Pakistan

Twin-engine fighter: Pakistan in talks with Russia to buy Su-35 jets

Senior govt official says PAF has discussed buying Su-35s from Russia but final decision is yet to be announced

Web Desk September 20, 2015

PHOTO COURTESY: RUSSIANPLANES.NET

Pakistan and Russia are in the process of negotiating what analysts believe can be potentially the largest defence deal between the two countries, IHS Jane’s reported.

“The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has discussed buying Su-35 ‘Flanker-E’ fighter jets from Russia but a final decision is yet to be announced,” the IHS quoted a senior government official as saying.

Read: Talks on delivery of fighter jets, attack helicopters underway: Russian deputy FM

The senior government official's remarks come in the wake of Russian media reports that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had said talks were underway for an unspecified number of Su-35s and a recent agreement for provision of Mi-35M ‘Hind E’ attack helicopters to Pakistan.

“It is too early to say if a deal will conclude and the terms,” the official said highlighting Russia’s willingness to sell advanced military hardware to Pakistan despite Moscow’s longstanding ties with India.

“Pakistan’s interest in the Su-35 was driven by the PAF’s need for a twin-engine fighter that can fly for a longer range than the JF-17 and penetrate more deeply into the enemy’s territory,’ the official revealed.

Pakistan currently relies on a mixed fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s, Dassault Mirage-5s, Chinese manufactured F-7s and the JF-17 Thunder, which is co-manufactured by Pakistan and China.

Last month, Russia agreed to sell state-of-the-art Mi-35 attack helicopters to Pakistan in what is seen as a ‘paradigm shift’ in Moscow’s policy to increase defence cooperation between the two countries.

“An agreement was signed between Pakistan and Russian authorities in Rawalpindi for the purchase of 4 Mi-35 helicopters,” a senior military official had said, not disclosing any further details.

Read: Paradigm shift: Russia agrees to sell Mi-35 helicopters to Pakistan

Moscow for long ignored Islamabad in a bid to please its long-term ally New Delhi. But as a result of India’s growing tilt towards the US, Russia has now started expanding its cooperation with Pakistan.

For its part, Islamabad is eager to improve its ties with Moscow to diversify its options in the event of any stalemate in ties with Washington.

This article originally appeared on IHS Jane’s.

COMMENTS (31)

Pakistani Hunter | 8 years ago | Reply We want good relationship with everyone. Pakistan have weapons just for security not for attacks and we are not intrested to fight with any country. So dont worry our indian neighbours. Long live Pakistan

khan | 9 years ago | Reply This is an excellent news now Pakistan is coming to its right senses to have a good relation with Russia as a good neighbor- USA has always betrayed Pakistan we want good relation with All the Global communities specially with India if Kashmir problem is Resolved Good luck to All=

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ajeet | 9 years ago | Reply @Azi Your knowledge seems to be a bit lacking. Its only recently that the US is ready to give cutting edge technologies to India. Until now, it was pretty much Russia that was ready to sell it to us, just like the Chinese are ready to sell to Pakistan, but not the Europeans or the Americans. I'm not obsessed about you, its just that you took our land, but left a large amount of your people in my country.

CONCERN | 9 years ago | Reply SHARIF WILL BE VISITING WHITE HOUSE NOT DUE TO PAKISTAN/USA RELATIONSHIP IMPROVING, BUT HIS VISIT WILL BE TO LICK THE BOOTS OF PRESIDENT BARRACK HUSSAIN OBAMA & PAY HIS ANNUAL RESPECT FOR HAVING HIM STILL AS PM TO LOOT PAKISTAN :)

ajeet | 9 years ago | Reply @Khan Russia wants India back in her camp and this is an attempt to put pressure on India, pretty much like trying to go out with another girl un front of your girlfriend if she is ignoring you. India's aim is to stop Pakistani sponsored attacks in its soil and Pakistan does ita job of isolating itself well by following stupid policies.

bapu | 9 years ago | Reply I can sense something is burning :P

Syed Asad Ali | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan and India in the longer run should reduce their arms purchase. Be it Russia or US. They need us for their equipment to be used against us. The silent majority may raise their voice against these useless deals.

Ravi | 9 years ago | Reply @Mohammed Safdar Kiani: For manufacturing licences you need to by lot of them, at least the deal should be minimum of 15 billion dollars.

Azi | 9 years ago | Reply @ajeet You lie and contract your self as if more you do, richer you become. Is that the reason your precious mkis, the back bone of your air force consists of them which have not seen action? Or there is something else behind PAK-FA other than real time testing that attracted IAF to spend millions or should I say billions for financing? You can't even lie right. Okay sure you can shift to western, how is it relevant to this news of su-35 for PAF? When will the time come where you stop obsessing with us?

Vectra | 9 years ago | Reply @curious2: "Anyone ask where Pakistan is going to find the money to buy these planes? Pakistan has already committed to buying Russian helicopters and Chinese J-17′s and submarines. On the domestic front you don’t have enough money to secure long term LNG contracts. " You forgot to mention the after cost for maintaining twin engine which will be huge more than the jet itself and each Su Flanker burn fuel as much as whole Karachi Localite.So better make choice which you can or cannot afford afterwards.

Pbfarrera | 9 years ago | Reply Actually deal is in the final stages and Pakistan have set aside 2 Billion $ cash for planes and 1 Billion$ for weapons. Advance payment of 500 Millions will be made as soon as the new tranche of loan arrives ..

Khan | 9 years ago | Reply our indian neighbors are harping on specifics of this particular aircraft without realizing the bigger picture: India has completely failed in its attempts to isolate pakistan, and now pakistan is cozying up with India's own allies. Even US Pakistan relations are on an upswing with Sharif due to visit the White House next month. That is the big story, not the kind of jet being sold.

Akhthar | 9 years ago | Reply I think its a good decision to buy. The Russian jets are far superior than the chinese junk which even the chinese Airforce wont buy or use. An Internal Chinese Reports points to the fact that the JFs are sitting ducks waiting to be shot down. Even bombing runs in the NWFP are done by F-16S. More importantly, with a collection of F-16`S, Mirages & SU Jets, Pakistan has the entire range that India has and better. Just ignore that the chinese junk and Pakistan is a formidable force.

curious2 | 9 years ago | Reply Anyone ask where Pakistan is going to find the money to buy these planes? Pakistan has already committed to buying Russian helicopters and Chinese J-17's and submarines. On the domestic front you don't have enough money to secure long term LNG contracts.

ajeet | 9 years ago | Reply @Azi: Why do you think we are shifting to the American and European ones? The Chinese ones have never seen any action anywhere.

Azi | 9 years ago | Reply Funny that you lecture us, most of your own equipment is Russian, even the upcoming stealth fighter being produced by Russia and only financed half by India while calling it its own production. Even the crappy copies as you call Chinese jets are far better off compared to Indian productions that never made it to completion, eg. LCA, Arjun MBT etc..stalled rafale deal.

Vectra | 9 years ago | Reply Russia will be delivered appropriate response but for now India will wait and watch what the Russian moves are.India has already made it clear that Russia will cross's "Red Line' if deal goes ahead and India will be forced to downgrade its engagement with Russia.

Mohammed Safdar Kiani | 9 years ago | Reply Which ever fighters Pakistan buy for their Air Force must be with spare parts manufacturing licence.

bimal william | 9 years ago | Reply If Pakistan is buying SU-35 what is the big deal in it.Russia has never said it will not sell arms to Pakistan. Pakistan has bought Russian helicopters from Russia. Arms are meant to be sold. We have bought arms from US, Israel and other countries. What do you think if Pak will purchase SU-35, India will also buy. Arms are bought as per the requirement of Armed Forces.

Indian doctor | 9 years ago | Reply IAF refused this because they are not having more edge over Su-30 MKI, besides Indian airforce is going to upgrade MKI soon for which deal is included..... Double engine double maintenance, fuel It consumes per hour is costly.... service availability not more than 60% at any given time.... What really matters is How to maintain a bought elephant....

ghazal | 9 years ago | Reply now million dollar question who is going to pay for it china or IMF? buying single squadron of it is will ensure load shedding increased by 4 hour for 4 years. mind it accessories are not added..hope SU-35 can land on light less airstrips

malay saha | 9 years ago | Reply you hv to wait for a while.modi will visit russia this year last.russia is imposing pressure on ind to finalise the 5 th gen fighter plane agrement.if ind finalise it will be bye bye to su-35 for pak.mark my comment.

cautious | 9 years ago | Reply Russia has been trying to sell this plane to anyone since the 90's - no takers. To the bet of my knowledge Indonesia is the only country that has indicated it's going to buy the plane - that took place this month.

Ali Yusuf | 9 years ago | Reply All we know for a fact is that there have been some talks on possible Su-35 sales between Russia and Pakistan. Nothing more nothing less. Everything else is speculation at this point.. I too would love to see this plane in PAF colors but my wishes have no impact on how the talks will end up. These are usually long protracted processes and it may take a while before anything definitive and concrete comes out in the open. So lets be patient and wait and see how things turn up.

Abrar R | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan is also receiving 36 J-10s this year if im not mistaken. Like what on earth is the PAF thinking? Im sure it has a very good reason but anyways yes its confusing right now.

pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply @ajeet: You may be right. Pakistan should perhaps buy more F16's and Eurofighters.

Abrar R | 9 years ago | Reply Joshi Baba we are in complete agreement with you. Modi govt has actually seriously ruptured Indians foreign policy. It has pushed Russia away, screwed the Rafale deal, China was already at a distance and getting in a friendship with US would mean India will never need an enemy again. As for Pakistan, foreign policy seems to be working. I would still have the PAF look into the J-11 if it really needs a flanker.We dont need SU-35s.

ajeet | 9 years ago | Reply @joshi Baba Pakistanis will have fun with the Russian aircrafts once its in their inventory. From spare parts to reliability, they would discover that its a lot different from the F16s or even the pirated Chinese planes. India has a choice of plenty with Europeans, Russians and Americans in queue to sell us their latest. And u still think tho is a Russian ploy to put pressure on India against diversifying its arm purchase.

Emad | 9 years ago | Reply Primary reason to get this aircraft is because of maritime security which has become more important after gwadar investment

Blithe | 9 years ago | Reply Thank you democracy . Our erstwhile dictators were too scared about their legitimscy to look away from the West .

Joshi Baba | 9 years ago | Reply My India is still in disbelief that Modi Dada not only lost Rafale deal, he killed our brotherly relationship with Russia. Now we have to buy over priced European Garbage along with few good Aircrfats from US but with no technology. Pakistanis must be dancing right now.

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