1979–1988 Soviet-Afghan War
Main articles:
Soviet war in Afghanistan,
Soviet-Afghan War and
Air Force Strategic Command (Pakistan)
In 1979, the PAF's
Chief of Air Staff,
Air Chief Marshal Anwar Shamim, was told by then
President, and
Chief of Army Staff General
Zia-ul-Haq, that Pakistan had reliable intels on Indian plans to attack and destroy the Pakistan's nuclear research facilities at
Kahuta. ACM Shamim told General Zia that, "Indian aircraft could reach the area in 3 minutes whereas the PAF would take 8 minutes, allowing the Indians to attack the facility and return before the PAF could defend it". Because Kahuta was close to the Indian border it was decided that the best way to deter an Indian attack would be to procure new advanced fighters and weaponry. These could be used to mount a retaliatory attack on India's nuclear research facilities at
Trombay in the event of an Indian attack on Kahuta. It was decided the most suitable aircraft would be the
F-16 Fighting Falcon, which the United States eventually agreed to supply after the PAF refused to purchase the
F-5E and
F-5G. In 1983, when the first batch of F-16s reached Pakistan, ACM Shamim informed Zia of the PAF's capability to respond to an attack on the nuclear research facilities at Kahuta.
[33][34]
A letter of agreement for up to 28 F-16A's and 12 F-16B's was signed December 1981. The contracts,
Peace Gate I and
Peace Gate II, were for 6 and 34 Block 15 models respectively which would be powered by the
F100-PW-200 engine. The fist
Peace Gate I aircraft was accepted at Fort Worth in October 1982. Two F-16A and four F-16B were delivered to Pakistan in 1983, the first F-16 arriving at
PAF Base Sargodha (now known as PAF Base Mushaf) on 15 January 1983 flown by Squadron Leader Shahid Javed. The 34 remaining
Peace Gate II aircraft were delivered between 1983 and 1987.
[35][36]
Between May 1986 and November 1988,
[37] PAF F-16s have shot down at least eight intruders from Afghanistan. The first three of these (one Su-22, one probable Su-22, and one An-26) were shot down by two pilots from No. 9 Squadron. Pilots of No. 14 Squadron destroyed the remaining five intruders (two Su-22s, two MiG-23s, and one Su-25).
[38]Most of these kills were by the AIM-9 Sidewinder, but at least one (a Su-22) was destroyed by cannon fire. Flight Lieutenant Khalid Mahmoud is credited with three of these kills. One F-16 was lost in these battles during an encounter between two F-16s and four Soviet Air Force MiG 23s on 29 April 1987. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Shahid Sikandar Khan, ejected safely.
[39]
The PAF is believed to have evaluated the
Dassault Mirage 2000 in early 1981 and was planning to evaluate the
F-16 Fighting Falcon afterwards.
[40]
Pakistan shot down many Russian planes back in Afghan war, Russia can't do anything.
Long Live Turkey