But PAF ACM Rao Qamar Suleman is confident that we will get f-16 along with modern gadgets.
Pakistan to get Air Warning system by October this year: PAF Chief
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman , Thursday said that Pakistan would get Air Warning And Control System (AWACS) by October this year. Talking to media after addressing a joint graduation ceremony of General Duty Pilot, officers of Administration and Engineering Branch at Rislapur Academy, Air Chief said that acquiring of spying satellite and AWACS by India has imbalanced the power in the region. “This has caused a dent to the balance of power in the region - leading to an arm race,” he said.
Answering a question, he said, in this modern world, it is difficult to hide some area from the eye of the adversary. However, he said steps are in hand to check this aspect effectively. “
We are acquiring modern gadgets along with the F-16 aircraft from the US to check and encounter this threat,” he said.
In reply to a question he said that India had already possessed 3500 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles while Pakistan is in the process of acquiring 500 such missiles to maintain the required level of deterrence. Rao Qamar told a questioner that the aspect of drone can be effectively encountered but the policy decision on the subject is to be taken by the Parliament and the Government.
He recalled that in 2001-02 the time of stand off between India and Pakistan, the PAF had shot down an Indian drone which had intruded the Pakistan territory. He said that PAF has been taking effective part in the Operation Rah-e-Rast which is meant to continue till the uprooting of terrorism from the area under operation besides restoration of the writ of the government.
He said “All possible efforts are being made to avoid collateral damage while using accurate and precise technology. No civil population area has been engaged by various fighter jets in the PAF inventory being used in the operation.” He said “no dumb bomb is ever pounded during the operation while very precise technology is being used to target the hideouts, ammunition dumps and training compounds of the terrorists.”
In addition to that, he pointed out that PAF has also been providing close support to the ground troops operating in the area of Operation. Quoting an example in this behalf, he said once the operation had to be delayed for over 24 hours to avoid damage to civilian population and it was carried out only after complete assurance by the ground forces that there will be no collateral damage. In reply to another question, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar said that the PAF has the capability to absorb any modern technology to defend the territorial jurisdiction of the country.