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[ghazi52]

Pakistan to host defence exhibition

July 2000


KARACHI: Pakistan will hold its first ever tri-services international defence exhibition and seminar, IDEAS 2000, including foreign participants, from November 14 to 17 at Karachi. About 15 countries, including China, France, Italy, Turkey, UK, USA, Ukraine, Romania, Switzerland, Russia and Iran have confirmed to join the four-day exhibition-cum-seminar, which is a venture of the government of Pakistan, supported by the Pakistan armed forces.

Aasim A Siddiqui, managing director, Pegasus Consultancy (Pvt) Ltd, who is sponsoring and organising the IDEAS 2000 along with a consortium of a couple of Singapore-based firms, said during a presentation on Monday that the exhibition would provide a unique opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers of defence products and services worldwide to market directly to a highly targeted and closely focused audience in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Our mission is to create our own market and generate a global interest for our defence products, he added, and pointed out that the November event would be an excellent platform for local defence equipment manufacturers to show their capabilities in the international marketplace.

He said that the IDEAS 2000, with "Arms For Peace" as its theme, reflected Pakistan's desire to promote peace and stability not only within the region but also elsewhere in the world. The IDEAS 2000 would also be an ideal platform for business cooperation between local and foreign arms manufacturers, he added.

The exhibit profile includes aircraft and air force-related systems, naval systems including types of craft, air defence systems, electronic warfare systems, aerial and ground mobility systems, all types of fighting and logistic vehicles, tanks, APCs, radar, artillery systems, missiles, armament, munitions weapons, surveillance equipment to fight and identify all types of terrorist, ethnic, sectarian and law enforcing activities, equipment and supplies to support humanitarian relief operations.

Siddiqui said that the president or chief executive of Pakistan would formally inaugurate the IDEAS 2000 activities on November 14. While informing that the exhibition and seminar programme would be a biennial feature, he hoped that IDEAS 2000 not only offer benefits to the local defence industry but also was a provision for excellent opportunities to foreign participants. It is targeted at top-level decision-makers from the defence ministry, armed forces, airlines, transport ministry, maintenance and engineering companies, research and training institutes.

Michael Liew, senior vice-president of Times Conference and Exhibitions, Singapore, the international consultants for IDEAS 2000, said that site of exhibition - Karachi Expo Centre of the Export Promotion Bureau - was ideally located in the centre of the city at the Civic Centre, Hassan Square, and all the three halls, a congress as well as an open air display area of 20,000 square metres have been reserved for the exhibition and seminar.

He said that Hall No 1, designated the international pavilion, had been allocated for international companies from the countries in North America, Europe and the Far East, while Hall No 3 has been reserved for the countries participating in IDEAS 2000 from China, Turkey, Ukraine, North Korea, and Iran.

Hall No 2 is designated by the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Defence as the Pakistan Pavilion, which would be particularly restricted to the local defence-related manufacturers for exhibiting their products, Liew added and said that a special vehicle mobility demonstration area, was being constructed at the Expo Centre for live demonstration of military equipment so as to make it easy for the viewers to assess their competitive advantage.

While there is no entry for general public, there will be at least 10,000 visitors concerned with the defence-related development. Liew said that the IDEAS 2000 coordination cell had also been set up at the Joint Staff Headquarters, which was being headed by Major-General Syed Ali Hamid as chief coordinator. Others who spoke at the presentation included Col Akbar A Sharif, Tan Hock and Ko Chee Wah.

Seminar of IDEAS 2000 would be held at the Congress Hall of the Expo Centre. The topics include geopolitics-procurement issues, country presentation on defence production industry, technology transfer, supply chain management, opportunities for business networking, possibilities for joint venture with local, regional and international firms.

 

[ghazi52]

The Super-7 fighter will be operational by 2004-5

KARACHI, Sept 18, 2000 : The Super-7 fighter, generally known as the FC-1 in international circles, will become operational with the Pakistan Air Force only by the year 2004-5, sources told SAMWOnline. Earlier, speaking to reporters in Islamabad on September 15, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Pervaiz Mehdi Qureshi, had said that the first prototype of the aircraft was likely to fly by mid-2001.

However, sources on condition of anonymity said that the project had been delayed on account of several factors. A major problem arose last year when the British firm Marconi Electronic Systems, now known as BAE Systems, refused to enter the bid for the supply of avionics and systems after the military takeover in Pakistan. The two other firms in the race, the Italian company Fiar and the French CSF Thompson, also delayed their bids for integrated packages including radars, head-up and head-down displays, inertial navigation system and a mission computer for the proposed aircraft.

Now, with the British equipment out of question, the contract will go either to the French firm or the Italian firm. The winner will, however, have to share the development costs of the Super-7 with China and Pakistan, both of which are committed to the program on a 50:50 basis. Sources also said that the PAF had taken the decision to develop the fighter only after the service had exhausted all other options. “Had the decision been taken in the mid-90s or earlier, the aircraft, most likely, would have been operational by today,” said a source.

“The PAF put all its eggs in one basket by first assuming that the embargoed F-16s would be eventually released and then by going for the Mirage 2000-5.” The FC-1, a single-engine medium technology fighter, is reportedly based on the design of MiG-33, sold by the Russians to the Chinese. The aircraft is based around the RD-93 engine, a variant of the MiG-29’s RD-33 engine. Webmaster of PakDef, an unofficial site of Pakistan Military

 

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PAF overcomes difficulties in operational capabilities: Pervaiz
October 2000


ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has successfully surmounted the fears of its erosion caused by Pressler-sponsored military sanctions, due to the resilience and innovative zeal of dedicated personnel.

This was stated by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Pervaiz Mehdi Qureshi at the launching of second volume of the Story of Pakistan Air Force (1988-98), here at the PAF Headquarters on Thursday.

The first official history of the PAF came out in 1987 covering a span of 40 years since its inception in 1947. The story of the PAF (1988-98) is etched in an exceptionally difficult phase of its existence, he said. Air Chief said, "The decade saw this dynamic air force battling against heavy odds in the history, caused by Pressler-sponsored military sanctions and their instant effects on our combat fleet sustenance.

Thanks to the resilience and innovative zeal of our dedicated personnel, the feared erosion of PAF's operational capability has been stemmed." P He paid tributes to the PAF personnel and said it is a tribute to the genius and mettle of airmen and officers of this valiant force that the PAF has not only triumphed over this grim challenge by retaining its operational punch but has also charted for itself a new road map of self reliance.

 

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New air chief is expected to give a boost to PAF's export sales efforts

KARACHI: Nov 2000 ... Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir is the first ever director-general of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra to be appointed chief of the Pakistan Air Force. As DG PAC since 1998, he has been actively involved in promoting export sales of aircraft and other air defence equipment manufactured at Kamra, including the Karakorum-8 jet trainer, which has been jointly developed by PAC's Aircraft Manufacturing Factory (AMF) and China National Aero Technology.

As air chief, one of Mushaf Ali Mir's main priorities will be to ensure that the PAC remains fully committed to the K-8 programme and to promoting export sales of the aircraft and PAC's Mushak and Super Mushak turboprop primary trainer aircraft to potential customers in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere.

He is also expected to push for more funds for the PAC and its constituent manufacturing units, including the AMF, the F-6 Rebuild Factory, the Mirage Rebuild Factory and the Kamra Avionics & Radar Factory, to further upgrade their production facilities to help boost export sales.

AMF manufactures certain sub-assemblies for the K-8. The aircraft, described as an intermediate and advanced jet trainer, is assembled in China, with its parts being made in both countries. Plans call for Pakistan's share in the co-production of the aircraft to be increased from the present 25 per cent to 45 per cent by 2001, following which the plane would be considered for assembly at Kamra.

Earlier, PAC officials had dropped plans to set up an assembly line for the K-8 at Kamra due to various constraints, including infrastructure problems. Instead, it had been decided that the PAC would increase its share in the production of high-value components, including fin, horizontal stabilizer, elevator, engine cowling and spare parts support. When Mushah Alli Mir took over as DG PAC, however, he pushed hard for going ahead with the plan to assemble the K-8 in Pakistan. Export sales of PAC-assembled K-8s, he argued, could become a source of substantial foreign currency earnings for Pakistan. As air chief, he will now be in a better position to ensure that this message gets to be heard in the highest quarters of the Pakistan government.

With a price tag of around $ 4 million per plane, the K-8 is currently being used by the armed forces of China, Myanmar, Pakistan and Zambia. China has 25 K-8s, Mynamar 12 and Pakistan 6. The Pakistan Air Force is expected to eventually induct 80 K-8s and K-8Es into its fleet. Zimbabwe and Namibia have reportedly also decided to buy the K-8. Egypt, which had earlier short-listed the K-8E as its new advanced jet trainer, has reportedly now decided to buy 80 of the aircraft from China in a deal said to be worth about $ 347 million.

The sale to Egypt was reportedly finalised in October this year. Mushaf Ali Mir, who was still the DG PAC then, was quoted as saying at the time that he was "very happy" about the sale. Calling it a major breakthrough, he said, "This shows that the aircraft has matured over the years and that the few remaining problems associated with the new aircraft have now been overcome." He said that the K-8 would eventually replace the T-37 trainers at the PAF's air academy at Risalpur. "We don't have to look around for jet trainers like some other air forces are doing at the moment," he was quoted as saying.

The Indian Air Force, for example, has been looking for an advanced jet trainer for years. The Indian government now plans to lease 15 Alpha Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) from the French Air Force at a cost of about $ 5 million for one year. The deal, which is expected to be signed this month, is in addition to the planned acquisition of 66 Hawk jet trainers for which the Indian Ministry of Defence is in the final stages of negotiation with BAE Systems, Farnborough, England, at a cost of about $ 1.5 billion.

the acquisition of the Hawks will take at least one or two years to complete, and the Indian Air Force requires AJTs urgently. The IAF has tried to procure AJTs for the last 15 years, but successive Indian governments failed to answer the request. Spare parts for the maintenance of the AJTs will be provided by Alpha-make Dassault Aviation, Vaucresson, France, as part of the lease agreement. The French government is expected to deliver the Alpha jets within one month of contract signing. The Indian Air Force's present trainer fleet includes 24 BAE-748s, seven Canberra T-4/13/-67s, 120 HJT-16s, 56 Kiran Iis, 20 HPT-32s and 60 HT-2s.

Since 1991, the Indian Air Force has lost at least 88 pilots and 196 aircraft, according to official figures (though according to some independent observers the number of lost aircraft runs into more than 300).

About 62 per cent of the fighter aircraft accidents involved MiG-21 variants. A report released in March this year by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, titled "Indian Air Force," was highly critical of the Indian Air Force for its poor flight record and lack of fighter pilot training. The IAF currently requires combat pilots to fly 3,000 hours a year to achieve combat operational efficiency, but they manage to fly only 1,000 hours, a senior Indian Air Force official was quoted as saying recently.

The Pakistan-China K-8 jet trainer project began in 1987, with the PAC playing a major role in the designing and development of the aircraft. The Pakistan Air Force provided two pilots, 21 engineers and 24 technicians for the entire duration of the development phase of the project. This phase of the project included the conceptual design phase, detailed designing, technological preparations, parts production, sub-assembly and assembly sequences, and flight-testing. The first prototype trial flight was conducted on November 21, 1990, and the first aircraft arrived at the Kamra airfield on March 19, 1993.

Subsequently, the Aircraft Manufacturing Factory at Kamra embarked upon a phased programme of assimilating aircraft manufacturing technology for the K-8. According to PAC officials, the capability to indigenously manufacture the K-8's horizontal tail, vertical tail and engine cowling has already been achieved. By 2002, the transfer of technology for indigenously fabricating the K-8 front fuselage is also expected to be achieved.

The progressive shift from fabricating an airframe of a piston engine aircraft to assimilating the technology for fabricating a K-8 jet trainer aircraft has "given AMF the confidence to venture into a full-scale aviation industry," PAC officials say.

According to them, considerable progress has been made towards developing the infrastructure required for an aviation industry. The most recent development in this direction is the creation of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Board (PACB).

The PACB will provide greater administrative and financial autonomy to its subsidiary factories. To make the set-up financially self-supporting, however, additional funds will have to be allocated by the government in the defence budget for the additional production facilities and technologies required to establish an aviation industrial base.

PAC officials say that for the establishment of an aviation industry, a design centre is a must. The functions of this design centre would include:

(a) analysing the performance of various weapons systems;

(b) analysing the performance evaluation and study of aircraft systems;

(c) advising PAC on current aviation problems and providing continuity to the technological efforts relating to the aeronautical projects being considered for implementation;

(d) undertaking co-production projects and ensuring the effective transfer of technology to PAC from within the country or abroad; (e) studying and evolving aircraft designs in collaboration with foreign countries;

(f) preparing feasibility studies and carrying out research and development for the modification and/or production of selected weapons systems, components and other equipment, and promoting the local development of such items in order to achieve self-reliance in his vital sector;

(g) advising local vendor industries on specifications and quality-acceptance criteria for parts downloaded for development; and (h) organizing the training of personnel for in-house design and development.

In the mid- and late-1990s the K-8 project had slowed down somewhat due to the US embargo on the sale of Garrett TFE 731 turbofan engines to China. The Americans claimed that the engines could be used by the Chinese to build cruise missiles. Last year, however, the Chinese reportedly decided to go in for Russian engines for the K-8.

 

[ghazi52]

AWC reveals 'low-cost' Bravo UAV

Andrew Koch JDW Staff Reporter, Karachi
November , 2000


Pakistan's Air Weapons Complex (AWC) last week unveiled the Bravo, a new unmanned air vehicle (UAV) it is developing for the Pakistan Army.

The Bravo UAV is an 80km-range tactical UAV that will initially perform real time reconnaissance and surveillance, battle-damage assessment, as well as artillery fire support missions, AWC officials said.

The UAV has an endurance of four hours and can carry a 15-20kg payload, with options to initially include a daytime charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) system. Eventually, AWC officials said they plan to develop electronic countermeasures payloads for the all-composite body UAV. The vehicles, which AWC says can reach speeds of 160km/h, use global positioning system guidance and are capable of autonomous flight operations.

The first system of four UAVs, a tactical ground control station with a containerised mission control unit and various payloads, has been delivered to the army for user testing, the officials added. However, AWC is still awaiting firm orders from the army; negotiations for "significant quantities" continue. AWC is also seeking export customers, claiming the Bravo is "substantially cheaper" than existing Western UAVs.

The AWC is also developing the larger Shaspar UAV, which will have a range of 250 km and be able to carry a 50 kg payload to heights up to 80,000ft. AWC officials say the system is at least 18 months from completion and no firm orders have been received. The Shaspar is expected to carry a daytime CCD camera, FLIR system, and laser rangefinder payloads.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan plans to purchase of Chinese fighter jets
November 2000


LONDON (NNI): Pakistan is negotiating the purchase of about 30 to 40 Chengdu F-7 MG fighter aircraft from China to replace aircraft lost through attrition and to bridge a capability gap until development of its new Super-7 (S-7) multi- role light combat aircraft is completed, Jane' defence weekly reported Wednesday.

The deal will be finalised once final price negotiations have been completed, the report quoted to Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Mushaf Ali Mir said.

ACM Mir also left open the possibility that additional F-7 MGs could be bought at a later date, presumably if the S-7 project is delayed further. Early reports suggested that the Air Force was negotiating the purchase of 50 aircraft to replace its aging Shenyang F-6 and Nanchang A-5 aircraft until the S-7 can enter service.

To be produced jointly by the China National Aero-technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), the S-7/fighter China-1 (FC-1) was originally planned to share a common airframe but have different weapon systems and avionics.

Pakistan's inability to secure western sub-systems, including a suitable avionics package, as a result of international sanctions could, however, force Islamabad to accept a Chinese substitute, the weekly said.

 

[ghazi52]

Pak to buy 60 F-7 MG fighters from China
Dec 2000

ISLAMABAD—Quick on his heels and sensing fully the emerging threats to the national security, the new Air Chief will soon travel to China to ink a deal for the procurement of three squadrons of F-7 MG intercept fighters for their immediate induction into force as second line of defence. Previously Pakistan planned to buy 40 F-7 MGs but due to the phasing out of aging fleet of F6s, the PAF has decided to acquire 60 aircraft.

The jets have been lying ready with the Chinese manufacturer for last three years and authorities in Pakistan could not take a final decision about various systems to be placed on these interceptors which have increasingly become Pakistan’s only option to enhance its air power. The last flying trials of these aircraft were done by Pakistani pilots in 1997 and the British Radars were the consistent problem in the otherwise top of the line fighter. China and Pakistan have been jointly evaluating Italian FIAR and French CFS Thomson Radar to be mounted on these aircraft.

Authorities in Islamabad could not take any decision on the avionics suites that were to be installed on both F7 MG and Super 7 fighter jets. It was mostly owed to the sanctions that were clamped on both China and Pakistan. But Western sources always maintained that no European country had ever denied supply of these equipment to Pakistan and China. It was due to other impediments that compelled the authorities in the PAF not to take a final decision on the issue. Most expectedly the Italian Radar has been found to be the suitable option for F7 MG fighters. It is a multifunction Radar with look down capability.

Sources said that the government of Pakistan had already allocated funds for the purchase of these jets but requested the PAF not to utilise funds till the arrival of IMF first tranche. But sources claimed that Beijing has always been ready to supply these fighters without advance payments. The delay was of course due to the indecisiveness on part of PAF authorities about various equipments. Pakistan will have to pay hard cash to its Western suppliers.

China has also offered a very flexible suppliers credit for the purchase of these fighters. In the absence of a state-of-the-art front line fighter, PAF has been striving hard to beef up its second line of air defence by inducting an interceptor like F7 MG. PAF is also pinning great hopes on its newly upgraded Mirages by SAGEM. F-7 MGs together with upgraded Mirages will give a great boost to Pakistan’s air power.

 

[ghazi52]

WORLD'S FIRST BOMBER FORMATION LOOP

27 OCTOBER 1964 - PESHAWAR AIR BASE
​

The first ever formation aerobatics on bombers were performed at Peshawar during an air display on 27 October 1964 - at which Air Marshal Omar Dani, C-in-C of the Indonesian Air Force, was the Chief Guest. The 4 B-57s were led by Wing Commander Nazir Latif with Squadron Leader Altaf Sheikh and Flight Lieutenants Abdul Basit and Shams as team members.

The team executed loops, rolls and wing overs, the first two manoeuvres being unheard of in such a heavy class of aircraft as the B-57, which was not really designed to perform aerobatics even singly. Their precise but apparently effortless station-keeping throughout the demonstration effectively concealed the intense concentration, and physical exertion that all four pilots went through.

 

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Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan and the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi viewing the air display at Royal Pakistan Air Force College in Risalpur, March 1950.

Note - Standing at the rear Maj Gen Iskander Mirza, then Defence Secretary later President.

The College dates back to 1910 when a cantonment was established within its premises. During the First World War, members of the Royal Flying Corps were sent there for training. On August 15, 1947, it officially became an airbase of the Royal Pakistan Air Force.

Courtesy - The Iskander Mirza Archives

 

[ghazi52]

Freighter configured for anti-locust spraying operations - circa 1961. [Picture Copyright: DPR, PAF]

 

[Raider 21]

Related to former meant-to-be PAF Vipers

 

[ejaz007]

ZIA OF PAKISTAN KILLED AS BLAST DOWNS PLANE; U.S. ENVOY, 28 OTHERS DIE (Published 1988)

www.nytimes.com

 

[ghazi52]

Sabre F-86 North American Sabra F-86 served with distinction with Air Forces of new ferwer than 37 nations. Overall, an impressive tally for an aircraft which is generally regarded as the ebst fighter if its era because of its excellent combat record on Korean war, its technical achievemnts, it was far in advance of the jet fighters which immediately preceded it.

Pakistani F-86

The story of Pakistani F-86 starts when in 1955 US sold 120 of F-86-F40s to Pakistan Air Force. PAF had eight squadrons of F-86Fs on its order of battle which formed squadron no 5. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 making up a total of about 100 operational aircraft. of these 100 aircraft, 25 were equipped with Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. 90 former Luftwaffe Canadian Sabres were illegally sold to Pakistan (then subjected to UN arms embargo ) with Iran acting as the sales agent. The luftwaffe was told that the Sabres were for Imperial Iran Air Force, IIAF, but the intention was always to pass them on to Pakistan

The PAF sabres were extensively used during 1965 and 71' war in combat air patrol, strike against airfields and close support mission. Several air battles between Pakistani and Indian aircraft took place, the Sabre pilots ultimately claiming numerous kills including Hunter, Gnats, Vampires, Mysteres and a Canberra among them.

In 1971 war, PAF had 6 Sabre Squadrons; NO 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. At the end of the war, 11 remaining Sabres of No 14 squadron were destroyed deliberately to avoid capture, although Sabre pilots once again made their mark and despite the age of their aircraft claimed Hunter, SU-7, Gnat nd even a pair of Mig-21s. The Sabre remained in PAF service until 1980.

 

[ghazi52]

History of PAF Sabre

History of PAF Sabre starts after the Korean war, when USAF realized Mig-15 was much better fighter and Sabre needed much work on it,specially rate of climb. F-86Fm the day fighter variant which pakistan acquired embodied a much improved airframe. Combat experience also revealed a need for enhanced manoeuvrability, resulting in the development of the so called '6-3' wing with leading edge slats removed. With this modification installed, the Sabre was able to out-turn a Mig-15 and its high altitude/high Mach number manoeuvrability was considerably enhanced.

The F-86 was powered by the J47-GE-27 engine rated at 5,910lb thrust, a 13 per cent improvement on A and E models. This resulted in greater speeds but a significantly improved rate of climb - in the order of 25 per cent at sea level - although this was still slightly inferior to the Mig-15.

The final varint of F series, was the F-86F-F40. It had a curious mix of wing features. In order to restore the previous low speed docility and reduce the stalling speed, the leading edge slats were reinstated and each wing tip extended by 12 inches, resulting in a an overall wing span of 39ft 1.4 in and wing area increased to 313.4sq ft. The result was a stalling speed some 17 knots below that of the F-86F with '6-3' wing.



Specifications

Powerplant	One 5,910lb thrust General Lelectric J-47-GE-27 axial flow torbojet; internal fuel capacity 437 USgal (1,654 l) and/or two 120 USgal underwing drop tanks.
Dimensions	Wing span 37 ft 1.4 in; length 37 ft 6.6 in; wing area 303sq ft
Weights	Empty 10,950lb; normal loaded 16,860lb; maximum 20,357lb
Armament	Six 0.50in Browning M-3 machine gun in nose with 267 rounds per gun; four underwing hardpoints for drop tanks or two 1,000lb on inboard points; alternatively 15 5in HVAR rockets.
Performance	maximum speed 604kt (1,118km/h) at sea level, 530kt at 35,000ft; cruising speed 423-452kt, initial climb rate of 9300ft/min; service ceiling 48,000ft; combat radius (2 1,000lb bombs) 275 nm, combat radius with internal fuel 683nm. ferry range with 2 external tanks, 1,327nm

Father of Junaid Jamshed, Far Right Flying Officer Jamshed Akbar Khan.

 

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