The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is undergoing a significant strategic shift, moving away from its long-standing reliance on single-engine fighter aircraft and embracing twin-engine, 5th-generation platforms.
This change is primarily driven by Pakistan's perceived need to counter India's growing air power, particularly the Indian Air Force's (IAF) acquisition of Rafale and Su-30MKI fighters, and the future induction of the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
For decades, the PAF's core strength has been built around cost-effective, single-engine aircraft like the F-86 Sabre, Mirage III/V, F-7, and the jointly developed JF-17 Thunder. This strategy was dictated by budgetary constraints and a focus on maintaining a credible defensive posture against India.
The twin-engine Shenyang F-6 (a Chinese version of the MiG-19) was a brief exception, operating from the 1960s to the 1980s, but the PAF largely reverted to single-engine designs.
However, the evolving nature of modern aerial warfare, characterized by advanced air defenses, stealth technology, and long-range precision weapons, is pushing the PAF to modernize.
India's acquisition of the multi-role Rafale, with its advanced radar and Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, and the powerful Su-30MKI, has significantly enhanced the IAF's capabilities.
The AMCA, a 5th-generation, twin-engine stealth fighter under development by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will further solidify India's air superiority in the coming decades. According to the DRDO, the AMCA is expected to enter service by the early 2030s.
To address this perceived imbalance, the PAF is actively pursuing the acquisition of twin-engine 5th-generation fighters. These include China's Shenyang J-35A and Turkey's TAI KAAN. The PAF is also working on its indigenous 5th generation fighter under the PFX Program.
The advantages of twin-engine designs are clear: they offer increased thrust, greater payload capacity, extended range, and enhanced survivability compared to single-engine counterparts.
The J-35A, reportedly powered by twin WS-19 engines, and the KAAN, initially using GE F110 engines with plans for indigenous alternatives, are designed for stealth, supercruise (sustained supersonic flight), and multi-role operations.
These capabilities are crucial for operating in contested airspace and conducting long-range missions, exceeding the performance envelope of the JF-17. The redundancy provided by two engines is also a significant safety factor in combat situations.
Pakistan's pursuit of these aircraft is directly linked to its strategic rivalry with India. The IAF's Rafales and Su-30MKIs provide a formidable offensive capability, and the future AMCA will introduce 5th-generation stealth technology to the region.
The J-35A and KAAN, with their reported stealth characteristics and advanced avionics, are seen as Pakistan's attempt to match or at least mitigate this growing capability gap. These aircraft will likely be equipped with long-range air-to-air missiles, such as the Chinese PL-15, allowing the PAF to engage targets at extended ranges.
Pakistan's defense partnerships are also playing a key role. The J-35A reinforces the strong military ties between Pakistan and China, while the KAAN project represents a deepening collaboration with Turkey. This diversification of suppliers is strategically important for Pakistan, reducing its reliance on a single source for advanced military technology. Some reports suggest that China may be ready to supply the J-35 as soon as 2027.
Beyond acquisitions, Pakistan is investing in its domestic aerospace industry through the PFX program. While initially conceptualized as an upgrade to the JF-17, the PFX has reportedly evolved into a more ambitious 5th-generation project, potentially featuring a twin-engine configuration.
The transition to a twin-engine-centric air force presents both opportunities and challenges for Pakistan. While twin-engine fighters offer superior capabilities, they are also significantly more expensive to acquire and maintain.
Pakistan's current economic situation, with limited foreign reserves and high inflation, raises questions about the affordability of such ambitious modernization plans. Furthermore, integrating a mixed fleet of single-engine and twin-engine, 5th-generation aircraft will create logistical and training complexities.
Despite these hurdles, Pakistan's strategic calculus clearly prioritizes the need to counter India's growing air power. The acquisition of the J-35A and KAAN, combined with the development of the PFX, represents a significant effort to modernize the PAF and maintain a credible deterrent in the face of evolving regional threats.
This shift, however, marks a departure from the PAF's historical emphasis on affordability and simpler platforms, signaling a new era in the long-standing aerial arms race between India and Pakistan.
