Who is stronger, PAF (Pakistan Air Force) or IAF (Indian Air Force)?

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Let’s start !

But wait - Some Glossary Terms ….

Air Superiority Fighter - The Aircraft which is able to gain and maintain air superiority over Enemy’s Airspace .

Multi-role Aircraft’s - The Aircraft’s which can perform both Air-Air and Air-Ground Missions .

Fighter Aircraft’s - Aircraft s Designed primarily for Air-Air Missions .

Attack Aircraft or Attack Bomber - The one with role of carrying airstrikes means Air-Ground Missions .

Interceptor - is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent successful missions by enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.

Twin jet - Having 2 Engines .

BVR’s - Beyond Visual Range missiles .

IAF - Indian Air Force , PAF - Pakistan Air Force

So i would divide rest of my answer into categories making it easy to compare and understand.

Firstly overall comparison would be between fixed wing aircrafts …

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Air Superiority Fighter
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Indian Air Force

(As Pakistan Air force Don’t have anything to counter it , so i would be comparing specs of these in Multi-role Section * )

Sukhoi Su-30 MKI - The well known aircraft as well as The Best Aircraft in Indian Air Force Inventory - Around 220 ( to be around 280 till 2018-2019 upgraded with Super Sukhoi Standards )
Su-30 MKI the original version do lagged at various places for role in IAF but MKI is version specially made for India with specific Indian configurations .

Mikoyan Mig 29 ( being upgraded to Mig 29 UPG )
Around 69 in Number

Mig 29 UPG will be best of all other Mig 29 ‘s classes .

As said above these set of 290~ Aircraft s ( expected 350) Are Air Superiority Fighters Capable enough to project power over Enemy’s Airspace Both Being Upgraded with Best Avionics while Su-30’s forming a part of Nuclear Triad would be able to carry missiles like Supersonic BrahMos and later Nirbhay as well .
Due to their purpose and SUPERIOR Avionics These are MINI AWACS flying in the Air Space and can act as director or command post for other aircraft s

While Upcoming HAL TEJAS are not counted which as well are AIR Superiority Fighters

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Multi-role Aircraft’s
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India ‘s Inventory include

SU-30MKI 220-272
MIG 29 69
HAL Tejas Mark 1 A
Dassault Mirrage 2000 51

Pakistan’s Inventory Include

JF-17 Thunder - 59
F-16 Fighting Falcon - 76
Dassault Mirrage 3 -75

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JF-17 PAF
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This is only the latest Aircraft in Pakistan’s Air Force Inventory

Firstly it was developed to replace
Mirrage III fighters and
F-7 Interceptors

The Main Aim was to provide a front line aircraft at half the cost

So it’s useful specifications

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 (1,217.9 mph; 1,960.1 km/h)
• Combat radius: 1,352 km (840 mi)
• Ferry range: 3,482 km (1,880 NM)
• Service ceiling: 16,920 m (55,500 ft)
• Hardpoints - 7

But what type of aircraft it is comparable to IAF Inventory ?

Sukhoi Su-30 ? - No
Mig 29 ? - No
Mirrage ? - No

At least LCA TEJAS ? - Never

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Comparing to LCA TEJAS IAF
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Main Aim was to replace Mig 21’s as AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTER But even bothered about cost or something else limiting it ? - Never

IT’s a state of art weapons system limited by nothing -

Having Hard Stealth Configuration it’s comparable to jets like EURO FIGHTER TYPHOONS

• Maximum Speed: Mach 1.8
• Range: 3,000 km (1,620 nmi, 1,864 mi)
• Combat radius: 500 km (270 nmi, 311 mi)
• Ferry range: 1,700 km (1,056 mi)
• Service ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
• Hardpoints: 8 ( 1× beneath the port-side intake trunk for targeting pods, 6× wing, and 1× fuselage)

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Difference in JF-17 and Tejas
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Main Frame of JF-17 is metal i.e alloys while Tejas have latest Carbon Fiber Composites and Titanium Allows it makes it both lighter and stronger at a time .

Tejas Avionics are superior with a great difference , Tejas Have advanced AESA radar that can track 64 targets at a time while JF-17 can track total of 10 targets -__- as well as Electronic Warfare Suite in Tejas is much advanced !

Fight Control System again Tejas wins over JF-17 which has relaxed static stability ( stable in air like our cars are stable and go straight in line when wheels are tuned even when left steering untouched ) a quadruplex with fly by wire to ease pilot even more !
Have Digital Flight control Computer which runs on ADA Programming language .

While JF-17 is not a stabled aircraft like Tejas and Fly by wire is must , in new version they are planning night strike capability while Tejas already posses it .

Control Computer run C++ Yeah they lag Ada Professionals .

Coming to Engines as Tejas was first said to not have good Thrust/Weight ratio before with 89kn thrust will have now 98-99Kn Thrust Engine
While Jf Have 85Kn Thrust ( after-burn)

Anti Air Missiles to be carrier
Jf-17 carry mostly Short range ( 8-10km , 1-35 km ,4.5 km , 1-16km ) and 1 BVR type with 70-100Km range
Tejas carry Astra 20 - 80 km range
Advanced Derby - 50 km range
Python 5 - 105km range
R 77 80-100km range
R-73 -30km range

So these are Anti Aircraft Missiles and clearly Tejas Wins Here as well as it an AIR Superiority Fighter .

Thanks to Indian Media to Ruin the image of Tejas but let me make clear , that major complaints are replaced in Mark 1A which Indian Airforce is going to Induct of Tejas with new electronic warfare equipment, better air to air capability, aerial refueling and improved ease of maintenance and the DRDO and HAL promised an improved Tejas Mark 1A version, changes to the ballast and landing gear will reduce its weight by 1,000 kg .
A 6500 kg aircraft ( as said in 2013 ) with 1000 kg reduced and new engine with greater thrust will make it more complimentary .

Indian media just over hyped that Tejas don’t have this and that while IAF before also found issues in SU-30 of which modified version is Inducted specially made for India.

IAF also reported many issues with PAK FA and hence will get FGFA the modified version again .

So just IAF Standards are high and yes it inducts only best aircraft s according to it’s need and same will go for inducting Tejas !

Some may Debate about range I may tell that Range of Tejas is not Clear as per now it’s not reviled - Past it was said to be 500km but It has reduced 1000kg weight and replaced a new engine as you may see wiki article at same time says it range of 3000 km ( Combat Radius is usually half of range or near about ) and same time it says Combat Radius 550km so it’s likely improved in Mark -1A version with In Flight Refueling and on board oxygen making capabilities !
Or Just think that JF-7also has weight of around 6500 KG and max 12500 kg for take off and that too with engine of just 49.9Kn dry and 84.6 with afterburners that leaves smoke trail behind it can cover 1352 km radius !
While Tejas was said to weight 6500kg and Max 13500kg for take off and as per reports it has reduced 1000 kg~ from Body weight.
While before with 54Kn dry thrust and 89.9 Kn with afterburners was said to have 550km radius but now not only weight but engines also with thrust of 98-99Kn would be provided so expect the improved radius !

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F-16 Fighting Falcon - PAF
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BLOCK 50 has -

• Maximum speed:
  • At sea level: Mach 1.2 (915 mph, 1,470 km/h)
  • At altitude: Mach 2 (1,320 mph, 2,120 km/h) clean configuration
• Combat radius: 340 mi (295 nmi, 550 km) on a hi-lo-hi mission with four 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs
• Ferry range: 2,280 nmi (2,620 mi, 4,220 km) with drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 50,000+ ft (15,240+ m)
• Rate of Climb: 50,000 ft/min (254 m/s)
• Hardpoints - Max 11 in which 2 used for sensors

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Comparing to Dassault Mirrage 2000 IAF
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• Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 (2,530+ km/h, 1,500+ mph) at high altitude/ 1,110 km/h (690 mph) at low altitude
• Range: 1,550 km (837 nmi, 963 mi)
• Ferry range: 3,335 km (1,800 nmi, 2,073 mi) with auxiliary fuel
• Service ceiling: 17,060 m (59,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 285 m/s (56,000 ft/min)
• Hardpoints - Max 9

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Differences
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Firstly Indian Mirrage s are being upgraded to most advanced Mirrage with New stealthier Avionics , replacing cockpit and data bus with glass cockpit , providing helmet mounted sight , new weapon system and compatibility with more type of missiles , whole air frame would be stripped down to be re-wired and re-equipped with new mission computers as well as to provide better electronic warfare suite !

So Difference now

PAK Marriages most are being upgraded to OCU(Operation Capability Upgrade) ( 40+14 = 54) that is just an engine upgrade to reduce stall mainly .
While PAF have only 18(near 1 Squarton) Block 50/52 units of Falcon this it the only latest block with PAF of Falcons but this version is not the latest in it series .

So Mainly PAF Falcons lag behind Mirrages in various places-

Mirrages would have latest avionic while not so for Falcons as only few are new.

Mirrages can overrun Falcons and can attain 9000ft altitude more than Falcons.

With new types of missiles and weapon system Mirrage again has higher grounds.
Falcons lag in type of BVR missiles carried as well !

As you see Falcons can’t outperform Mirrages 2000 even so comparing with Air Superiority Fighters like MIG 29UPG and SU - 30MKI would be cheating !

As Compared IAF arsenal with main Aircrafts in PAF now separating both for ease

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PAF LEFT OUT
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Dassault Mirrage 3 75 in number

• Maximum speed: Mach 2
• Combat range: 1,200 km (746 mi; 648 nmi)
• Ferry range: 3,335 km (2,072 mi; 1,801 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 17,000 m (55,774 ft)

Which can carry 2 Rockets and 2 Missiles

These are OLD 2nd Generation jets which were last tried to upgrade in 2000’s
in which 33 only were capably morderanised under PROJECT ROSE with head up display , electron counter measures , flares and internal navigation system + GPS and nowadays they are trying to fit in flight refueling capability

But actually these are way old Aircraft and are capable to counter nothing in IAF Inventory !
Sorry nothing more to say .
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IAF LEFT OUT
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Sukhoi Su-30MKI -

To be 272 with Super Sukhoi Upgrades
As it’s the most capable operation jetfighter in IAF Inventory it rules the skies !

They will come with Latest AESA Radar Tracking 30 targets and engaging 6 at a time in Attack Mode and once Upgraded will offer reduced radar signature making them SUPER SUKHOIS

Not only this they will be carrying new types Missiles with 300 km range for both Ground as well as Air

Meteor ( AIR-AIR ) missile that has range of 100-300Km for air to air combat compatibility will be added .

Brahmos (AIR-Ground) missile that has range of 300 Kms while Block 3 with around 500Kms+ also would be compatible after upgrade

These are the jets that Can Perform most advanced 3D maneuvers . Capability possessed by some Migs and Sukhois only

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 (2,100 km/h or 1,300 mph) at altitude; 1,350 km/h, 839 mph near ground level
• Range: 3,000 km (1,620 nmi) at altitude; (1,270 km, 690 nmi near ground level; with no external fuel tanks)
• Ferry range: 8,000 km (4,320 nmi) with two in-flight refuelings
• Endurance: 3.75 hrs (up to 10 hrs with in-flight refueling)
• Service ceiling: 17,300 m (56,800 ft)
• Rate of climb: >300 m/s (>45,275 ft/min)
• Hardpoints - 12 and can be increased to Max 14 and can carry 8 tonnes of external stores

Specially Can Carry
AIR - AIR of range upto 400 kms as well ,known as AWA&C Killers
3 Brahmos at a time

Mostly it carries BVR’s only as it’s a Air Superiority Fighter mainly aiming Beyond Visual Combat

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Mikoyan MiG - 29
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Around 69 in number completing their Upgrades to most advanced version of their class that is MIG 29 UPG

[ On a Visit to Russia (Mig 29UPG) , in Background Russian Aircrafts;) ]
Standard Version -

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.25 (2,400 km/h, 1,490 mph) At low altitude: Mach 1.25 (1,500 km/h, 930 mph)
• Range: 1,430 km (772 nmi, 888 mi) with maximum internal fuel[193]
• Ferry range: 2,100 km (1,300 mi) with external drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 18,013 m (59,100 ft)
• Rate of climb: initial 330 m/s average 109 m/s 0–6000 m (65,000 ft/min
• Hardpoints - 7

The upgrade to latest MiG-29UPG standard is in process, which will include latest avionics, Zhuk-ME Radar, engine(RD-33 series 3) , weapon control systems, enhancing multi-role capabilities by many-fold.The upgrade will also include a new cockpit ergonomics, air-to-air missiles, high-accuracy air-to-ground missiles and “smart” aerial bombs.

As well as its also an Air Superiority fighter .

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Attack Aircrafts
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PAF have only 1 type that is Dassault Mirrage 5 it’s also a way old 2nd generation bomber derived from Mirrage III fighter

Following specification of 5F advanced version

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.2+ (2,350 km/h, 1,268 knots, 1,460 mph) at 12,000 m (39,400 ft)
• Cruise speed: 956 km/h (516 knots, 594 mph)
• Combat radius: 1,250 km (675 nmi, 777 mi) hi-lo-hi profile, payload two 400 kg bomb and max external fuel
• Ferry range: 4,000 km[34] (2,158 nmi, 2,485 mi)
• Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,055 ft)
• Hardpoints - 7

Pak Has only 34 Variants of Advanced 5F Version improved under PROJECT ROSE it improved it’s capabilities a lot but still only 34 were upgraded and can carry night missions

Overall PAF has 82 aircrafts of this type and can deliver nuclear weapons !

IAF Has 2 types overall 230 in number

SEPECAT Jaguar

The Indian Air Force plans to upgrade up to 125 Jaguars starting in 2013 by upgrading the avionics (including multi mode radar, auto-pilot and other changes) as part of the DARIN III program and is considering fitting more powerful engines.

It’s also an old bomber that India is upgrading to serve its last time in IAF Inventory ,

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 (1,699 km/h, 917 knots, 1,056 mph) at 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
• Combat radius: 908 km (490 nmi, 564 mi) (lo-lo-lo, external fuel)
• Ferry range: 3,524 km (1,902 nmi, 2,190 mi)
• Service ceiling: 14,000 m (45,900 ft)
• Hardpoints - 5

So after upgrading it from Head to Bottom maybe they can serve A Decade or Two
overall it’s a good deep penetration striker served excellently in Kargil War

These are 145 in number and also serve in Naval Strike Role

REST are MIG 27 that is going to retire and would not serve any more even though it was 3rd generation Bomber they are 85 in number and are going to be replaced by HAL TEJAS which is much advanced aircraft .

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INTERCEPTORS
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Both IAF And Paf has obsolete version , IAF is retiring it till 2018 , don’t know about PAF.

IAF - MIG 21’s 245 in number upgraded around 150 to be retired until Tejas Squartons Start arriving as Mass Production has been said to occur reports defense minister in September 2015

PAF Has F-7P replicas of MIG 21 185 in number they would be replacing it by JF-17 s .

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Transport Aircrafts
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PAF
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Has them just for the sake of their name in this category

( Boeing 707 )

OLD 1958’s Boeing 707 that is only heavy lift transport 2 in number with PAF
1 Medium lift Transport that also Crew Fled from Afghan to Pakistan in Mid 1980’s and then it is serving in PAF
4 Multi Role Tanker Transport that can act as refueling takers and shifting passengers ( 1 at a time )
Overall 43 leaving VIP Transports

In Helicopters they have 45 MI17 helicopters and France Aloutte 3 around 95

( Mi-17 )

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IAF
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TOTAL 244 leaving VIP Transports

41 Heavy lift alone
REST other BIG - Small Aircrafts

( Boeing C-17 )

In Helicopter

Attack Helicopters
Hal Chetak used by IAF for Anti Tank purposes while other have been shifted to Aviation Cops ( Around 300 were there) now 74

20 MI -35 to be replaced by Apaches coming soon

( APACHE AH-64 )

Hal Rudra 7 delivered and 38 on order
Hal LCH 3 delivered and 65 on order

( HAL LCH)

( India Forces would have around 310+ Attack helicopters ( IAF + Aviation Cops combined )

Rest 363 helicopters~ while 50 more are coming soon and more on order!( Transport and Utility) Mostly heavy for transport !

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Here I May End Comparing Aircrafts
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Usually while Comparing Air Forces we just compare Aircrafts and leave it but there is something called

Air Defenses

Not if low range Anti Air guns but surely Anti Air Missiles need to be bothered !

When talking about IAF Inventory Some Anti - Aircraft missile systems are

[Only High Altitude]

Akash
Trishul
S-125
S-200
S-300
Barak -8
SPYDER MR systems

These type systems can not only shoot down aircrafts upto 60,000 ft but also can shoot down ballistic missiles and guided bombs !!

If We talk about PAF

They don’t have any high altitude anti air systems

Low Altitude systems like Cortale missiles ( 30,000 ft max)
and Fm-90 (20,000 ft max) are only type anti air missiles with PAF .

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Conclusion
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Overall i may conclude that Pakistan forces be it army , navy or air force try to have number ratio of 1:2 with that of Indian Forces but when talked about budget they have 1:6 - 1:7 means with 6-7 times less budget they still want half the number of forces compared to Indian force hence they are lacking in technology and modernization .

Eg
Jf-17 cost effective but only represent number count in front of Indian Air Forces
Jf-17 (expected 250) and F-16 (76) are the only Aircrafts we are going to see with them for next Decade At least !

While Indian Air Force
Instead of Defensive force it’s turning into Offensive as you may notice they are inducting only Air Superiority Fighters which are Costliest Class of Aircrafts
And what is representing it’s fleet over next decade

FGFA 160~
Su-30MKI 272
Mig 29’s UPG 69
Mirrage latest version 51
HAL TEJAS 120~ (+)
Dassault Rafael 36

No Sassy jokes on MIG-21 any more !!!

You see all are Air Superiority fighters and IAF is getting rid of every old aircraft and helicopter in this decade.

I am counting less as they aim 42 Squartons in 1 Decade and 1 Squarton = 20 aircrafts

So IAF is far better and stronger when compared to PAF in number as well as power and would continue to be better if not much but at least 2 Decades further as of now! At last even if they got money still aircrafts need to be built as it’s not a Car Showroom that we may go , buy and opt for next day home delivery !

Please if you want to debate in comments do that with facts ![No offense though , just because some make comments that are pretty lame and then i have to spend huge time explaining it ]

I openly welcome all the opinions to improve the article and if you find it boring then please text which part you find boring , majority would be worked upon !

And please don’t talk random things like if Pilots are better PAF can do this and that , let me tell you in example -
In a straight line Bike race you(Best Rider ) have a bike that can max go at 60 miles/hr while your opponent(Poor Biker) has bike that can go at 100 miles/hr then whatever you do he is gonna outrun you on track .
Same is situation of JF-17 ( Backbone ) of PAF ! even after leaving crucial things like maneuvers , missiles, IAF pilots etc !