Diving Falcon
Junior Member
PAF gets a shot in the arm, and new wings:
Sep 10, 2005
Pakistan's key role in the war on terror and its elevation by the US to the status of Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) has given its air force much-needed access to American military hardware.
The economic and arms embargo on the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), imposed in October 1990 because of Pakistan's clandestine nuclear programme, hit it very badly because of the non-availability of spares for its fleet of US-made F-16 combat aircraft.
The sanctions also prevented delivery of at least 28 F-16s, which were ready to be supplied to Pakistan, bringing the entire F-16 programme almost to a halt.
It also forced the PAF to look for alternatives such as the Swedish Grippin, the French Mirage-2000-5 and Russian-origin SUKHOI-27 and 30.
But after Pakistan became a key player in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan almost four years ago, it ensured itself economic dividends.
Once convinced of President Pervez Musharraf's endeavours aimed at undercutting terror networks operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan, US President George W. Bush committed a $3 billion economic and military aid package for Pakistan in 2003 and followed it up with the lifting of all nuclear and military sanctions in early 2004.
The MNNA status in 2004 followed soon after making the country eligible for priority delivery of defence material.
"The F-16s always remained the best option for the PAF because we knew France, Russia and Sweden could not sell their aircraft to us for international political considerations," former Pakistani diplomat Akram Zaki said.
But the other factor obstructing the acquisition was the high price of the French Mirage-2000-5.
Pakistan's 1998 nuclear tests had triggered international sanctions that put a heavy financial burden on the Muslim country.
"American sanctions and the inability of countries such as France, Sweden and Russia to sell aircraft to Pakistan came as a precursor to strengthen indigenous capability of rebuilding existing aircraft in our fleet," said a senior air force official, requesting to remain anonymous.
At the moment, the PAF fleet numbers over 400 new and old aircraft of US, Chinese and French origin, which the air force has been able to maintain after receiving Chinese assistance to locally overhaul and rebuild these jets.
Pakistani air force engineers began rebuilding and overhauling its aircraft at the country's premier Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in the early 1980s.
"The PAC serves as the backbone of the country's aerial defence for its invaluable role in giving new lease of life to the whole range of aircraft and radars in the PAFs inventory," said Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, the Pakistani air chief, in a recent Pakistan TV programme.
The PAC is now rebuilding or refurbishing all its combat aircraft, including Chinese-origin A-5s, F-7s and F-7PGs, French-made Mirages as well as F-100 engines of the F-16s. It is also developing facilities to overhaul JF-17 (Thunder) aircraft, set for induction into the air force in December 2006.
As for the new additions to the fleet planned for next two years, some 119 planes including 77 F-16s and six C-130 transport planes from the United States, eight Chinese-made JF-17s and 28 Karakoram-8 trainer jets will become part of the PAF fleet.
Pakistani and Chinese experts have jointly produced both JF-17 and Karakoram-8 planes. Eight JF-17s are to join the PAF fleet by March 2007 followed by commencement of serial production of the planes in Pakistan. Delivery of the K-8 planes is set to commence from the early next year.
The resumption of American spare parts supplies will also enable the PAF to itself upgrade F-16s from next year, Air Vice Marshal Shehzad Hassan, a senior operations department official, told DPA.
Analysts believe the PAF's logistical troubles are now almost over.
"The air force is now well set to survive any difficult situation such as sanctions in future after becoming capable of rebuilding and upgrading its aircraft," a senior defence analyst, retired General Jamshed Ayaz said.
He said with the induction of the JF-17 jets, there will be no shortage of combat aircraft for the air force for the next five years.
"But what we need right now is to achieve a capability of manufacturing spares for F-16s and Mirages in Pakistan, which will prevent grounding of these assets in the future," Ayaz said.
=============================
Pakistani and Lockheed officials meet today
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Lockheed Martin officials will meet today (Friday) to discuss installing defence equipment in the newly procured F-16 aircraft by Islamabad. A private TV channel reported on Thursday that Lockheed Senior Vice President Robert H Frieker would meet Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal. Islamabad has formally decided to buy at least 75 F-16s. However, the actual price of the proposed jets will be judged by the installation of the defence equipment. Pakistan hopes to get 25 F-16s by next year. online
Screenshot/Link;
Sep 10, 2005
Pakistan's key role in the war on terror and its elevation by the US to the status of Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) has given its air force much-needed access to American military hardware.
The economic and arms embargo on the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), imposed in October 1990 because of Pakistan's clandestine nuclear programme, hit it very badly because of the non-availability of spares for its fleet of US-made F-16 combat aircraft.
The sanctions also prevented delivery of at least 28 F-16s, which were ready to be supplied to Pakistan, bringing the entire F-16 programme almost to a halt.
It also forced the PAF to look for alternatives such as the Swedish Grippin, the French Mirage-2000-5 and Russian-origin SUKHOI-27 and 30.
But after Pakistan became a key player in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan almost four years ago, it ensured itself economic dividends.
Once convinced of President Pervez Musharraf's endeavours aimed at undercutting terror networks operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan, US President George W. Bush committed a $3 billion economic and military aid package for Pakistan in 2003 and followed it up with the lifting of all nuclear and military sanctions in early 2004.
The MNNA status in 2004 followed soon after making the country eligible for priority delivery of defence material.
"The F-16s always remained the best option for the PAF because we knew France, Russia and Sweden could not sell their aircraft to us for international political considerations," former Pakistani diplomat Akram Zaki said.
But the other factor obstructing the acquisition was the high price of the French Mirage-2000-5.
Pakistan's 1998 nuclear tests had triggered international sanctions that put a heavy financial burden on the Muslim country.
"American sanctions and the inability of countries such as France, Sweden and Russia to sell aircraft to Pakistan came as a precursor to strengthen indigenous capability of rebuilding existing aircraft in our fleet," said a senior air force official, requesting to remain anonymous.
At the moment, the PAF fleet numbers over 400 new and old aircraft of US, Chinese and French origin, which the air force has been able to maintain after receiving Chinese assistance to locally overhaul and rebuild these jets.
Pakistani air force engineers began rebuilding and overhauling its aircraft at the country's premier Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in the early 1980s.
"The PAC serves as the backbone of the country's aerial defence for its invaluable role in giving new lease of life to the whole range of aircraft and radars in the PAFs inventory," said Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, the Pakistani air chief, in a recent Pakistan TV programme.
The PAC is now rebuilding or refurbishing all its combat aircraft, including Chinese-origin A-5s, F-7s and F-7PGs, French-made Mirages as well as F-100 engines of the F-16s. It is also developing facilities to overhaul JF-17 (Thunder) aircraft, set for induction into the air force in December 2006.
As for the new additions to the fleet planned for next two years, some 119 planes including 77 F-16s and six C-130 transport planes from the United States, eight Chinese-made JF-17s and 28 Karakoram-8 trainer jets will become part of the PAF fleet.
Pakistani and Chinese experts have jointly produced both JF-17 and Karakoram-8 planes. Eight JF-17s are to join the PAF fleet by March 2007 followed by commencement of serial production of the planes in Pakistan. Delivery of the K-8 planes is set to commence from the early next year.
The resumption of American spare parts supplies will also enable the PAF to itself upgrade F-16s from next year, Air Vice Marshal Shehzad Hassan, a senior operations department official, told DPA.
Analysts believe the PAF's logistical troubles are now almost over.
"The air force is now well set to survive any difficult situation such as sanctions in future after becoming capable of rebuilding and upgrading its aircraft," a senior defence analyst, retired General Jamshed Ayaz said.
He said with the induction of the JF-17 jets, there will be no shortage of combat aircraft for the air force for the next five years.
"But what we need right now is to achieve a capability of manufacturing spares for F-16s and Mirages in Pakistan, which will prevent grounding of these assets in the future," Ayaz said.
=============================
Pakistani and Lockheed officials meet today
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Lockheed Martin officials will meet today (Friday) to discuss installing defence equipment in the newly procured F-16 aircraft by Islamabad. A private TV channel reported on Thursday that Lockheed Senior Vice President Robert H Frieker would meet Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal. Islamabad has formally decided to buy at least 75 F-16s. However, the actual price of the proposed jets will be judged by the installation of the defence equipment. Pakistan hopes to get 25 F-16s by next year. online
Screenshot/Link;
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