Why the Pakistan Air Force Is Bound to Become South Asia's 2nd Top Air Force.
Pakistan is financially limited, and it does not have a large budget like India has due to its massive population, land size, and economic size. India spends more than 85 billion US dollars, whereas Pakistan's budget is only above 10 billion US dollars. However, the math is not that simple. India's army pension alone is above US 8 billion dollars, weaponry purchases are only limited to US 10 billion dollars a year, and compared to Pakistan, it is more than 1.2 billion dollars. However, it is stated by international media that India purchases expensive weaponry, while Pakistan purchases almost 80% of its weaponry from China. However, the bigger aspect is that Pakistani weaponry is bought at a cheaper price due to China's PLA and the Pakistani Army's collaboration.
It is known that Pakistan produces the JF-17 Thunder by collaborating with China, and Pakistan's aim is to produce nearly 30 JF-17 Thunders each year. Pakistan is even shifting to the Chinese WS-13IPE engine because the Russian-made RD-93 engine is facing sanctions (Ukraine vs. Russian War). However, even with the current challenges, Pakistan has been managing to procure spare parts for the Russian-made RD-93 engine; therefore, Pakistan has managed to produce JF-17 Thunder Block 3 on a regular basis. This is a smart move by Pakistan to stockpile critical components and ongoing efforts to develop alternative engine options, such as the Chinese WS-13IPE, to reduce dependence on Russian suppliers due to sanction issues.
Pakistan JF-17 Thunder Production
Pakistan produces its own JF-17 Thunder Block 3, and it is the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force. Similarly, India locally develops Tejas Jets, which are meant to be the Indian Air Force's backbone. However, even the Indian media claim that Tejas are never seen in a combat situation, and they are never tested. Additionally, Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder is tested by Pakistan even in international competitions and events, whereas India does not showcase its Tejas in international forums, which casts doubt on its capabilities. While Pakistan's goal is to produce 30 JF-17 Thunder blocks on a yearly basis and fulfill export orders,.
Pakistan Planning for J-10C and 5th Gen Jet Fighters
Pakistan is planning to purchase 15 more J-10C jets while it already has 20-26, and it officially has 16 more jets. However, it is safe to assume that India has purchased a recent order of 36 Rafale jets, which will be completed by 2031; therefore, it is safe to say that Pakistan will be purchasing more J-10C jets from China. However, some credible experts suggest that in 2026, Pakistan will be getting the J-35C due to China's commitment, as Pakistan is its iron brother. Then it will be official that Pakistan will be the second air force in South Asia to procure a 5th-gen jet fighter.
