PAF gears up to develop 5th-generation fighter jet | World Defense

PAF gears up to develop 5th-generation fighter jet

BATMAN

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PAF gears up to develop 5th-generation fighter jet

ISLAMABAD - With the US delaying supply of spare parts to Pakistan for its F-16 fleet, the Pakistan Air Force has geared up efforts to commence development of a fifth-generation JF-17 fighter jet under the banner of “Project Azm”.

The project also envisages development of a medium altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as well as munitions.

Pakistan had to accelerate efforts to go for indigenous option after dilly-dallying by the United States in honouring its commitment to supply spare parts for the PAF’s F-16 fleet.

In addition to other items, the issue of supplying spare parts for the F-16 fleet remained on top of the list between the US and Pakistan since 2009, but the United States did not honour its commitment.

The PAF formally announced its “Project Azm” last year to commence development of a fifth-generation fighter jet .

In his speech after inaugurating of the Kamra Aviation City initiative last year, the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman had outlined the programme objectives of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), the newly-established Aviation Design Institute (AvDI) and Air University’s Aerospace and Aviation Campus. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal had also attended the inaugural ceremony.

Air Chief Marshal had said “Our engineering and operational staff have indigenised few core capabilities, which are truly high-tech, the initiative of Project Azm was thus encouraged, which is the designing of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft, MALE UAVs, which are in the final stages of design, development of advanced weapons few of them already produced and other key projects.”

Air University Aerospace and Aviation Campus Kamra is an expansion campus of Air University Islamabad, which was founded in 2002.

The air chief marshal said the campus would “provide the desired impetus for cutting-edge indigenisation programs, strengthen the local industry and harness the demands of foreign aviation industry by reducing … imports and promoting joint research and production ventures.”
 

Lieutenant

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Will pakistan develop it from scratch meaning, design, aerodynamic, engine, com system, missiles..ect or will be based on the JF/F-16?
 

BATMAN

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Will pakistan develop it from scratch meaning, design, aerodynamic, engine, com system, missiles..ect or will be based on the JF/F-16?
Azam will be a new design from scratch.
jF-17 as well is an independent design, where all available advance design elements were applied, as much as possible and applicable.
 

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Azam will be a new design from scratch.
jF-17 as well is an independent design, where all available advance design elements were applied, as much as possible and applicable.

Is there a countdown set for the project or is it a recent announcement? Has any progress been made yet?
 

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Is there a countdown set for the project or is it a recent announcement? Has any progress been made yet?
No exact time line of project is available, but program has been launched with great zeal.
Development history of jF-17 is in front of us. Wherein major design inputs came from PAF's operational and fighter a/c evaluation and maintenance history. Which has ever since grown with induction of jF-17 & F-16 blk 52 and test evaluation of J-10, J-11 etc.
We also have the hint of human resource capacity within Kamara, from other programs, and achievments like repair works of SAAB AWACS, Upgrades of F-16 etc.
Besides Aviation City is an ever great initiative,.... is expected to multiply the available capacity in Kamara.
Considering all above, I believe by 2025 the blue prints of design would be ready.
Next stage would be putting together a prototype, flight tests, design evaluation, and certification.... All is doable within 2-3 years.
Forecast for limited serial production is around 2029.
First squadron by 2030.
 

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If PAC is developing their own indigenious 5th gen aircraft, why are they looking towards FC-31, TFX? will they be used as gap fillers until Azam is ready?
 

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If PAC is developing their own indigenious 5th gen aircraft, why are they looking towards FC-31, TFX? will they be used as gap fillers until Azam is ready?
Just checking means nothing. or you are referring to something else?
 

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Could this be the output of project AZM ?
6865
 
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BATMAN

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Once more.. copying from the same thread on Pakistan military acquisitions.

It mentions about AZM project as follows:
first “conceptual design phase” cycle for Project AZM is complete, and the first configuration “will go through three more cycles within the conceptual design using higher fidelity analysis tools and codes.”
 

maxpane

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Project AZM.

This project aims to develop a fifth-generation fighter aircraft as per ASR requirements. As mentioned earlier, this is a major undertaking that will require synergetic participation of a large number of organizations and stakeholders. A phased but aggressive approach will be followed to overcome technical challenges as soon as they are identified. A number of challenges like materials, propulsion, sensors, mission systems etc. are already known and risk mitigation plans are being worked out. The strategy is to keep focus of the FGFA team on aircraft development while other elements of AvRID focus on providing the required technologies and systems for project success.


Aviation Design Institute (AvDI).

This institute has been established to develop the core multidisciplinary technologies required for any advanced air vehicle. It is envisaged to bring together experts with varied backgrounds (Aero, Elects, Wpns) and specialties (both Aerospace & Avionics) to work on areas like aerodynamics, antennas, fly-by-wire, payloads, sensor fusion, stealth, structures, etc. The institute undertakes projects that provide solutions in the immediate and short term and in doing so contribute to developing technologies for medium and long-term product development projects like FGF.


Mission Electronics Design Institute (MEDI).

This institute will develop critical technologies like high performance computing boards, advanced avionics interfaces etc. The technologies will be used for design & development of mission computers, flight control computers, etc. Considering the fast pace of development in the field of electronics leading to early obsolescence and the huge amount of data crunching onboard the FGFA, considerable challenges will have to be overcome.


Aero Structures Design Institute (ASDI).

This institute will be responsible for design and analysis of aero structures, including Damage Tolerance Analysis (DTA). It will also interact with the local industry and academia for identifying and developing materials required for aerospace related applications.


Advanced Technologies Centre (ATC).

This Centre will form the PAF element of the Faculty of Aerospace and Aviation Campus AU Kamra and will focus on MS and PhD programs in Aerospace and Avionics disciplines. These programs, in coordination with CAE and other institutes will provide the necessary human resource for programs like FGFA. They will also assist in setting up labs in critical areas and carry out focused research. Short courses in relevant areas will also be arranged.


Flight Test Centre (FTC).

The capability to carry out flight testing of developed systems and platforms will be eventually consolidated into a dedicated flight test Centre. It will assist and coordinate flight testing activities with customers. It would develop the procedures and protocols for flight testing and certification in coordination with development teams and certification authorities, as applicable.

@Khafee @Mastankhan @HRK
 

AliYusuf

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This is a substantial undertaking. This will require huge infrastructure and capacity building, to even get the program started. I suppose this will take a while to get to the first prototype to fly.
 

maxpane

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As messiach maam has told same team is working on that project which was involved in JF17
 

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As per current PAF CAS:

Project Azm FGFA is to be twin engine with super cruise and room for directed energy weapons. This is to be a high performance fighter.
 
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