Published: 04:16 PM, 10 October 2023
Impact of Cash crunch, Pakistan Air Force to cancel Chinese orders
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The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has been cancelling orders of weapons systems for several Chinese-built aircraft and accessories due to inordinate delay in supplies, defective spares and most important of all massive cash crunch faced by the economy in the last few years. The cancelled orders are worth $8.2 million.
More than the need to streamline purchases, PAF’s main problem is the workhorse, Chinese built JF 17 which, according to an April note this year,had developed a new defect in its electronic mechanic system (O2 warning system). The aircraft engine which has been giving trouble since its inception. Several engines have repeated failures and poor reliability. A large number of engines have developed cracks on engine guide vanes, exhaust nozzle and frame stabiliser.
On top of it, the PAF is compelled to cut corners and order only the most necessary operational weapons, spares and accessories in the near future. This has become necessary because of the financial shortage which has affected every sector of Pakistan’s economy for the past two years.According to official financial statements for January this year, over US $ 11.3 billion worth of orders were yet to be paid despite completion of orders. In addition, US $ 3.2 million worth of bills for executed orders have yet to be
claimed by the Chinese firms.
The affected weapons and air platforms include JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter aircraft, Karakorum-8 (K-8) single-engine, advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft,F-7 Airguard and the 19-seat Y12 series twin-engine, general-purpose monoplanes.
These latest series of trouble with Chinese-built aircraft and spare parts have further eroded the operational capability of the Pakistani force. In 1999, when China and Pakistan entered into an agreement to jointly produce the JF-17 combat jet, it was heralded as a formidable aircraft on par with the Su-30MKI, Mig-29, and Mirage-2000. However, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has come to realize, much to its dismay, that the actual performance falls far short of the ofty claims made by the Chinese.
One of the primary sources of frustration among PAF officials is the subpar serviceability and maintenance of the JF-17. They have voiced grave concerns to their Chinese counterparts regarding the inadequate quality of service and the exorbitant repair costs.
Furthermore, the persisting engine issues plaguing the JF-17 have become increasingly complex, exacerbated by China’s struggle to secure spare parts and assistance from Russia due to sanctions. Reports suggest that China is working on a new engine, the Guizhou WS-13 Taishan, as a replacement for the Russian one, but its development is still in progress. It is highly likely that China will prioritize promoting its new engine over investing resources in repairing the deficient Russian engines.
Additionally, the PAF has noted that the JF-17’s fuel-inefficient engine results in limited loiter time and extended combat air patrol (CAP) missions. This has led the air force to contemplate replacing the engine with the new FADEC RD-33MK engine, although no decision has been reached on this matter. In summary, the JF-17 squadrons, plagued by high rates of unserviceability, recurrent engine malfunctions, inadequate spare parts supply, and the necessity to cancel critical orders, have placed
>> Source:The Pak Military Monitor
