Small but better Vision set for Pakistan Air force

Small but better Vision set for Pakistan Air force

     The Pakistani Air force rapidly growing as a formidable air force with the induction of JF 17 block 2 fighters and F 16 Blk 52 fighters along with Airborne control center and multi role Tanker aircraft. PAF Spokesperson said this in a interview, when the PAC - Pakistani Aeronautical Complex delivered the 16th JF 17 Blk 2 fighter this year, Completing the goal of 16 Aircraft per year. He also said about the future of PAF with two advanced aircraft's. along with one twin engine aircraft.

    Pakistani Airforce plans to decommission all older generation fighter aircraft before 2020 and keep  just two model of advanced fighter aircraft later 2020. The older Fighter jets like French made Mirage series and Chinese modified MiG 21 are about to be completely withdrawn by 2020. In 2020 PAF would operate JF 17 Blk 2 and 3 version, F 16 Blk 52 version along with low number of either J 31 or the Su 35 for special missions.

    Pakistan air force set to receive the modified Block 3 fighters by early 2017, with Chinese made AESA Radar's, New engines and improved avionics and electronic warfare suites. PAF operates some fifty older generation JF 17's. Even though they do have the BVR capability and able to launch Anti shipping missiles too. Pakistan deployed a modified JF 17 blk 1 squadron close to Karachi for naval strike missions. PAC also plans to modernize those early models with advanced systems present in Blk 2 variants.

    The Block 2 version is currently in serial production, That PAF plans to induct thirty two fighter jets in two years span. The target set to PAC to deliver those new Blk variants within two years time. The PAC also completed the first batch of 16 aircraft's this year, and about to produce another 16 in 2016.

    The Chinese testing new engines avionics and radar's in their J 10 platform. Which can be easily transferred to the PAF JF 17's. China currently testing those new systems in J 10 B platform and set to achieve the goals before the fall of 2016.  Thus shows the Pakistani's can easily adopt new Chinese technologies in newer JF 17 when the production starts in 2017.

    Pakistani's another option is the proven F 16 fighters. PAF operates some seventy six F 16 Fighters where most of them are advanced variants. Those F 16 are multi role aircraft's comes with decent air to air mission systems and air to ground options. PAF also pressing the Americans to supply additional F 16 Blk 52 aircraft's. The Americans didn't responded the Pakistani proposal this time.

    The American government is ready to supply the new F 16 to Pakistani Air force. However the American congress dominated by the Republicans blocked the US government proposal of possible FMS sale. The Senate committee almost close to isolate the Pakistani's from the US allies list, Due to many reasons, Which include their support of terrorism and connections with China and Russia.

     It's reported due to the increased interests with Indians, Americans moving away from Pakistani options. The Republican President candidate Trump fingers Pakistan is the mother of Terrorists and US have many plans which include deploying American ground forces. He also supported Indian view of Pakistan and China, Also endorsed the US Congress option of making close relationship with India.

    It's clearly the PAF may add upto some 200 plus modern fourth generation fighter aircrafts and another twelve Su 35 S or J 31 advanced twin engine fighter jets before 2020. The fleet Supported by Il 78 tanker aircraft's for long range  mission supports,

    The PAF also have four SAAB 2000 Erieye airborne control center, The force multipliers make the fighter jets more powerful with additional jamming and control supports. PAF has another set of four Chinese AESA mounted on the An 12 modified as YJ 8 in China.

    The small but outstanding force is good enough to challenge the Indian Air force. However the 200 fighters numbers seems tiny when IAF operates more than six hundred modern twin engine fighters with advanced network centric systems.

Pakistan confirms Su 35 talks with Russia

Pakistan confirms Su 35 talks with Russia

    Officials from Pakistan confirmed to IHS Janes that they were in talks with the Russian arms supplier Rosoboronexport to sell unknown numbers of  Su 35 S fighters, the information was first leaked by the Russian deputy foreign minister Sergi Ryankov that Russia and Islamabad in talks to supply Su 35 Multi role combat aircraft  to the Pakistani Air force, earlier many times Pakistani air force officials talks about the need of twin engine aircraft to counter Indian Air force, the Pakistani officials didn't says about exact timeline of new fighters jets induction, however it's believed they get modern twin engine fighters before 2020.

    The Pakistani air force so far flying only single engine Fighters, which lacks combat radius, sortie rate and survival probability, PAF has a Fleet of modern F 16 Blk 52 fighters, Chinese and Pakistani made JF 17, and older Mirage III and some Russian origin Chinese modified MiG 21's dubbed as  F 7, and France almost stopped it's support to the Mirage platforms, so they have to relies on the F 16 fighter jets, where they get offset and maintenance support from Turkey, even if the US stopped the support,

    As new generation comes, the PAF yet to matured to operate in a long range twin engine heavy fighters, as first they sought the Chinese J 31 fifth generation fighters, the J 31 program is hits a road block after the first flight in 2012, there is no clear progress made in the J 31, while China continuously working on the J 20, as per Initial plans the PAF intended to buy some two squadrons of FC 31, a degraded version of J 31 made by the Chinese, also the Pakistani officials not interested in the Kilmov RD 93 Engines, so they have to move on some other platforms, after many rounds of Talks the PAF Finally selects the Su 35 S Multi role fighter for it's future induction program.

     The PAF has a sight of dominance in the Arabian Sea, where The Indian Navy and Air force always enjoy freedom of Navigation, so far PAF has no real fighters that can bolster the Arabian sea, the F 16 lacks of Range and has no Anti shipping missiles, meantime the JF 17 has such capabilities, JF 17 is capable to carry YJ 12 based Anti shipping missile, however it's  lack of range and questions about it's sea skimming capability, So PAF need a good a good fighter that can capable to launch proven Anti shipping missile from stand off  Ranges, the Su 35 S with Kh 35 is a good option for them, and Russia can ready to sell those missiles to Pakistan if they were willing to pay the money. which helps them to secure the Pakistani Ports from Indian Naval Attack in case of war,

    As per Pakistani analysts, the PAF may get only one squadron of Su 35 S fighters with the Service availability rate of  60% at any time, due to the maintenance issue and cost factors, It's hard to establish a data link between Friendly fighter jets from PAF for situation awareness and co operation, so It's clear the PAF Su 35 may work stand alone mode, a four finger formation of Su 35 fighter is a good show off against any modern Fighter jets, two set of four finger is more enough to pose good deterrence in peacetime asymmetric warfare.

    Meanwhile the Chinese and the Indonesians are the other customers of Su 35, where all of them will buy only two or less squadrons, and Pakistan also gets the reservation, more over it's a good export opportunity for Russia, all these orders would give some $5 billions, while each Su 35 costs some $60 millions, while Pakistan can get some twenty Su 35 S fighters, missiles, offsite support, maintenance, and Spare parts for $1.5 billions, not a big money to spend Pakistan in three years due.

    Those Su 35 S surely pose an threat to Marginal IAF fighter aircraft's. where the current IAF Fighters can keep the Pakistani Air force to keep their fighters in Hanger, the Sukhoi and MiG fleet can control the entire Pakistani Airspace and destroy any PAF fighters if they tries to take off from the runway, if they gets the advanced Su 35 they will never hesitate to confront the IAF fleet, due to it's long range combat radius and radar detecting capability, they can easily pose a show off against Indian fleet at any time.

IAF in Kargil Op Safed Sagar

IAF in Kargil Op Safed Sagar

Legendary MiG 21 armed with R 77 Radar Guide Missile

      Operation Safed Sager is a Code Name of IAF's Attack missions on Bakistani Positions during the Kargil war 1999. The IAF insisted to Provide as much as Support to the Ground Forces to recapture Bakistani postilions along Indian Side. It's the first time since 1971 war Indian Air force  taken a large scale attack on Bakistani positions.

        The Bakistani troops intruded in most stretched area's of Kargil sector which is not easy to go by foots. also the Bakistani have good artillery support to keep their Troops there in the Positions. hence the Army need and Air operation to toast them out.

         IAF asked the Cabinet committee to support the Army on May 11 using with only rotary wing aircraft such as attack helicopters. Indian Air force operated Russian supplied Mi 24 hind dedicated attack helicopter  and Mi 17 modified to carry rocket pods since it's a troop transporter. IAF start using the Helicopters to fight against the intruders. ten days later IAF's canberra is on Photo Recon mission over the Line of Control. the Bakistani's fired a US supplied Stinger Missile. they fired a Single missile that hit the one engine. Canberra back to the Base with using the another engine. that fueled the Air force to use the Fighters in the Game. the Cabinet committee also given green signal to the IAF carryout attack with all available Jets.  The Airforce used the Sri nagar airport to launch the fighters. since it's a civil airport GoI give authorization to IAF to use it.

     within the minuets IAF  assigned a Strike role consists of MiG 27 Ground Attack Fighter covered by MiG 21 interceptor. the Mig 27 carried Bombs and Rocket Pods rained missiles all over the Bakistani Positions without crossing the LoC. while the MiG 21 keep an eye over the air looking for Enemy intruders. and again the Attack helicopters carryout multiple Attacks over Bakistani positions near Tiger Hill.

    next day May 27 Air force carried out same package again. this time Bakistani's are up and shoot downed a Mig 21 and MiG 27 using with Stinger MANPADS. later another Troop transporter also hit by an MANPAD killing all crew. IAF learned a Lesson of due to the MANPAD threats in low altitudes IAF withdrawn all helicopters from the Operation.

      later The Israeli's joined the IAF team by providing Lethal LGB's (Laser Guided bomb's). which is suddenly integrated with Mirage 2000 fleet. the IAF also bring it's top notch that is Bombing role by Mirage 2000 and Escort Role by MiG 29. the Mirage dropped 100kg Laser Guided Bombs and 250 Kg Dumb bomb over the bakistani positions for next consecutive days. The Mirage provided excelled fire support to the Indian Army troops to advance Bakistani Positions also the Mig 29 pinned entire PAF jets keep in the Grounds.

    End of May the IAF send an Mig 27 for photo recon mission which is heavily hit by enemy ground fire. since engines are out pilot ejected from the Aircraft but landed on enemy Controlled area. the IAF suddenly launched a MiG 21 to track the ejected pilot. but his fighter also struck by an enemy MANPAD. a stinger missile brought down the Mig 21. the enemy captured the Pilot later executed by Bakistani Army. violating Geneva convention of war.   

     The next day again the air force lost an Mi-17 Helicopter to a manpad  near Tololing, killing four.it's completely a chaos for the Airforce suddenly withdraw all flying wings who can't able to do missions in the Height of 33,000 feet which is vulnerable to the enemy MANPADS.  the IAF stricted to use only with the High altitude Best Performers the mirage and Mig 29. they carryout missions through only these aircraft till the end of Kargil war. after those loss IAF didn't loss any other Planes in the Combat.

        During the Air force Missions the Bakistan used it's F 16's to provide CAP over the Bakistani Territory. but they are too close to the Indian Line of Control. once a MiG 29 for IAF's Black Archers Sqn  on a escort mission they found two F 16 patrolling over the Bakistani area'. the Mig's equipped with deadly R 77 BVR for escort missions. when the found the F 16 they tried to lock it on their Fire Control radar. they achieved too. now those two F 16's under BVR Lock by the MiG 29. IAF insisted do not engage any aircraft flying outer Indian Border. thus saves the Bakistani Fighters to give second life.

 Sooner the Bakistani's identified the IAF's doctrine of Combat which forced them to do not carry out or launch mission with their Fighter Fleet. the entire PAF in silent during the Kargil war. 

IAF Mirage 2000 and Mig 29 heading towards Target Positions