Early years of FC-1 & J-10A just before serial production. Circa 2005-06
Often repeated question why China didn’t induct FC-1?
Collapse of USSR opened floodgates of Soviet aerospace companies that found themselves in existential crisis especially aero engine companies 1/7 #Thread In mid 90s Chinese aerospace designers were no longer restricted to old Soviet R-13/29 based engines or Rolls-Royce Spey copies. You can imagine an aircraft like J-10.
Without turbofan engine capable of 85-95kn/20,000lbs thrust, you can’t design 4th gen single engine aircraft 2/7

Su-30 #Flanker #Thread
Lets do this Su-30 came into existence on requirement of Soviet Air Defence Forces #PVO needing a command aircraft to guide Su-27s via radio-data link to guard vast territory of USSR. #PVO was ranked higher than Soviet Airforce #VVS. 1/

Su-27UB & Su-30SM👇 #PVO chose trainer Su-27UB to be developed as combat capable interceptor/command aircraft in which 2nd officer would keep track of targets & assign roles to other aircraft e.g. Su-27s by distributing targets hence the term “Mini AWAC”. Su-27UB was manufactured by #Irkut Corp 2/

Thread on #PLA Naval Airforce #PLANAF & #PLAAF AEW&C, MPA, special mission aircraft.

KJ-2000 #Mainring AEW&C (4 in service) based on IL-76 airframes with indigenous systems & radome comprising of 3 #AESA radars forming a triangle, nose/wing mounted surveillance/ESM. 1/10 KJ-200 (GX-5) #Moth (11 in service with Navy-Airforce)

Based on Shaanxi Y-8 series airframes with #AESA balanced beam radar similar to Eyrie radar system developed by Saab which Pakistan airforce is using. Newer variants have added sensors mounted on sides/under and on top. 2/10

My view of late regarding erstwhile state of J & K is to keep whatever both sides have & after slight adjustments on LOC call it int’l border. Aim of both govts should be to bring stability & development in respective parts, enable people to people contact voiceofeast.net/2020/09/20/gil… Gilgit Baltistan people want to be part of mainland Pakistan with full integration and don’t see themselves as part of Kashmir dispute. In early years just to strengthen Pakistan’s claim policy makers decided to add GB as part of J&K at UN to show whole region is Muslim majority.

What has #China gained so far?

1. Paranoid 🇮🇳 top brass/policy makers who will focus more inland ($$) than maritime i.e. CDS/Map lovers
2. Pulse check on #QUAD & #US reaction
3. Foundation stone of double squeeze #LOC~#LAC
4. Strengthening of newly raised #PLA Western Theatre. China’s mission is to break both island chains by 2030-35 by massive build up of Naval & Air powers. Already artificial islands are there & no one can do anything other than odd USN vessels with flag conducting freedom of navigation. None of US allies want war nor have stomach

Russian #BVR doctrine of 2-Salvo launch is very well known inherited from Soviet era. #Flanker will carry active radar & heat/passive guided BVRAAMs. Once target is in #DLZ active radar missile like R-27EA/R-77 will be launched followed by IR homing R-27ET/R-27EP (Passive RF) 1/3 Idea is that active seeker will force target to do evasive manoeuvres & employ ECMs fully exposing heat/electronic signatures making job much easier for few seconds delay launch of IR/Passive RF missiles like R-27ET/R-27EP having same kinetic performance as R-77/R-27EA/ER 2/3

“#PLA Reforms & inventory” or eye watering tech (still in experimental stage) isn’t meant to be used (exposed) in desolate place like #Ladakh. In my assessment Indian army has plenty of options just policy makers are thinking differently. Leadership has too much on plate #COVID19

https://twitter.com/PravinSawhney/status/1300764884863348736

#PLA Western Theater command #WTC is relatively new still building capacity & infrastructure especially in Tibet #TAR region as focus is more towards what they call South Tibet. As you can see Western Command is basically 5-6 Balochistans similar terrain with not much population.

R-77 #Adder & PL-12 #Thunderbolt

China’s quest for indigenous active radar MRAAM started in late 80s task given to 607 Institute (LETRI). PL-12 seeker development took help from Russian company AGAT which developed seekers for R-27/77 MRAAMs & data link from Vympel. 1/8 PL-12 development took place parallel to R-77 which had advantage of USSR industrial capacity with far more experience & sophisticated tech. Collapse of USSR plummeted many of these companies into debt & out of volume production leading to all sorts of funds related issues. 2/8

Looks like Gen Durrani has left world of current affairs and chosen to be more of philosopher than being proponent of realpolitik. Poor “assessment” as he would say. 👎🏿

https://twitter.com/commandeleven/status/1296752302578163712

At heart of this whole fiasco is IK/Bajwa in #Phase1 sitting in lap of megalomaniac MBS. Gleefully accepted all the economic benefits including MOU on key investments including $20bn oil refinery. In same period #Pulwama & #Balakot took place in which Saudi FM played crucial role

#Pakistan Navy & #PLA Navy #Interoperability
Type-052D Destroyer & Type-054A Frigate r 2nd gen vassals forming backbone of #PLAN with bigger Type-055 stealth destroyer nearly ready to join the fleet. Termed as the most aggressive expansion of any naval power in human history. 1/3 Pakistan Navy #PN already operates 4 x Zulfiqar Class frigates (based on Type-053H3) with 4 x Type-054A/P stealth frigates joining #PN fleet by 2021-22. 8 x diesel electric AIP submarines S-20 possibly based on #PLAN’s Type-039A SSK are either in negotiation stage or signed. 2/3

#GhengisKhan is trending this might be a good time to learn, why Mongols were so great in their tactics, strategic choices & finally use of weapons in the most effective way. Different weapon variants for different battle tactics also established all inclusive professional army. We learn about Mongols through Empires who were afraid of them & lost badly, be it Persians, Arabs or Chinese. As far as killings & massacres go who didn’t kill at their peak. We’ve twisted empire right now killing & parading herself as Champions of HR afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/

What will #Pakistan do if all Gulf countries accept #Israel now that camel is out of the desert #UAE.
Pakistan has already normalised relationship as far as intelligence & security matters are concerned. Politically & diplomatically status quo will remain for foreseeable future. Worth a read how Pakistan accepted Israeli weapons in Afghan Jihad and exchanged intelligence post 9/11. Of course it lists all the benefits that Pakistan can achieve by developing diplomatic ties with Israel. Agricultural & hydro expertise are key ones.!google.co.uk/amp/s/www.haar…

J-10C is similar to size as Eurofighter Typhoon apart from wing area which makes Rafale even closer in dimensions. Mistake of equating J-10B/C with F-16 is common even though dragon bigger than viper. J-10C 🆚 Rafale battle could become a reality if things escalate in #Ladakh Both aircraft have AESA radars but J-10C’s radar has slightly bigger diameter. PL-15 & Meteor debate is another interesting aspect in which latter has an slight edge due to Ramjet propulsion. Both have IIR homing CCMs with HMD. Rafale has much better self protection & EW suite.

LCA Tejas & 🇰🇷 FA-50 are almost in same category both competing for Malaysian LCA Program along with JF-17/Gripen & some other light fighter trainers. Both aircraft have same engine which is already in service with #RMAF i.e F/A-18 Hornet 1/4 Plus for FA-50 is US armament used in Hornet, radar can be of US/EU origin rather than Israeli something HAL might not (cost) be able to do. S. Korea has already delivered this fighter to neighbouring 🇮🇩🇹🇭🇵🇭 with over 200 in service including over 100 aircraft in own #ROKAF 2/4

Forums are buzzing with defence enthusiasts & fanboys asking for moon at the price of rasgulla. There won’t be any J-15/J-20 or J-10C joining #PAF. Thats what you’ll get a much improved JF-17

As Tim Cook would say

“This is the greatest thing to happen to JF-17 since JF-17” I’m going to stick my neck out on this one. If anything that can come out in next a year or two would be F-16V once MMRCA 2.0 closes officially or IAF manages to get something out of supposed 114 aircraft deal. Rafale could be procured in more or less same numbers i.e. 36

Finally a reality check, best to partner with 🇹🇷 or 🇨🇳 in drones/FGFA. Select certain technologies that are possible to develop with our limited human resource,capital,industrial & technological capacity. No country develops aircraft for themselves except🇺🇸F-22 ($339mn per jet)

https://twitter.com/QuwaGroup/status/1287644213484630016

J-20 is another example which isn’t for export and we’ll never know true cost of its development. This is why US went for partner program in F-35 after bad (financial) experience of F-22. Pakistan has no hope as it has never independently developed even a 4th generation aircraft.

Dassault #Rafale will join #IndianAirforce at the end of this month,Ambala AFB on the side of #Pakistan border. How does this change equation for #PAF? Modern aerial warfare is not limited to
platform🆚platform but
“Set of systems of a system 🆚 Set of systems of a system”🧵👇 First of all this isn’t new for #IAF & their defence circle to start singing bhajans of new god. It has happened before
“Su-30MKI Flankers with it's 400km range, "Mini-AWAC," incorporating Western Avionics such as the french SAGEM GPS & the israeli EL/M-8222 EW Suite.” Ring a 🔔