapor could not bail out and was killed in action.   The British made Canberra, unlike its American counterpart the Martin   B-57, had no ejection seat for the navigator. This was the first kill   achieved by an F-104 at night after a number of near misses due to   factors described earlier.

F-104s were also used during 1965 for low level, daylight reconnaissance   missions over the IAF air bases. The speed of the Starfighter gave the   Indians no time to react. The F-104s were also employed as escorts for   the slow Lockheed RT-33 reconnaissance fighters on photographic missions   deep into Indian territory, the presence of Starfighters virtually   guaranteeing that no air opposition would be encountered. Six F-104   pilots received gallantry awards during the 1965 War.

Pakistan and China 's Jf-17 Thunder Fighter Jets for Azerbaijan Airforce

The Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force often referred to as the Azerbaijani Air Force (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan hərbi hava qüvvələri) is the air force and air defence force of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
The roots of the current organisation go back to June 26, 1918, when the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic bought its first military aircraft. After independence in 1991–92, the presence of former Soviet air bases in Azerbaijan helped the Air and Air Defence Force develop.

Jane's said in 2009 that 'efforts to acquire more modern hardware are understood to have been underway for several years, but funding constraints proved to be a stumbling block. Until quite recently, only limited success was achieved, with the most significant addition to the inventory being a handful of Su-25s that were obtained from Georgia in 2002. In 2007, however, Azerbaijan took delivery of the first of a substantial number of MiG-29 'Fulcrum' fighters. These are understood to have originated from disparate sources, including Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, with at least some having been overhauled at Odessa in Ukraine prior to delivery.^[9]

The United States is the most active participant in the modernisation of Air Force airfields.^[4] Airfields in Gala and the Nasosnaya Air Base near Haji Zeynalabidin settlement have been modernised with US support as part of the Azerbaijan-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan. Special equipment were installed there to provide flight security. The starting command points, engineering control systems and engineering air force service were provided with new buildings. Negotiations over the modernisation of Kurdamir airfield are currently under way. An advanced Flight Control System has been installed at Dollyar Air Base with support from the United States.
Since September 2008, Turkey has helped to modernise the Air Force central command headquarters. According to a Turkish-Azeri agreement, a NATO standard central command management center will be installed there. A great number of projects such as joint manufacture of unmanned aircraft will be implemented with Turkey in the near future.

Egypt is currently discussing a deal with Pakistan to co-produce the JF-17 for the Egyptian Air Force.^[114] The Azerbaijani Air Forces has negotiated with China for the purchase of several dozen JF-17s, worth approximately $16–$18 million each.^{[115][116][117]} The Sudanese Air Force is also reported to be negotiating for 12 aircraft.^[118] The Air Force of Zimbabwe reportedly ordered 12 JF-17 in 2004,^[119] but there are no current sources that confirm payment or intent of delivery.^{[120][121][122]} In 2008 several other countries including Bangladesh, Iran and Nigeria were identified as potential buyers.^[4][123] In early 2010 it was reported that China had been in talks with around 5 to 6 countries on the JF-17, some of whom had sent air force pilots to test-fly the fighter.^[124] Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Uruguay showed interest in the fighter plane.^[83][125]
However, the market for this type of aircraft is believed by some analysts to be limited.^[126] As of November 2012, the JF-17 has yet to achieve any export orders; AVIC has also conducted presentations of their developing Shenyang J-31, which is intended as a cheaper alternative to the F-35.^[127] Argentine officials at the 2013 Paris Air Show said that they have had multiple discussions with Chinese officials over potential co-production of the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) FC-1/JF-17 multirole combat aircraft. The discussions are the first formal effort that could lead to the co-production of a modern Chinese fighter in Latin America. FAdeA officials said the co-produced FC-1 could be called the 'Pulqui-III', recalling FAdeA's Pulqui-II, Latin America's first swept wing jet fighter.^[128]

Chengdu J-10 S Photos

Chengdu J-10 S taking off.

Chengdu J-10 S never rests, taking off again.

.

......And again, loaded with 2x BVRAAM and 2x SRAAM.

J-10S: Twin-seat fighter-trainer variant of the J-10A. The forward fuselage of the aircraft is stretched to accommodate an additional pilot seat, two pilots sit in tandem with a single large bubble canopy. Also incorporates an enlarged dorsal spine which may accommodate additional avionics equipment or fuel. As well as serving as training aircraft, the J-10S may also be used for the ground attack role where the rear seat pilot would act as the weapon systems operator.