Pakistan has been a centre to many security challenges over the years. From terrorist activities emerging from Waziristan, to bringing down and capturing Indian fighter pilot, the country has stood firmly through the problems. All thanks to Pakistan’s defence forces that single-handedly dealt with all the security threats and protected Pakistan’s image around the globe. Continuing the journey of success, Pakistan has announced its plans to develop and produce the 5th generation fighter jet, according to media reports. It’s a part of Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) highly ambitious Project Azm that includes the building of Kamra Aviation City dedicated to education, research and development and manufacturing of advanced fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and weapon systems. Project Azm will facilitate the air force students to employ their skills in accomplishing the fighter jet program to the best interest of their country.
The PAF showcased the conceptual design of its future stealth aircraft on the tail of the PAF C-130 at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2019.
Conceptual Design and Development
As per the yearbook of the Pakistan Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) for the year 2017-2018, the Aviation Research, Innovation and Development (AvRID) Secretariat has finalized the first of the four conceptual design stage cycles for the development of the Pakistan Air Force’s Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program.
Know About Project Azm Pakistan: Fifth Gen Fighter Aircraft
The MoDP yearbook stated that the AvRID Secretariat has completed the first cycle of the conceptual design. It stated, “The first cycle of the conceptual design phase has been completed. The first configuration that was designed based on the challenging performance requirements of PAF will go through three more cycles within the conceptual design using higher fidelity analysis tools and codes.”
The Fifth-Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) is the highlight of the much-anticipated Project Azm Pakistan, which outlines the PAF’s ambition for developing a state of the art aviation industrial base within the country. This aviation industrial complex will support the defense capabilities of the country, alongside fulfilling civilian and commercial aviation needs.
Project Azm was formally initiated by the PAF back in July 2017, and its agenda is to develop an FGFA, a medium-altitude, and long-endurance (MALE), new munitions, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and multiple other projects.
Upon announcing the initiation of Project Azm, the then Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sohail Aman had informed that the design phase of the Male Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has reached its “final stages”.
According to the MoDP’s 2017-2018 yearbook, the scheduled deadline for the first flight of the MALE UAV was June 2019. The yearbooks of the MoDP are intended to reveal projects that are completed during a period of 12-18 months before the publication, which indicates that the MALE UAV has either flown or has been delayed, while the FGFA is well into the design phase of the project.
Air Chief Marshal’ Words About the Project
A recently conducted interview with the Pakistan Air Force Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan revealed that he does not expect the 5th generation fighter aircraft to make its maiden flight for “another decade”.
The Chief of Air Staff further added that the current Air Staff Requirements (ASR) for the 5th generation fighter jet, which include “twin-engine single-seater, boasting the likes of super-cruise and laser weapons (directed energy weapons).”
What More to Expect?
The FGFA is expected to be designed as a medium-to-heavyweight, high-performance fighter aircraft with a clean-sheet jet. The new design configuration reveals that the PAF intends to design a fighter aircraft that is equipped to carry heavier payloads and boosts a greater range than the JF-17.
Analysts believe that the PAF intends to design a platform that is optimized for offensive counter-air (OCA), maritime, and deep-strike platforms, making it next-in line of the F-16A/B Block 15s and the Mirage III/5.
Defence analyst Shahid Raza observed, “If my calculations are correct, the aircraft we’ll see being developed under Project Azm 2030 will be a clean sheet design, built around a SINGLE advanced derivative of the WS-15 class engine. It’ll have low observable characteristics and PAF defined specifications.”
JF-17 Thunder Block III
The Pakistan Air Force showcased its lightweight JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, which Pakistan began constructing ten years ago in collaboration with China. The PAF announced its plans to procure around fifty of the JF-17 Thunder’s improved Block III variant by 2024.
The aircrafts are being constructed with a 58/42 percent split, as the airframes are being jointly manufactured by China and Pakistan. The PAF also announced its decision to procure 26 two-seat JF-17Bs with additional fuel storage in a dorsal fin and improved training application for potential strike missions.
A report by National Interest stated that the new Block III is expected to cost around $32 million each. The new version boosts a helmet-mounted display system that is designed to allow enhanced flexibility in the targeting of short-range missiles in close dogfights.
The report stated, “The jet intakes are widened to improve airflow, and the Russian RD-93 engine may eventually be replaced by a Chinese manufactured WS-13 turbofan. Additional thrust, combined with lightweight composite materials could potentially boost the type’s speed and range.”
