According to "defencesecurityasia" on July 7, the Pakistan Air Force is actively seeking major upgrades for its F-16 Block 52 fighter jets, focusing on procuring the next-generation AIM-120D medium-range air-to-air missiles from the United States to replace the AIM-120C-5 missiles that have been in service since 2010.

The AIM-120D has a longer range, stronger anti-jamming capabilities, and higher accuracy, especially with bidirectional data link and fire-and-forget capabilities.

However, it is also one of the most strictly controlled air-to-air missiles by the United States in terms of exports.

This upgrade plan is quite delicate.

In this year's India-Pakistan air battle, Pakistan has already made actual choices regarding its air combat system, and the F-16 is clearly not within the core system of the Pakistan Air Force.

AIM120

The India-Pakistan air battle in May was the most intense aerial confrontation in recent years.

The Indian Air Force deployed multiple types of main aircraft, including Rafale fighters, to conduct a surprise attack on the Kashmir region under Pakistani control.

Pakistan responded quickly. According to multiple reports, at least five Indian aircraft were shot down that day, including three Rafale fighters.

This air battle was generally seen as a complete victory for Pakistan, directly overwhelming the Indian Air Force.

More notably, the main force that shot down the Indian aircraft was not the F-16, but the J-10C fighter jets provided by China.

This batch of J-10C is equipped with China's self-developed active phased array radar and PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles, and it has formed a complete detection-guidance-strike system with Chinese early warning aircraft and domestic data links.

In contrast, although the F-16 was technically on alert, it was not deployed to the front line and became a mere tactical prop.

Pakistan F-16

Given this context, why is Pakistan still determined to upgrade the F-16?

The reason is not complicated.

Firstly, from a diplomatic perspective, maintaining the operational capability of the F-16 system is actually a political gesture by Pakistan to the United States, keeping the minimum level of bilateral relationship security cooperation.

Another reason is that the F-16 is the most mature American platform in the history of the Pakistan Air Force. Its pilot training, maintenance system, and some medium-range combat missions still rely on this platform. If it is not upgraded, it will gradually become useless, turning from a tactical prop into a real one.

If Pakistan can successfully introduce the AIM-120D missile, it not only compensates for the disadvantage of the current C-5 missile's range, but may also open a door for a mixed system.

That is, it can try to integrate the AIM-120D into the overall air combat kill chain provided by China, and cooperate with Chinese early warning aircraft, domestic command nodes, and J-10 platforms, achieving a combination of Chinese system commanding American aircraft.

This idea essentially aims to give secondary value to American precision weapons through the information system provided by China, because the kill chain system of China is the core of the Pakistan Air Force.

Chinese Aircraft

But theory is one thing, and reality is another. The obstacles in reality are likely to be very difficult to overcome.

The AIM-120D is a highly classified guided weapon of the United States, and its operational data link and mid-course guidance update system are strictly restricted, making it incompatible with the Chinese system.

The platforms provided by China, in terms of data protocols and tactical command formats, have almost no compatibility with American missiles.

Even if Pakistan attempts to use the F-16 as a relay platform to receive information from the Chinese system and then send correction instructions to the missile, there are many technical obstacles such as encryption formats and permission restrictions.

Therefore, from a technical integration perspective, it is almost impossible for the AIM-120D to fully integrate into the Chinese system.

Moreover, it's not even about integration. Considering that Turkey was cut off from advanced aircraft supplies by the US after purchasing the S-400, whether the US is willing to provide the AIM-120D to Pakistan is a big question mark.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7524155746540323338/

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