Old/New Articles and News item about PAF

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Downed IAF pilot, Flt. Lt. Nachiketa, released by Pakistan

4 June 1999

ISLAMABAD: The pilot of one of the two Indian MiGs which was shot down by Pakistan on 27 May 1999, Flt. Lt. Nachiketa, has been released after 8 days as a prisoner of war in Pakistan. He was handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) after the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad refused to receive him in the presence of the International Red Cross and the media.

In a gesture of peace and goodwill which will not go unnoticed even in an atmosphere full of war-rhetoric, Pakistan handed over the captured Indian pilot to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) after the Indian High Commissioner refused to accept him.

But Paul Bonard, chief of the ICRC delegation in Pakistan, drove Flight Lieutenant K Nachiketa straight to the Indian High Commission from the Foreign Office and handed him over to High Commissioner S. Parthasarthy. The ceremony, delayed by more than three hours, was held at the Foreign Office where Bonard received the prisoner from the Pakistani authorities.

Nachiketa, who turned 26 on Tuesday, was captured on May 27 when Pakistani troops brought down two intruding Indian MiG fighters 12 km inside Pakistan. The other pilot, Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, was killed when his aircraft crashed after being hit by the groundfire. His body has already been handed over to the Indian authorities. The Prime Minister's announcement to release Nachiketa came at the press conference, his first since hostilities between India and Pakistan flared up early last month.

Minutes after Sharif's announcement, Pakistan Foreign Office contacted the Indian High Commission to arrange for the takeover of Nachiketa. The Foreign Office made three attempts to persuade the Indians to attend the ceremony but did not succeed. When Director General India desk, Zamir Akram, first spoke to Indian Deputy High Commissioner, Saradh Sabarwal, he asked for sometime to consult New Delhi. Apparently, New Delhi advised the High Commission to boycott the ceremony.

Sharif decided to release the Indian pilot after a series of meetings with his senior ministers and generals on Wednesday, who advised him to hand Nachiketa over to the Indians as a gesture of goodwill. Later Tariq Altaf, a spokesman for the Foreign Office, told journalists that the prime minister had decided to release Nachiketa "as a gesture of goodwill and in keeping with the Islamic traditions."

"We informed the Indian High Commission this evening and invited them to receive their pilot. They have refused to accept their own pilot in the presence of the ICRC representative and the media. We were trying to persuade the High Commission to come and that's why the ceremony was delayed," said Altaf.

"Our purpose in handing over the officer in the presence of the ICRC representative and the media is for the world to see that the pilot is safe and sound and has been accorded the treatment due to an officer. This handing over ceremony is in accordance with the international norms. We wanted to avoid a repetition of baseless allegations that followed when we returned the body of Squadron Leader Ahuja last week. The High Commission's refusal to accept the officer is regrettable."

He then instructed the journalists not to question the pilot, saying that ICRC rules did not allow this. "We received the pilot today in conformity with the legal procedure. We interviewed him in the absence of the Pakistani officials. He was also allowed to send a message to his family. An ICRC doctor examined Nachiketa and found him in good health. We have issued two confidential certificates, one to the Pakistani and the other to the Indian authorities about his heath," said Paul Bonard of the ICRC.

The ICRC doctor found four cuts and bruises on the pilot's face and legs and said that all were several days old. These were the result of the violent ejection sequence when Nachiketa's MiG-27 was shot down by Pakistan. "No Pakistani official was present when the ICRC team was inspecting the pilot or interviewing him," said Atlaf. He said since Pakistan was not fighting a war with India, Nachiketa was not a prisoner of war.

Nachiketa was later handed over to the Indian High Commission by the ICRC where he was issued with a new passport. Flt. Lt. Nachiketa will be taken to Lahore from where he will cross over into India from the Wagah Border Checkpost.

 

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Pakistan and China sign agreement to develop S-7 fighter jet

29 June 1999

BEIJING: China and Pakistan have signed an agreement to develop an indigenous advanced fighter aircraft, Pakistan Foreign Office here said. The deal for the manufacture and development of Super-7 (S-7) fighter jets is part of the four agreements signed during Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s truncated Beijing visit, Foreign Office spokesman Tariq Altaf told reporters.

Pakistan is likely to equip S-7 with precision-guided munitions and beyond visual range weapons to match the Indian Air Force capabilities, according to Defence sources here.

However, the Chinese Government maintains that the arms deal does not pose a threat to a third country which is only meant to provide “self-defence capability to Pakistan”. While the details of the contract have not yet been made public, the sources said the single-engine aircraft would be ready by 2001.

Beijing and Islamabad had signed a memorandum of understanding on the S-7 in 1997. However, the deal got stuck due to financial crunch faced by the Sharif Government.

Pakistan turned to China for the development of S-7 fighters after the United States put on hold the supply of F-16 fighters to Islamabad following the Pressler amendment and arms embargo in the wake of nuclear tests last year.

The denial of advanced F-16 fighters by the US following the Pressler amendment and arms embargo on Pakistan in the wake of latter’s nuclear tests last year seems to have forced Islamabad to join forces with China on the S-7 project.

 

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Pakistan to receive 8 Mirage V jets next month

29 June 1999

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will take delivery of eight upgraded Mirage V jets from France next month under a deal signed in 1996 for 40 used aircraft, Pakistani officials and diplomatic sources said Monday. 'The Mirages will be delivered by mid-July,' a French embassy official said. The deal was signed in 1996 but the delivery comes as Pakistan and India have been locked in border clashes in the disputed Kashmir region for the past two months.

Officials said the deal for the French jets involved $120 million. Eight such aircraft, including 6 Mirage Vs and 2 Mirage IIIs were already delivered last year. Under the 'pre-paid' deal, French defence and mechanical engineering firm SAGEM was to purchase the jets from the French air force and elsewhere and modernise and refurbish them for delivery in two years. French embassy sources said the remaining fleet of 24 jets was to be delivered to Pakistan by the end of this year.

The fleet will be a 'combination of both' Mirage-III and Mirage- V types, a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) official said. 'The multi-role planes have been equipped with the latest technology,' he said adding the 120 million dollar deal includes the cost of upgrading the aircraft.

Other sources said the contract for 40 aircraft envisaged the supply of 34 Mirage-V F type and six Mirage-III. The PAF fleet already has a combination of over 140 Mirage-III and Mirage-V planes, they said.

Pakistan entered into the deal with France after the United States cancelled delivery of 28 F-16 aircraft in a vain attempt to force Islamabad to abandon its nuclear programme. Senior PAF officials have said the country needs to purchase the French built hi-tech Mirage 2000-5 to match India's air power. But poor cash resources have scuttled attempts to acquire modern aircraft from Russia and France.

PAF Chief Pervez Mehdi Qureshi last year said PAF needs to induct at least 20 state-of-the-art aircraft every year to counter the threat posed by India's growing air superiority.

Reports here said India was acquiring Russian Su-30 aircraft and an upgraded version of MiGs. In the field of hi-tech aircraft, the Pakistan Air Force is outnumbered by a ratio of 1:7 as Pakistan has just 32 multi-role F-16 planes in its inventory against India's 232 high-tech aircraft, Qureshi added.

Pakistan recently decided to co-develop the Super-7 (S-7) fighters with China described here a 'time-tested friend.' Officials said the agreement on manufacturing the aircraft was likely to be finalized during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's current visit to China.

Sources said the S-7 will be a multi-role, medium tech aircraft with Chinese airframe, Russian engines and
systems from western sources.

 

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Egypt to buy 80 Sino-Pak K-8 jet trainers

8 Janaury 2000

BEIJING: China has signed a $345 million deal with Egypt to jointly produce 80 K-8E jet trainer aircraft, the Jiangxi Daily said in its January 6 edition seen in Beijing on Saturday.

Under the deal between the China National Aero-technology Import and Export Corporation and Egypt's Ministry of Defence, China would provide parts and raw materials, technical training and specialist support, the newspaper said.

The aircraft would be produced in Egypt's A01 aircraft factory, it said.

The deal also included an agreement to provide hardware and software for five aircraft design and research centres in Egypt, it said but gave no further details.

 

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European hesitation holds up Sino-Pakistani Super-7 fighter

PAUL LEWIS/WASHINGTON DC

THE PROTRACTED development of the Chengdu FC I/Super 7 fighter is threatened with further delay by a growing hesitation on the part of European governments to approve the supply of key avionics and sensor systems to China and Pakistan. According to one manufacturer bidding for the avionics contract, China is seeking to clarify the position of the three European countries concerned - France, Italy and the UK. If problems persist into the second quarter, Beijing is threatening to shop elsewhere, such as Russia.

European reluctance appears tobe in part a response to concern in Washington. "Clearly with the current climate in the USA there has been a certain amount of pressure to look at everything being exported to China. There is a concern that too much technology is being transferred for the Super 7," says asenior industry source. Three integrated packages have been proposed for the Sino-Pakistan development based around the BAE Systems (formerly Marconi Electronic Systems) Blue Hawk, Fiar Grifo S7 and Thomson-CSF RC-400 radars. Other equipment will include a head-up and head-down displays, an inertial navigation system and a mission computer. Bids were due to be submitted by the middle of last year, but the tender period has been extended after the former Marconi initially declined to bid.

Manufacturers have long argued that the supply of avionics and radar systems is not covered by the post-Tiananmen Square European Union ban on arms sales to China. Interpretation differs from one country to the next, however. In the case of the UK it is taken to include "lethal weapons", such as guns and missiles, "weapon platforms" such as aircraft and any equipment used for "internal repression".

The Super-7 situation has been complicated by Pakistan's military coup last October. While no formal arms embargo has been imposed against Islamabad, the UK Government has not approved any new export licences despite the fact that there are reportedly as many as 80 applications pending. This appears to have resulted in a split within the UK's Labour administration between those led by defence secretary Geoff Hoon pressing for restrictions to be lifted and others, headed by foreign secretary Robin Cook, opposing new sales until democracy is restored.

 

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PAF Mirages undergoing upgrades

Jan, 2000

PARIS: 'Elements of SAGEM's MAESTRO (modular Avionics Enhancements System targeted for Retrofit Operations) digital package, installed some years earlier in 20 belgian Mirage 5BA/BDs, and applied to the PAF's Mirage 5s include the SAGem ULISS 92 INS/GPS, with the TRECOR terrain-matching system and UTR-90 computer, Honeywell radar altimeter, multifunction cockpit and wide-angle stroke and raster head-up displays, hands-onthrottle-and-stick, SAGEM Circe 2001 mission planning system, provision for night-vision goggles, plus thermal-imaging forward looking infra-red (FLIR) and laser rangefinder in a forward ventral fairing.

Smart weapons capabilities may be further exploited by the navigation/tageting pod shown SAGEM's Mirage 5F at Le Bourget.

Although described as the dart, this appears identical to Rafael's LITENING pod. Other Mirage 5F upgrades included an integrated electrnoc warefare suite, on-board oxygen generation system (OBOGS), and single point pressure refuelling. Delivery of the last upgraded 5F from SAGEM to Pakistan was expected in mid 1999.

 

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Breakthrough for Pakistan: Ammunition for 120 mm mortar indigenously manufactured

29 January 2000

RAWALPINDI: The Defence Science and Technology Organization (DESTO) has achieved a major breakthrough in ammunition technology by developing ammunition for 120 mm mortar.

According to an ISPR press release here on Saturday, DESTO has indigenously developed and manufactured ammunition for 120 mm mortar which has almost doubled the range of conventional ammunition with very less cost effect.

Foreign manufactures were demanding millions of dollars for transfer of technology whereas DESTO developed this ammunition totally indigenously with no foreign collaboration or assistance. The scientists and engineers of this prestigious organization have also developed and successfully fired base bleed technology ammunition. The foreign firms were as usually demanding millions in transfer of technology and machinery for the venture.

In fact one firm demanded 100,000 dollars for supply of manufacturing standards documents only. The development in this field will enhance the range of all artillery ammunition upto 30 percent. It may be mentioned here that these achievements made by DESTO will go a long way in enhancing fire power of Pakistan Army. It will also enable the Artillery to reach deeper enemy targets. Pakistan will also be able to earn handsome profits from export of this sophisticated ammunition developed totally indigenously.

 

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US based company for marketing Super Mashaq

DUBAI (November 24, 2000), What appears to be a giant leap for the Pakistan's aircraft manufacturing industry, a US based company has contacted the Pakistani officials for the marketing and sale of Super Mushshak aircraft, being manufactured at Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, Kamra, Pakistan.

'A US based logistic support company, Demo Corporation, has offered the marketing and sale of the Super Mushshak aircraft in USA', said Air Commodore Muhammad Younas who led a delegation of PAF to the five-day Dubai International Aerospace Exhibition '97 which concluded on Thursday. 'If the deal is struck, we will be able to sell 100 to 150 aircraft in USA through the Demo Corporation', he claimed. 'Though it is a big achievement for us, we would certainly consider all aspects before coming to any final decision', he said.

'In fact, the Super Mushshak-395, a Pakistani student trainer aircraft's first visit to Dubai international aerospace exhibition proved to be a great success as a number of companies including one from the United States showed interest in getting the aircraft', disclosed Younas who is also the Managing Director of Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra.

'Demo Corporation has also offered to assist us get the aircraft certified to American standards from Federal Aviation Association of USA. So far the aircraft is certified by Swedish Aviation Association (SAA) from Sweden'. 'Though the American company has so far no specific customer in hand but it has offered us to promote the aircraft in the up-coming aerospace exhibitions which will be held in NBA and Oshcash, USA. The company will also look out for publicity and help us reduce the price of the aircraft', he noted.

He said that the Demo Corporation is an aviation consultancy, marketing and manufacturing aviation hardware. 'They are looking for higher aircraft and the Super Mushshak is their priority', he maintained.

About the finalisation of deal with the American company Younas said: "We have given them an extremely useful presentation. Now we will seriously consider their proposals and respond within four week after discussing the matter back home.'

Pertinent to mention here that US had imposed military sanctions against Pakistan under the Pressler Amendment which bans military assistance to countries believed to have nuclear programmes. And due to this law, as many as 28 F-16 fighter jets fully paid for by Pakistan are still dumped in the deserts of Arizona since 1991.

Asked if the 1984 Pressler Amendment would affect this deal, Younas said: 'The Pressler Amendment will not affect this deal, if struck, because the aircraft falls in the FAA Part-3 category (single engine light aircraft category which is not affected by the said law)'.

To another question, he said that the Super Mushshak would be used by the private flying clubs in USA and elsewhere for training purposes.

Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen have also showed interest in the aircraft at the Dubai '97 and negotiations were going on to finalise the deals. It can be a very suitable aircraft for the UAE Air Force in place of existing fleet of Groub, German aircraft, a brand new design which has not yet been tried by International customer, Younas observed, adding that Super Mushshaq would also be far cheaper than the Groub aircraft.

Super Mushshak is the improved version of Mushshak aircraft which is currently being used by Oman, Syria, Iran, Zimbabwe, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Pakistan.

So far the AMF has produced two such aircraft whereas five more will be ready by the end of this year. 'Pakistan Air Force will be its first customer', he said.

The two/three-seat trainer and military utility aircraft, Super Mushshak's maximum speed is now 145 kt compared to the earlier 128 kt with the rate of climb increasing to 1,700 fpm compared to 1,024 fpm.

Cruise speed is 130 kt, stall 52 kt and the service ceiling is 24,000 ft. and time to 10,000 ft is 10 minute.

Take off distance is 50 ft to 900 ft and the take off roll distance is 600 ft. Payload is increased to 880 lb in the new aircraft with up to 660 lb on the aircraft's six underwing mounts and another 220 lb in the rear cabin instead of a third seat.

First flying on Pakistan's Independence Day, August 14, 1996, the prototype Super Mushshak was joined by a second test aircraft last July. The aircraft is approved to perform steep turns, stalls and spins, four point and barrel rolls, stall turns, loops, hammerhead stalls and inverted flying. Chief test Pilot Faiq Ahmed demonstrated these manoeuvres each day at the Dubai air show.

The aircraft is built by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, a section of the country's Ministry of Defence. The Mushshak is built by the Aircraft Manufacturing Factory division which was opened in 1981 to build the aircraft. It currently employs about 1,000 people.

The factory also is involved in developing the Karakorum K-2 jet trainer in cooperation with China. It also repairs aircraft of up to 2,590 lb. The Mushshak is a development of Saab Safari/Supporter for which Pakistan took over production rights in 1981.

About 260 Mushshak have been produced. Sales include 25 to Iran, six to Syria and five to Oman, which may also be the first export customer for the Super Mushshak, with an order for another five currently under discussion. 'With the inception of Super Mushshak, the production of its older version 'Mushshak' will become slow and ultimately it will completely be replaced by Super Mushshak', Younas added.

 

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Egypt has ordered 80 Nanchang Aircraft/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex K-8 Karakorum

March 2000

Egypt has ordered 80 Nanchang Aircraft/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex K-8 Karakorum trainers from China to replace Aero L-29 Delfins.

Completion of the basic jet trainer search has initiated action in the follow-on competition for advanced trainers with a light strike capability to replace Aero L-59Es and Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets. Egypt's trainer needs have been driven by the delivery of large numbers of Lockheed Martin F-16s with advanced cockpits.

Egypt launched its search for basic jet trainers last year and evaluated the Aermacchi S211 as well.

China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation managing director-export division Ying Yang says deliveries start this year.

Ying adds that Egypt's air force will use Honeywell TFE731 engines, which power the Pakistan air force's six aircraft, rather than Progress AI-25s used by the Chinese air force. Myanmar also operates the K-8.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian air force's advanced trainer competition has moved forward, with BAE Systems submitting an outline proposal based on the Hawk last December, says Andy Wilson, BAE head of Hawk marketing.

 

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Pakistan invests $150 Million in FC-1/Super-7

April 2000

When answering the questions of a KWIC reporter in a recent exclusive interview, an authoritative source of China CATIC indicated that Pakistan had prepared the fund for the development of the FC1 fighter planes. This has cleared away the final obstacle to the joint development of this type of plane.

As the source confirmed with the Western reporter for the first time, the whole development program involves 300 million US dollars. China has provided 150 million US dollars in the form of 'state loan' and the other 150 million US dollars should come from Pakistan. 'The main reason why the FC1 program was long delayed was that Pakistan didn’t have the fund ready'.

The source also confirmed for the first time that at the request of Pakistan, the Chinese air force had included the FC1 in its equipment plan in order to reduce the manufacturing cost. However, the issues such as the quantity and the timing for the equipment are yet to be determined depending on the other factors.

The same source said that the price for the FC1 would be set within the range from 10 million to 15 million US dollars. The source emphasized, 'The technical conditions are ripe for the FC1.

The design was finalized after the revisions in 1994 and there is no plan for any other big changes'. In the meantime, as Anatoly I. Kanashchenkov, the chief designer of Russia’s Phazotron Radar Designing Bureau, indicated to the KWIC reporter during an interview, China has received two KAPYO fire-control radar systems. Do they have anything to do with the development of FC1 of the Chinese air force version? It merits further attention.

The source finally stressed that the production of the FC1 would be initiated in the year 2000 and the ground testing would then be carried out. According to him, the trial flight is planned for the year 2001.

 

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BARRIER ENGAGEMENT
By: Flight Lieutenant Arsalan

It was one of very cold days in Quetta. One of the two F-6 Squadrons was on ADA. As luck would have it, there was a scramble at dawn. It was a practice scramble and exercise went satisfactorily. On recovery, however, the leader announced an emergency. Nobody was available to be in mobile as working hours start late in winters.

The ATCO took standard steps and asked the crash tender to follow the emergency aircraft. The crash driver was too enthusiastic and did his best to follow the aircraft as close as possible.

The pilot managed to stop the aircraft just short of the barrier, but the crash driver was unable to stop his crash tender and engaged the barrier. And thus came the first barrier engagement of the PAF by a crash tender.

 

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Russian help in Chinese fighter project worries India
June 2000


MOSCOW—India has expressed its concern over Russian involvement in the development of the new Chinese FC-1 fighter, official sources said.Sources close to the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had expressed its concerns in a recent official note.Russian military aviation firms like MiG, Klimov and Phazatron are believed to have been assisting a Chinese project to develop the FC-1 single-seater, ground attack fighter for several years.

The Russian response to the Indian note has apparently been “very diplomatic” and Russian authorities have pointed out that a Sino-Russian agreement prohibits the export of military hardware developed with Russian technical assistance to third countries, sources said.

The famous Russian company Mikoyan and Gurevich (MiG) is reported to be involved in advising China on the structure and aerodynamics of the new aircraft, which is believed to have a number of advanced features.

The new aircraft, popularly known as Super-7, is being developed by China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Corporation and it is likely to fly later this year. The RD-93, a modified version of the RD-33 engine used in MiG-29 aircraft, and a new Phazatron multi-mode radar, a modified version of the Kopyo radar, are to be installed in the FC-1.

Indian concern over the project stems from the fact that Pakistan would be one of the first nations to purchase the aircraft from China. Pakistan is scheduled to receive 150 FC-1s.

MiG, which manufactures the MiG series of military aircraft, is currently modernising 125 MiG-21bis of the Indian Air Force (IAF). These upgraded aircraft will also be equipped with Phazatron’s Kopyo radar.

Recently, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov, responding to Indian concerns over Russia’s defence hardware sales to China, said Russian policy is guided by the thinking that these two countries would not suffer upon becoming Moscow’s strategic partners.

Russian participation in the development of the FC-1 and other Chinese defence projects goes back several years and was never publicised. Given the fact that Pakistan has been promised 150 of the FC-1s, the lukewarm Russian reaction has evoked some speculation.—NNI

 

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Pakistan arms ban lifted

July 2000

The UK ban on arms exports to Pakistan has been partially lifted. The suspension of arms sales was put in place following the military coup in Pakistan in October 1999 which saw the overthrow of a democratically elected government.

The Foreign Office says it will continue to review the export of military equipment to Pakistan on a "case-by-case" basis. Non-contentious exports such as naval equipment - including planes and helicopters - will be allowed. But the UK will not sell small arms or ammunition to Pakistan for fear of them being used in Kashmir.

Concerns remain Speaking on Wednesday, Foreign Office Minister Peter Hain said: "We remain concerned about defence exports to Pakistan, in the light of last year's incursion at the Kargil sector of the Line of Control in Kashmir, the military coup, the possibility of diversion to undesirable end-users and continued regional tensions. "We have refused licences for certain military equipment to Pakistan because we do not judge that they meet our criteria." Forty-six export licences were blocked during the life of the embargo, but 20 have now been approved. The government of General Pervez Musharraf has yet to set a date for a return to democracy.

 

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Pakistan says could buy Chinese jets

ISLAMABAD : July 1,2000 (Reuters) - Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf said on Saturday his government was considering buying Chinese jets for its air force.

The official APP news agency quoted him as saying at Uthal in the southwestern province of Baluchistan that Pakistan already bought ``a large number commodities'' from China.

``We are also looking (at) the option to purchase Chinese jets,'' he told reporters while attending a ceremony marking the start of the construction of a coastal highway.

``We want to strengthen our air force. Our air force needs new jets,'' he said without specifying the type of aircraft it might buy from China.

The Pakistan Air Force has been getting MiG fighters from China since 1960s, but its main strength in recent years has been U.S.-supplied F-16s bought in the 1980s.

Pakistan has been looking for alternative sources of supply after the United States cancelled a deal for more F-16s 1990 because of Islamabad's nuclear programme.

``Our options are clear. We enjoy very old relations with China. We also have good relations with the United States,'' APP quoted Musharraf as saying.

Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup last October. He said in May he would abide by a Pakistani Supreme Court ruling that upheld the coup but ordered him to restore democracy within three years.

 

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PAF exercise ‘Saffron Bandits’ enters in last phase

SARGODHA— July 2000 .. The six-month on-going war game “Saffron Bandits” by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has entered its final phase, it is learnt here Monday.

The exercise runs concurrently with other planned events and is aimed at providing a war-like training environment for all air-crew and combat controllers and air defence elements of both PAF and Pakistan Army.

Designed with an objective to conduct role-oriented training for the pilots in a near realistic scenario, the Exercise provides the participants with an opportunity to practice with their specified war roles.

A multi-dimensional mock attack by the modern and fully equipped fleet of PAF fighters was arranged at a tactical firing range of PAF. During the Saffron Bandits, the fighter planes attacked the “mock enemy” in today’s display and exhibited their professional skills and preparedness by hitting the targets with the highest percentage of accuracy. Modern tactics and technique were displayed by both the fighters and the ground staff which created a real war-like scene in skies of smoke of the ammunition fired by the aircraft and ground defence personnel. Senior Army officers headed by Inspector General Training and Evaluation of Pakistan Army Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal Janjua visited PAF Base Sargodha to have first hand knowledge about the training and skill acquired by the participating fighters and ground staff of the air force.

“Saffron Bandits” will deliver the desired results whenever PAF is put to test as it is the “cutting edge” of the armed forces, Lt Gen Janjua commented. He expressed satisfaction and warm sentiments when he witnessed the aerial displays and visited the Command and Control Centre of the PAF Exercise. They met with Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Operations) Air Marshal Zahid Anis and other senior officers of PAF and discussed various aspects to enhance inter-services interaction. Later, the fighter pilots were introduced to the head of the delegation who congratulated them on the achievements made during the on-going Exercise.

Earlier, the delegation was received at Sargodha Base by the Officer Commanding Central Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Saleem Arshad and Base Commander. Officer Commanding Combat Commanders’ School gave a detailed briefing on the role of Combat Commander’s School, the objectives and concept of the Exercise. The team was also conducted to the Static Display of the various weapon systems and armament being used by the PAF in the Exercise. It also went around the Base workshop where PAF engineers and technicians were carrying out high profile repair work of the fighter aircraft of the PAF air-fleet. At the conclusion of the day-long visit, Lt Gen Janjua congratulated PAF on the physical manifestation of its mission- oriented training.—APP

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