Business | Aviation
Pakistan may not reap much benefit from Dubai Air Show
Pakistan's air force planners will gain little by being present at this week's Dubai Air show following a decision by General Pervez Musharraf, the country's president, to put on hold all new aircraft purchases till he has fully prepared Pakistan to deal with the financial costs of last month's devastating earthquake.
- By Farhan Bokhari, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 00:00 November 23, 2005
Pakistan's air force planners will gain little by being present at this week's Dubai Air show following a decision by General Pervez Musharraf, the country's president, to put on hold all new aircraft purchases till he has fully prepared Pakistan to deal with the financial costs of last month's devastating earthquake.
General Musharraf's decision principally delays the plan to purchase 55 new F-16 fighter aircraft along with at least 20 such used planes. The F16 deal would have immediately marked the most significant expansion for Pakistan Air Force in more than 20 years the last time Pakistan bought 40 fighter planes, an earlier version of the same series.
Purchases of other military aircraft considered in the past such as the Swedish Gripen and the French Mirage 2000-5 just two of the fighter planes evaluated by the air force, too must remain on hold for now.
Even though the latest global response is promising to Pakistan's plea for financial support to deal with the aftermath of its recent earthquake, the country's leaders are clearly not in a position to make big aircraft deals for the military without annoying western donors. For many in the western world, a decision by the Pakistani Government to order new fighter planes while seeking international aid will be unacceptable.
But if indeed new Chinese fighter planes make their debut at the Dubai Air Show, that could be a source of interest to Pakistanis. In previous years, the Dubai Air Show has seen Sino-Pakistan aircraft such as Karakorum-8, built on the design of the Soviet Mig-23 and put across as a trainer jet. Pakistanis see commercial sense in actively involving in the Karakorum-8 or K-8 plane because of the potential to export the aircraft to friendly countries in the Middle East.
At the same time, Pakistan is also actively involved in the development of a JF-17 Thunder fighter plane with Chinese cooperation. Considered a medium-tech aircraft, Pakistan reportedly plans to purchase up to 150 such fighter planes before the end of the decade.
Some Pakistani military planners are in favour of exporting the JF-17 to friendly countries in the Middle East, hoping the Arab world will show interest in a Sino-Pakistan aircraft. For about $15 million (Dh55.10 million) to $20 million, the JF-17 will be commercially feasible for many who will prefer not to spend about $40 million to $100 million for an advanced western plane.
More important, unlike countries such as the United States, which often block military sales to countries interested in defence purchases because of political differences, Pakistan and China can offer aircraft without a political baggage.
As for the future, Pakistan may well turn to China for other aircraft purchases, driven by both commercial and political considerations. Relatively newer Chinese fighter planes may still lag somewhat behind the quality of technology available from western sources, but China has a long history of military sales to Pakistan. It is also likely to be far less stringent on the politics of business deals, even on defence matters.
- The writer is a journalist based in Pakistan.
Share this article
More from Aviation
More from Business
Popular in Business
Business Editor's choice
-
UAE companies in full force at WTM
Seventy-eight participants are from Dubai and 50 from Abu Dhabi
-
DIFC committed to high standards
Ensures an efficient process to serve the business community
-
Sweet life in the Middle East
A sweet look at the confectionary industry in the UAE and Middle East
-
General
Precious jump
Gold prices at new high as India's central bank buys $6.7b worth of gold
