Air Chief to visit Beijing soon
Pak to buy 60 F-7 MG fighters from China 

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. 

Thrilling fire display climaxes IDEAS-2000 

By Mukhtar Alam 

SONMIANI, Balochistan: The IDEAS-2000 reached its climax with the holding of an engaging aerial display and firing demonstration by Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Army at the PAF Tactical Firing Range here on Friday. The concluding show was witnessed by over 1,500 foreign and national dignitaries, high-ranking defence officials and delegates from various countries. The show comprised aerobatics and air display, dropping of explosives by aircraft and firing display by land-based weapons. Chief Executive General Pervaiz Musharraf was the chief guest on the occasion, who, along with other guests, could not resist appreciating the thrilling and impressive performance by the country's air and land forces. In all, 14 aircraft, over half a dozen tanks, mortar and missile platforms, including Baktar Shikan missile, were used in the one-and-a-half-hour display aimed at introducing the audience to the products produced in the country which are available for export. Aerial display was marked open when the two PAF's F-6 aircraft passed in front of the participants. One of the aircraft carried the Pakistan's flag, while the other carried the logo of IDEAS-2000. 

After their exit the indigenously-developed aircraft Super Mashshak enthralled the audience for about 10 minutes with its dazzling aerobatics. The aircraft has been manufactured at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. To date six aircraft have been produced, while PAF plans to upgrade its existing fleet of Mushshak aircraft to Super Mushshak. The two-seater having a rate of climb to 1700 feet per minute with a maximum speed of 145 kts in level flight showed that it was much reliable, manoeuvrable and holds excellent handling characteristics. One by one it spinned in all four directions. It also presented a barrel roll and many other aerobatics and finally took a Stall turn and then a Derry turn and made exit. While the audience were still applauding the stunt by the piston engine Super Mushshak for its aerobatics, there appeared another sleek-looking, elegant, trim-shaped and low-winged advanced trainer aircraft, K-8. The It has been developed as a joint venture between Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra and China Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation and is capable of giving outstanding maneuverability at all speed regimes. It presented a very high rate of rolls of 300 degree/ second and pulled up for a crisp toss-up manoeuvre followed by a one-and-a-half roll. It also displayed inverted flying for 30 seconds. Among other displays, K-8 also changed its direction through 90 degrees by flying vertically and also demonstrated an excellent nose authority throughout its flight envelope. After a 'Derry roll', the K-8 repositioned itself in front of the audience for a series of Aileron Rolls. After its exit, a Mirage made a supersonic run. After the aerial display, firing by land-based weapons was unfolded. 

The firing demonstration was led by indigenously-developed T-59M-II, an upgraded version of T-59 with a high killing probability and combating potential. It is manufactured at Heavy Industrial Industries, Taxila. In addition to hitting accurately the specific target, the set of three tanks fired volleys of rounds hitting comparatively smaller targets. The three T-59M-II tanks also ran at a high speed displaying its capability of running in uneven landmass before finally withdrawing amidst clapping. However, the two Baktar Shikan missiles -- anti-tank weapon system also known as green arrow -- won the hearts of the audience as they engaged their target befittingly from a static position. This followed T-85 -- another battle tank equipped with 125 mm smooth bore main gun and having a capability of firing three types of ammunition. It fired shells, both in stationary and mobile states. Following demonstration by tanks, Anza missiles executed a couple of fires. It is Pakistan's illustrated indigenous technological achievement. Anza is a portable short-range shoulder-fired missile for low air defence, manufactured at Kahuta Research Laboratories. It proved its success by taking up the target (star shell) befittingly in the air. Another locally-developed Trawl Anti-Mine (TAM) system, mounted on T-55 chassis also targeted two anti-tank mines which blew up with a bang. A demonstration by Self-Propelled Howitzer (SP) gun mounted on tracks was also held. It is considered a general support weapon system with cruising range of 523 km. 

After the land weapon display, once again the aircraft took to the sky and presented firing display, firing high and medium-intensity bombs, shells and rounds. Formation of four F-7s, Chinese-built aircraft, was highly appreciated. It also made strafing attacks by using 30 mm gun. Another set of three Mirages, fitted with programmable sub-munitions used for area denial to the adversary, displayed cluster bombing. Another set of three Mirage aircraft flying from the North delivered two 500 lb locally-manufactured pre-frag bombs against target vehicles. These bombs are designed in fibre body and are far more effective than US MK-82 bombs. Finally, F-16 aircraft came into action, delivering two MK 84 bombs, each against the target bridge and then making a tactical exit. Another three F-16s running from the North of the audience attacked the target using 12 Mk-82 bombs meant to demolish hardened targets, ammunition dumps and communication centres of enemy. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Pervaiz Mehdi Qureshi, Naval Chief Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Dr Samar Mubarakmand, the governors of Sindh and Balochistan and federal ministers also witnessed the show. Meanwhile, Major General Abdul Qadeer Qureshi, Armed Force Attache of Afghanistan based in Islamabad, who witnessed the firing display here on Friday, said that Afghanistan considered Pakistan its reliable friend and would prefer buying arms from it, if needed. 

In a brief chat with newsmen here, he said that arms produced by Pakistan were cheaper and Afghanistan could purchase them in order to strengthen its defence. He said that Russian arms were available to them in a large quantity and were being used by them. Consul General of Afghanistan at Karachi Maulvi Rahmatullah Kakazai was also present on the occasion. In reply to a question about visa restriction for Afghan refugees in Pakistan, he said that it might be so because of some internal problem of Pakistan. "The decision has caused difficulties to the refugees, but we hope it would be eliminated soon," he said. 
 
 

Pakistan defense exhibition closes with a bang. 
By Ali Abbas Rizvi 

KARACHI, Nov 17: The IDEAS 2000 Pakistan defense exhibition closed with a thump Friday evening, with participating local and foreign defense companies hoping to yield rich revenues in the coming years.
The main event was the aerial display and firing demonstration at Sonmiani Tactical Firing Range Friday, which was organized by Pakistan Air Force. Pakistan's Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf, the air force and navy chiefs, senior armed forces officers and foreign dignitaries attended the show.
Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the Southern Air Command Air Marshal Pervez Iqbal Mirza told the guests that all Pakistan-made weapons and ammunition, which was of NATO standard, could not be displayed at the demonstration and only selective weapons would be shown off. 
A Super Mashshak produced at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, initiated the demo. The Mashshak performed barrel roll, invert roll, aileron rolls, slow loop and stall turn. 
This was followed by a Karakoram-8 advanced jet trainer, co-produced by Pakistan and China. The aircraft mesmerized the guests with loops, steep turns, inverted flying and carried out a vertical roll before exiting. PAF officers said since the induction of the K-8 in 1994, the pilots who were trained on it did much better than those who flew the T-37s.
Two Mirage IIIs then did a supersonic run, breaking the sound barrier over the heads of the guests. 
Soon after, Pakistan Army's T-59-IIM tanks fired various types of Pakistan-made ammunition. This was followed by the demonstration of Baktar Shikan anti-tank missiles, which successfully hit targets more than 2,500 meters away.
The T-85-2APs, using its 125mm smooth bore guns, engaged targets on static position and on the move.
The Anza Mk-11 missiles produced by A.Q. Laboratories was also fired. A locally-made Trawl Anti-Mine System, mounted on the chassis of a T-55 tank, successfully breached mine defenses.
With the end of the army firing display, PAF aircraft again appeared on the horizon. Led by Wing Commander Arif Moeen, Officer Commanding No 2 Squadron, four F-7Ps made a strafing run. 
They were followed by three Mirage III aircraft, which dropped cluster bombs, only to be followed by three more Mirage III aircraft that hit the targets with locally-produced Mark 82 II pre-fragmented bombs.
Soon after, three F-16s appeared on the horizon, taking their targets with Mark 84 bombs. Each aircraft dropped two 2,000-pound each Mark 84 iron bombs on its specified target.
Finally, three more F-16s of the No 9 Squadron, led by Squadron Leader Aamir, dropped 12 Mark-82 bombs on their target, ending the firepower display with a bang heard over several miles around.
Meanwhile, the IDEAS 2000 at the Expo Center wound up Friday evening, following the attendance of 400 foreigners and 5,000 industry professionals. More than 40 foreign delegations attended the show, many of them led by their respective defense ministers and services chiefs. 
In all, the organizers said more than 15,000 people attended the show, which displayed a stunning array of locally-made weapon systems and other equipment. Never before had Pakistan put on show its full range of military might, including the 1,500-kilometer range surface-to-surface Ghauri and 600-kilometer range Shaheen missiles, the 2,500-kilometer range Shaheen II missile, the Al-Khalid main battle tank (MBT), Al-Zarrar tank, upgraded Mirage IIIs, the K-8 advanced jet trainer and the Super Mashshak primary trainer. 
 

Mushaf Ali takes over PAF command

ISLAMABAD: Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir will take over the command of Pakistan Air Force on Monday in a simple and impressive ceremony at the Air Headquarters, said a PAF spokesman.

Outgoing Chief of Air Staff ACM Pervez Mehdi will put ranks of air chief marshal on the shoulders of Mushaf Mir in the presence of all the senior air force officials, to be followed by guard of honour, according to the programme of the ceremony released here. "It will be a simple ceremony, which will be concluded with an order of the day in the form of inaugural address of the new Chief of Air Staff to the officers. The address will be read at all PAF Bases," the officer said 

Mehdi, who completed his full tenure, would be seen off by the new Chief of Air Staff ACM Mir, and with it the new chief will embark on a journey that will require of him to take some radical decisions. 

Induction of new equipment in the force, which has been hard hit by US sanctions during the last decade, will be among his top priorities. Since all the five air marshals have been sent on premature retirement when the chief executive accepted their resignations, the new air force chief will select his team. It has been learnt that Air Marshal Zahid Anis and Air Marshal Riaz Shaikh applied for leave for their remaining period of service but the chief executive did not accept it. "They all stand retired," said a senior officer. 

Highly-placed sources say there will be five new principal staff officers in the Air Headquarters, with Air Vice Marshal Salim Arshad to take over as vice chief of Air Staff. AVM Arshad has been transferred from Central Air Command to Air Headquarters and he would immediately take over the charge. 

One senior official told The News that AVM Pervez Nawaz, currently posted in Defence Production Division, would be moved to Kamra as PAC chairman. He would succeed Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir. 

AVM Tanveer, currently at the PAF Academy Risalpur, is likely to be appointed deputy chief of Air Staff (Admin) in the Air Headquarters, while AVM Qaiser Hussain will be the deputy chief of Air Staff (Personnel). AVM Kaleem, who was in the National Defence College, has already been appointed DCS (Operations) in the Air Headquarters. 

A senior officer said the promotion cases of all the five PSOs to the rank of air marshal would be processed soon, though the new chief is not inclined to give straightway promotions to these officers. Air Commodore Razzaq would be promoted as air vice marshal before being appointed as DCS (Training) in the Air Headquarters. Some officers say ACM Mushaf Ali Mir will have to decide quickly about the avionics package of the Super-7 aircraft, which is being built as a joint venture with China. 
 
 

AWC reveals 'low-cost' Bravo UAV 

Andrew Koch JDW Staff Reporter, Karachi 

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 realtime 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 250km and be able to carry a 50kg 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. 
 
 

Pakistan eyes Brazilian AWACS 
From Nation; KARACHI(From Anwer Sindhu) 

Pakistan has for nearly a year been engaged in negotiations with the Brazilian plane manufacturer, Embraer, for the purchase of six AWACS-type aircraft, but paucity of funds and international political pressure are combining to subvert what would be a US$4 billion deal, defence sources said Friday. 

Islamabad initiated its search for a suitable airborne early warning shortly after General Pervez Musharraf assumed power in October last year, after learning that India was on the verge of acquiring two Russian Beriev A-50 "Mainstay" aircraft on trial. These have been flying trial missions along the Indo-Pak border since April. The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee initially targeted the acquisition of the Erieye system manufactured Sweden's Ericcson, which it wanted to install on six of the C-130 transport aircraft already in service with the various branches of the military. A similar exercise, involving the installation of the British Marconi APY-920 system upon an EC-130V, was initiated by the US military in 1991, but abandoned because of rising costs and budget constraints. The Joint Chiefs soon learnt that the task was a technical nightmare and that it would be far easier, if more expensive, to acquire aircraft already fitted out with airborne early warning and control systems. Their search led them to Embraer, which in 1997 was awarded a contract by the Brazilian government to develop and produce integrate the Erieye system aboard the airframe of its ERJ-145 regional jetliner. Eight of the resulting EMB-145 remote sensing variant have since been deployed by Brasilia, under its Sivam programme, to survey the entire Amazon Basin, an area considerably greater than that of Western Europe. A team of Embraer executives visited Pakistan in March to discuss the supply of six EMB-145s, four of which would be supplied to the Air Force and two to the Navy. 

The Brazilian executives told their prospective clients that they would be prepared to supply the aircraft if Pakistan was able to make a 10 per cent downpayment on the estimated US$4 billion deal, with the balance to be raised by a Brazilian-led consortium of international commercial banks. 

However, they pointed out that the financing would require the participation of US banks, which would not back the deal without the approval of the State Department. The cautionary note was attached to the supply of the aircraft themselves, which are powered by US-manufactured engine. Similarly, the Swedish government could also block the supply of the Erieye systems, under its policy of not granting export licences for armaments being supplied to states involved in regional disputes. Pakistan did not consider this a particularly difficult hurdle to cross, because of the supply of Bofors artillery pieces to India in the 1980s (later used during the Kargil conflict) and the near-sale of Kokam submarines to Pakistan in 1994 (a deal that eventually went to France's DCNI). 

The Brazilians later indicated that they had been unable to obtain authorisation from the US, but that message had by then become immaterial, because the cash-starved government in Islamabad was unable to raise the required US$400 million downpayment. Defence sources maintain that the Pakistan military remains determined to acquire the six EMB-145s, saying it remains at the top of its procurement priority list. 

They say that this determination has been fuelled by the continuing Indian Air Force trials of the pair of Russian A-50s, and its abortive attempt over the summer to obtain a Boeing 707-based Phalcon EU2075 D-band paired phase-arrayed antenna conversion system from Israel's Elta. 

The Phalcon system is already in service with the Chinese and Chilean air forces. Pakistan's interest in the EMB-145 is, of course, based primarily on the capabilities of the Erieye AWACS system, which is capable of 360 degree detection and tracking of air and sea targets over the horizon. It has a typical detection range against a fighter aircraft-size targets of 370 kilometres, while surface ship targets can be detected a slightly greater ranges. Small cruise missile targets can also be detected at sight under a 200-kilometre range under ideal conditions. 

This compares to the IAF-trailed advanced A-50U version, which has a search radius of 230 kilometres and 400 kilometres for a ship. The Phalcon delivers a reported acquisition range of 370 kilometres against fighter-sized targets. 
 

Five air marshals to retire on 20th 

By Shakil Shaikh 

ISLAMABAD: Five air marshals will retire on November 20 when the new Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, will assume command of the PAF, a senior official told The News on Friday. 

Chief Executive General Pervaiz Musharraf, said the source, accepted the request of these officers for premature retirement. These officers were superseded by Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir when the government nominated him as the new air chief after Air Chief Marshal Pervez Mehdi Qureshi's retirement on November 20. 

Those who will be retiring are Air Marshal Farooq Qari, Air Marshal Zahid Anis, Air Marshal Qazi Javed, Air Marshal Mohammad Pervez and Air Marshal Riaz Shaikh. The air chief-designate will assume the command of the PAF in a ceremony to be held on November 20. Senior officials said the officers initially tried to get leave for the remaining period of their service without success. They then requested for premature retirement. 

"The request has been accepted, as the air chief-designate will have an open choice to select his new team of officers at the Air Headquarters," said an official. The retiring air marshals would be assigned other official duties including diplomatic appointments, said the senior official. 
 

Saudi Arabia to buy 40 Mushshak trainer aircraft 

KARACHI: Saudi Arabia is keen to buy Mushshak trainers, while Malaysia has shown interest in Baktar Shikan, anti tank missiles weapon system, and Agosta submarines, this was stated by Chief Coordinator of IDEA 2000, Major General Syed Ali Hamid. He was talking to a group of journalists at his office, Expo Centre, on Thursday. During the discussion he also gave details of delegations that called on Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf at the venue of ongoing international defence exhibition and seminar. 

Major General Hamid said that on November 15 a delegation comprising defence personnel and high ups from Niger, Uganda, Bosnia, Zimbabwe and UAE jointly called on the chief executive. Chief of Defence Staff of Italy, who is already visiting Pakistan, and a high power delegation of Chinese navy also called on the CE and discussed the issues of mutual interest as well as peace and stability in the region and other parts of the world. Besides, the Chief of Staff of Kenya and a delegation of Saudi Airforce also called on General Musharraf at the Expo Centre on Thursday. He said that during the meeting with the Saudi delegation matters pertaining to sale of 40 Mushshak craft was also touched up. Ali Hamid added that negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan for sale of craft along with training and other support facility was also in the final stage. 

General Hamid said that Malaysian delegation under the leadership of its Secretary General Defence, Cherose also called on the CE. Malaysia has also initiated talks for purchase of Baktar Shikan, which proved successful in Bosnia, from Pakistan. Baktar Shikan is on the top of Pakistan's defence based products list, a production of Kahuta Research Laboratory, which is also known as Green Arrow. The weapon system has an effective range of 3,000 meters and can be used for destroying targets like bunkers, field fortifications and other strong dugouts. Major General Ali Hamid said that Malaysia also showed interest in Agosta 90 submarines, prepared in Pakistan. He further informed that the only European delegation that called on the CE was from France. France is participating in IDEAS-2000. 

The Chief Coordinator of the exhibition also informed that Ukraine delegation also called on the CE on Thursday. They have offered for sale of new transport aircraft and warships (Black Sea Fleet) to Pakistan, he added. APP adds: The Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf for the second day on Thursday visited IDEAS 2000. The Chief Executive went around stalls set up at International Exhibition Halls No 1 and 3. Accompanied by Chief Coordinator, IDEAS-2000, Maj-Gen Syed Ali Hamid, he went from stall to stall in Exhibition Hall No 1 where a number of European countries, including Romania, Italy, France, UK and US were represented. Later, he went round the stalls set up in Hall No 3 by China, Turkey and Ukraine. General Musharraf evinced keen interest in the products on display and made searching queries about their operational performance. In hall numbers 1 and 3 the stalls of particular interest were DCN International, RBR International, Litton Italia, Alcatel, Kharkov Morozov Machine-building, Mass International, Hueawei Technologies, Gerrett Electronics, FIAR, the co-venturer with Pakistan for GRIFO-7 Radar, James Info Group, Marine Group, Cos-Mos SPA Italy, Rom Arm, Romania, etc. 

The DCN International is the commercial branch of DCN, the French naval ship building company expertise of which is demonstrated in every field of technology. It is the prime contractor for Pakistan Navy's Agosta 90-B submarines programme. 
 

IDEAS 2000 takes off with a bang

The Pakistan Air Force put on view a Super Mashshak trainer and an upgraded Mirage III fighter. On display was a mockup of the cockpit of Super-7 or FC-1 fighter, which Pakistan is co-producing with China.In addition, Pakistani concerns displayed their full might, revealing a vast array of missiles, ammunition, guns, batteries and other equipment. Chinese, French, Italian, British and Turkish firms also attracted lot of visitors. 

Pakistan Wednesday unveiled the Grifo-7 radar, the first-ever to be locally assembled in the country. The Grifo-7 radar, the first of which was produced in October 2000 at the Kamra Avionics and Radar Factory (KARF) at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra, is to be fitted into the PAF F-7P fighter aircraft inventory.

The Grifo-7 is a fire control system that improves the air-to-air and air-to-ground performance of the F-7P fighter, the backbone of the Pakistan Air Force. The Grifo-7 comprises four sub-units i.e. antenna, receiver, transmitter and processor.
The managing director of KARF, Air Commodore Basit, told SAMWOnline that the first F-7P fitted with the locally assembled Grifo-7 radar was undergoing tests at an undisclosed air base. He said that the radar would give a tremendous air-to-air capability to F-7P fighters. Also, the F-7Ps would be able to attack ground targets with a greater precision. 

"Not only have we got the capability to build this fine Italian radar at KARF, we are working on a deletion program that will allow us to produce all the components indigenously," he said.

The project manager of the Grifo-7 told journalists that his company FIAR was also working on the prestigious Eurofighter 2000 project. FIAR, he said, was involved with the Tornado fighter aircraft as well.

Meanwhile, Chief of the Air Staff-designate of the Pakistan Air Force Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir said Pakistan had invited over 1,600 operators of the Mirage III and V aircraft to utilize the services of the Mirage Rebuild Factory (MRF) at Kamra for the overhauling and rebuilding of aircraft.

Air Marshal Mir said that the Mirage Rebuild Factory had the capacity to rebuild the aircraft of any operator in the world. He said the MRF was also successfully undertaking the overhaul of the Atar-9C engines of the Mirage III/V aircraft. He said Pakistan had successfully upgraded a Mirage III aircraft and installed the Grifo-M radar, more complex than the Grifo-7, on it. The upgraded aircraft is on display at the Expo Center.

The Mirage Rebuild Factory has also upgraded F-16A/B engines. Officials said the MRF had successfully upgraded several Mirage aircraft of the United Arab Emirates Air Force at one-tenth the cost that the operator would normally have paid by sending the aircraft to France for overhaul. The MRF recently completed the tally of overhauling 100 Mirage III/V aircraft. 

A senior official of CATIC (China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation), that is building the Super Seven fighter along with Pakistan, told SAMWOnline that the aircraft is scheduled to fly from February 2002. Yang Ying said according to the contract signed in February 1999, the FC-1 or Super-7 aircraft, as Pakistan calls it, would fly in 36 months time. "So far, the project is running smoothly and we hope the fighter will make its maiden flight on schedule," he said. 

Ying did not specify which firm would get the avionics contract with British Aerospace already out of the project. An Italian and a French firm are vying for the contract in which the winner will have to share the development costs of the Super-7.

The day saw Pakistan launch the Super Mashshak single engine trainer. The Super Mashshak is manufactured by the Aircraft Manufacturing Factory at Kamra under license from Swedish firm SAAB. 

Air chief designate Mushaf Ali Mir said Pakistan was hopeful of selling several Super Mashshaks in the Middle East. "We are close to signing a contract with a Middle Eastern country for the Super Mashshak," he said. "It will be a fairly large contract." 
He added that the Aircraft Manufacturing Factory had the capacity to build 24 to 30 Super Mashshaks every year, and this figure could be enhanced. Super Mashshak is a multi-purpose, light aircraft comprising two to three seats.
 

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

KARACHI: 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. 
 

NEW PAKISTAN AIR FORCE CHIEF PRAISES QUALITY TRAINING, INVINCIBLE SPIRIT.

Text of report by Mohammad Saleh Zafir, special analyst, by Pakistani newspaper 'Jang' on 3rd November 

Islamabad: The nominated chief of the Pakistan air force, Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, has said, "It is true that the Indian air force is numerically superior than the Pakistan air force and it may have a misunderstanding that it can destroy its rival, but Pakistan's air force, due to its quality training and invincible spirit, is powerful enough to paralyze the Indian air force. That is the reason, India will think a thousand times before launching an attack on Pakistan. No one should have a delusion about the abilities and alacrity of the Pakistan Air Force." 

The nominated Chief of the Pakistan air force was talking to the `Jang' special reporting cell from Kamra after his appointment. He is chief of the Aeronautical Complex in Kamra these days. He said he would remain in Kamra for a few more days and would come to the federal capital after the appointment of a new chief for the Aeronautical Complex. However, in the meantime, he will keep commuting between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. 
 

Air Chief asks commanders to use budget wisely 

ISLAMABAD (APP) - Air Chief Marshal Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi, Chief of the Air Staff presided over the quarterly 'Air Staff Presentation' held at Air Headquarters, Chaklala, on Wednesday. In his address on the occasion the Air Chief said, 'despite the financial constraints the performance of the Service has been commendable since all allocated operational targets have been met'. 

He commended the field commanders, Staff Officers at the Air Headquarters, supervisors, technical teams and support organisations for their efforts in maintaining the operational readiness, serviceability and reliability of various weapons system. In view of the economic constraints, he advised all commanders to review their budgetary requirements to ensure that expenditures are aimed at the efficient utilisation of the scarce resources and wastage is totally eliminated. 

The Air Staff Presentation is a quarterly event held under the chairmanship of Chief of the Air Staff and is attended by the entire Air Staff including the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff heading the various branches, Air Officers' Commanding, Base Commanders and field commanders. 

The presentation is an evaluation of the performance of the Commands and PAF Bases during the quarter under review. 

It provides an opportunity to the Air Staff to scrutinise all Air Force activities, highlight the weaknesses if any and also give credit for praiseworthy performance where due. 
 

New Pak. Air Chief designated 

ISLAMABAD: Air Vice Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir was on Thursday designated as the new Chief of the Air Staff according to a notification issued in this regard. 

The new incumbent will take charge of office on November 20 after being promoted to Air Marshal, following the retirement of the present incumbent Air Chief Marshal Pervaiz Mehdi Qureshi. 
 

Promotion of Air Vice Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir to the rank of Air Marshal with immediate effect 

ISLAMABAD (October 24) : The government has notified promotion of Air Vice Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir to the rank of Air Marshal with immediate effect. This has been notified by the Defence Ministry. Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, born on March 5, 1947, was commissioned in the General Duties (pilot) Branch in January 1967 and served as fighter pilot in various units of the Pakistan Air Force. 

He has qualified flying instructors course, combat commanders' course, PAF staff college and armed forces war course. He commanded a fighter squadron, a fighter wing, an operational base and a regional Air Force. His staff appointments include director, Quality Insurance; chief project director, Falcon; director, Falcon; director of Operations, assistant chief of Air Staff (plans) and chief project director, Mirage 2000 V at Air Headquarters. His assignments abroad include deputation to Abu Dhabi and posting to USA. Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir had been performing his duties as director general, PAC Kamra, since January 1999 and was recently appointed as chairman of the newly-constituted Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Board, Kamra. 

In recognition of his meritorious services, he has been awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz (military) and Sitara-e-Basalat.-APP 
 

G-7 sanctions retard Super-7 project 

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is on the verge of downgrading the specifications for its next-generation multi-role combat aircraft, the Super-7, because of the Group of Seven's enforcement of an informal ban on weapons sales since last year's military take-over, a ranking PAF source said Thursday. "We will soon reach the point where we may be forced to take a decision to adopt a Chinese avionics suite, instead of the more advanced technology we had hoped to procure from the West," he told The Nation. 

"Air Command has already been instructed to draw up alternate plans," he said. The political fall-out of the G-7 sanctions is also expected to upset the development schedule of the Super-7, delaying delivery of the first prototype beyond its 2003 deadline, the PAF source said. The revelation comes a week after India sealed a contract with Russia for the supply of 140 Sukhoi Su-30 Mk1 fighters, along with a complete transfer of technology and production licence. The combination of India's latest acquisitions and the downgrading of the Super-7's technology are a major blow to the PAF, which has been seeking to re-establish a qualitative edge over its Indian counterpart and expected the new combat plane to fulfil about 70 per cent of its future operational requirements. 

The hi-tech version of the Super-7 was viewed as the ideal replacement for the PAF's ageing medium-tech fleet of F-6s, F-7s, A-5s and Mirages, which are to be retired over the next decade. It is now obvious that its Air Staff Requirement of 150 Super-7s will have to be revised to take into account its inability, in the short-to-medium term, to procure advanced Western avionics, including a multi-mode Pulse Doppler Radar, a mission computer, INS and multi-function displays. The Western arms embargo also means that the PAF will have to revise the Super-7's weapons package, which was to have included a variety of conventional and guided weapons, a potent SRAAM and an active MRAAM. 

The PAF will have little choice but to press the government for a much larger number of the Chinese version of the combat plane, known as the FC-1, which is to have basically the same airframe as the Super-7, but would have to be equipped with Chinese-manufactured avionics and weapons systems. There are also small differences in aircraft systems and equipment. Pakistan has had to struggle to find an overseas partner for the Super-7 venture. Its earlier overtures to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates were rebuffed. Ankara remains committed to the production under licence of the F-16, while the UAE has preferred off-the-shelf purchases. Beijing, too, had hesitated to form a joint venture, because of its belief in more affordable options and weaponry, and had sought to place the responsibility for the procurement of avionics with the PAF. 

They were finally convinced by former chief of the air staff, Air Marshal Abbas Khattak, to collaborate in the avionics venture on strategic grounds. It took three years of negotiations between 1995 and 1998 to finalise the two sides' selection of equipment, statement of work and cost evaluation. A memorandum of understanding was signed by the governments of Pakistan and China during the visit of the then prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to Beijing in February 1998. This was followed by the inking of a formal contract during his next visit to China in June last year. Appropriately, Thursday's revelations about the Super-7's development came on the sidelines of a ceremony at Air Headquarters to launch The Story of the PAF (1988-98) - A battle against the odds, a book that details the retarding effect of international sanctions on Pakistan's air defence capability over the last decade. 

The book, drafted by a team led by retired Air Marshal Rasheed Sheikh, candidly relates the difficulties encountered by the PAF since October 1990, when the Bush administration adjudged Pakistan to have crossed the nuclear threshold. This resulted in the cancellation of the Peace Gate-IV programme, under which Pakistan was to have spent US$1.4 billion on the induction of 60 new F-16s between March 1993 and February 1997. The enforcement of the Pressler Amendment was reflected within a year, when the PAF's fleet of F-16s was hit by engine-related problems and all aircraft had to be grounded. The PAF's Project Falcon initiated engine inspections and depot level work at the Sargodha Air Base, but it took two years to recover the 32 aircraft. 

Washington also resisted the implementation of the Falcon-Up F-16 upgrade programme, saying it was prohibited under the Pressler Amendment, but were eventually convinced to relent on the grounds that programme was a safety-related one, and did not enhance the aircraft's operational capability. The earlier enforcement of the Pressler Amendment also prompted the PAF to launch efforts to procure a non-American hi-tech aircraft. 

Between late 1990 and 1993, it evaluated and rejected the British Tornado, took a close look at the Mirage 2000E, and received a misleading offer from Poland for the supply of MiG-29s and Su-27s. In 1992, the PAF revived an 11-year-old proposal to acquire 20-40 Mirage 2000s, but Paris was reluctant to sell a fully capable version for political reasons. A possible alternative appeared in August 1994, when Sweden's SAAB conglomerate offered to supply its JAS-39 Grippen aircraft, but the deal was killed because of its 20 per cent American component content. 

Meanwhile, France had offered the Mirage 2000-V and upon re-evaluation, the PAF concluded that model incorporated the technological jump that it had been looking for. The French offer was not based upon the PAF's the operational requirement vis-a-vis its operational deployment in the event of war, but Paris agreed to remove the plane's deficiencies. The negotiations began to become unstuck when it came to the price tag of $3 billion for 32 aircraft, a figure that shot up to $4.1 billion when the cost of a 10-12 year financing package was included. The PAF continued to press for the technical package, but had to combat both tough French negotiating tactics and the Pakistan government's reluctance to pay for such a large purchase. The deal was ultimately killed in late 1996 by the caretaker government of Malik Meraj Khalid, who was scared off by a distorted media campaign against the Mirage acquisition. During this difficult period, the PAF had little option but to take steps to maintain its fleet size and operational capability. 

This involved the induction of additional F-7 aircraft and the launch of two major upgrade programmes, the most important involving the upgrade and overhaul of existing Mirage III and Vs, as well as F-7s, A-5s and T-37 basic trainer aircraft. The PAF is currently taking delivery of 40 upgraded Mirage III and V aircraft under a $118 million contract finalised in February 1996. 

This followed the procurement of 50 mothballed Mirages from Australia under a A$27 million deal finalised in April 1990, from which a total of 45 aircraft have been recovered, upgraded and inducted into the PAF. Unfortunately, the imposition of fresh sanctions by the United States in May 1998, following the tit-for-tat nuclear tests conducted first by India and then Pakistan, has again hit the PAF's maintenance of its F-16 fleet. These sanctions, imposed under the Glenn Amendment, has also affected the serviceability of the PAF's fleet of 12 C-130s, reduced the availability of its automated air defence network, and rendered unusable the six TPS-43 radar employed to provid high-level coverage over Pakistan. 
 

PAF overcomes difficulties in operational capabilities: Pervaiz

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.
 
 

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

KARACHI, Sept 18: 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 
 

Accusing everyone of defence deals' cuts is wrong: air chief 

ISLAMABAD: It is incorrect to accuse everyone of defence deals' cuts, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi said on Friday. He was talking to reporters after inaugurating the first ever PAF art exhibition titled 'PAF over the years' at the National Art Gallery. 

Responding to corruption allegations against certain PAF officials carried in a section of the press, he said though it is a known fact that every private company involved in defence deals deputes its agents with certain percentage of commission to be doled out, yet it is wrong to say that everyone is involved in corruption. However, it is a matter which should be investigated by the government, he added. 

The air chief said Pakistan is set to add Super Seven aircraft to its air inventory during 2001. The development project of the aircraft is going alright and we are right on course, he said. He said the project was delayed due to sanctions and hitches erected by some western countries and the G-8 but we will find a way of overcoming the hitches. 

The multi-role combat aircraft is currently under development in a joint Sino-Pakistan programme and might join the PAF inventory after May 2001, he said. About battle efficiency and preparedness of the PAF vis a vis India, the air chief said it takes time for an adversary to catch up. 

India is currently trying to match upto the prowess of the PAF, he said. The PAF is well prepared to take on any challenge, he added. The air chief said the PAF constantly tries to evaluate the threats and the planning departments are on their toes for the very purpose all the time. 

Earlier, the air chief in his address said PAF's journey from Tiger Moths, Tempests and Harvards to hi-tech planes is paved with many hardships and challenges. He said: "This nascent force met its first challenge in 1948 when it had to fly drop missions in the mountainous areas in aid of freedom fighters in Kashmir, a task that required the ultimate in courage and flying skill. Even today, the PAF is fully prepared and capable of supporting the Kashmiri Mujahideen for their liberation struggle." 

He said the 1965 war saw the PAF in absolute command of the skies when its pilots rose to the pinnacle of glory and performed matchless feats of valour and professional excellence. He said the PAF gave an equally praiseworthy account of its supremacy during the air battle in 1971, although its achievements were eclipsed by the outcome of the war. 

Taking stock of the 53 years of PAF's history, the air chief said the force has come a long way to claim its rightful place as a frontline air force after passing through various phases of development. "Its glory resides in its will and ability to safeguard the country's air space through supreme devotion, combat, motivation and professional excellence and strength of its personnel," he added. 
 

Pakistan upgrading air defence system

Pakistan has embarked on a major programme to enhance its air defence systems, according to the Pakistan Defence News Network. 

According to the network, the project includes upgrading 37mm and 57mm guns and automating its early warning and control systems into real-time. On Wednesday, Pakistan observed Defence Day and vowed to modernise its armed forces. 

The decision to strengthen its air defence systems comes close on the heels of a six-month long air war game, codenamed `Saffron Bandits', which concluded recently. 

The exercise was aimed at providing a war-like training environment for air crews and combat controllers. It also provided the participants with an opportunity to practice their specific war roles, according to the Network. 

During the exercise, Pakistani Air Force fighter planes attacked mock enemy targets and the pilots exhibited their skills. Air force officials have been quoted as saying that ``Saffron Bandits'' are now capable of delivering the desired results whenever they are called upon to do so.
 

PAF exercise ‘Saffron Bandits’ enters last phase

10 July 2000 

SARGODHA: 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. 
 

All PAF F-16s fully operational: ACM

ISLAMABAD: All the multi-role F-16 aircraft are fully operational, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Pervez Mehdi Qureshi said.

He stated that this on Thursday and added no F-16 aircraft is grounded. "Our fleet of F-16s, comprising 32 aircraft, is fully operational," he added. He said there is a cycle of maintenance of these front-line PAF fighters and normally two to three F-16s are sent for routine/normal maintenance. The Chief of Air Staff said it was shocking to hear baseless rumours that 18 F-16s were grounded. Qureshi said the next batch of 8 Mirages, which Pakistan got upgraded from France, would be reaching Pakistan within a couple of days.

Pakistan bought 40 Mirage III/Vs which were upgraded with the latest avionics. Pakistan has already received 16 Mirages, and the delivery of all the 40 Mirages will be completed by the end of this year.

Lowest ever PAF crash rate for two years in a row.

LAHORE, June 29 (Online): Air power has in all its shades become the vital means of crises-response, from a strategy of coercion to its effectiveness as deterrence, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Mohammad Farooq Qari said Thursday emphasising the significance of air force.

Addressing the participants of the 29th Staff Course at the Pakistan Naval War College here, he said, "Profound changes are occurring in contemporary strategic thought in the realm of military strategy. Nations now seek to impose their will on an adversary through a sharp short but an effective application of military against an element of national importance to the adversary be it the Strategic Reserves of any army, high value units of the Navy or an economic set whose damage or loss will put tremendous pressure on the enemy."

He further said that, "Despite the resource crunch and a sensitivity to peacetime attrition, the PAF has not lowered its standards of combat training and continues to be a hard-trained force."

Hailing the performance of PAF he said, "It gives me great satisfaction to state that for the last two consecutive years, PAF has attained the best ever flight safety record in its history. So while we continue to train hard, we pursued with no less zeal the preservation of our highly valuable assets".

On his arrival, the Vice-Chief of the Air Staff was received by Commodore M A Khalid the Commandant of Pakistan Naval War College.
 

Pakistan seeks cash instead of wheat for F-16s

ISLAMABAD (NNI)-Pakistan seeks cash from the United States instead of wheat as envisaged in the accord allowing purchase of wheat in lieu of the F-16 aircraft. "The country does not need to buy the $30-million-commodity from the US. We do not want wheat but need money. Negotiations between Pakistan and US officials in this connection are underway," Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz told a post-budget news conference in Islamabad. The United States had blocked the delivery of 28 F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan after Islamabad was subjected to economic sanctions under the Pressler amendment in 1990 to punish the country for its nuclear programme.
 

UAE's air force widens trainer competition

United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) officials have added the Chinese Karakorum K-8 to the list of candidate jet trainers being evaluated to support the introduction of more than 140 Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-9 and Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 60 combat aircraft into service during the next five to seven years.
 

PAF may go for Mirage F-1 fighters
Aroosa Alam

ISLAMABAD—Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf is expected to have agreed in principle to a proposal made by the PAF to acquire unspecified number of Mirage F-1 fighters as a stop gap arrangement till the country inducts a front line state-of-the-art fighter aircraft.

During his day long visit to the Air Headquarters in Chaklala on Thursday, General Musharraf is also reported to have given a go ahead to some procurement programmes keeping in view a mad shopping spree by Indian Government in the world arms markets. The CE is reported to have said that Pakistan cannot remain indifferent to developments that are taking place in the region, particularly the Indian designs.

The PAF has been looking for a suitable fighter for last many years after the US refused to supply 28 F-16s. As many as five other options have been so far explored and evaluated by the PAF over the past five years. They included SU-27, MiG-29, SU-30, Grippen and Mirage 2000-5.

The PAF has been evaluating Mirage F-1 for some time. The Mirage F-1 is an old vintage aircraft which was first manufactured in 1966 but subjected to modifications till 1974.

The Mirage F-1 is an excellent interceptor at all altitudes and ground attack. Its multi-functional radar (air-to-air and air-to-ground) allows it to intercept the intruding planes with remarkable efficiency. It is equipped with a sophisticated weapon-system which enables to deliver in all sorts of situations.

Experts in the PAF are confident that they can very successfully transform the old Mirage F-1s into a lethal interceptor aircraft. The idea is to buy cheap Mirage F-1s and then equip them with latest avionics and weapon systems. Currently 10 countries have these aircraft in their service which include South Africa, Ecuador, Spain, Greece, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco and Qatar. It is not clear so far who will be offering their F-1s for sale but most of these countries are believed to have put their jets on sale.

Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has said that superior training standards, motivation, devotion to duty and unflinching faith in Allah Almighty are the qualities by which the officers and men of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) have been able to match and overcome the numerical advantage enjoyed by the adversary.

The chief executive made these observations during a day long visit to Air Headquarters where he received a comprehensive briefing on wide-ranging operational and professional aspects of the PAF.

The chief executive expressed his satisfaction at the state of operational preparedness of the PAF in its mission to defend the air frontiers of the country. He re-affirmed the government’s resolve to extend maximum support to the PAF for enhancing its combat capability. The briefing was attended by the Services Chiefs and other senior military officers.

Earlier, on arrival at Air Headquarters, the chief executive was received by Air Chief Marshal Pervaiz Mehdi Qureshi, Chief of the Air Staff. A smartly turned out contingent of the PAF presented the guard of honour. General Musharraf took the salute and reviewed the guard.

Principal Staff Officers at the Air Headquarters were introduced to the chief executive. He also met the Chief of Air Staff in his office. Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza, Chief of the Naval Staff was also present on the occasion. Well informed sources said that the three Services Chiefs held an informal session to discuss the security situation.
 

Karakoram-8 Jet Trainer: Pakistani officials pleased over Egypt deal
By Ali Abbas Rizvi

Senior Pakistan Air Force officials are happy over the sale of 80 Karakoram-8 advanced jet trainers (AJT) by China to Egypt. Earlier, the aircraft, produced by the Chinese firm Hongdu Aviation Industry Group, with the active support of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, during the early 1990s, had failed to secure a major order. Air Vice Marshal Mushaf Mir, the director general of the PAC Kamra, in an exclusive interview to SAMWOnline, said the Egyptian deal, which is worth 347 million dollars, was a major development with regard to the project. “I am very happy about it,” he said.

“This shows that the aircraft has matured over the years and the few problems associated with the new aircraft overcome.”

The K-8 project had commenced in 1987 with the PAC playing a major role in designing and development of the aircraft. The PAC provided two pilots, 21 engineers and 24 technicians for the entire duration of the project.

The first prototype flight trial was conducted on November 21, 1990, with the first aircraft arriving at the Kamra airfield on March 19th, 1993.

At present, at least, six K-8 trainers are operational at the Pakistan Air Force Academy, Risalpur, for the last several years.

Earlier, officials at the PAC Kamra had abandoned plans to set up an assembly line for the K-8 jet trainer on account of various constraints, including infrastructural problems. Instead, it was decided that the PAC would increase its share in production of high-value components, including fin, horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and engine cowling, and spare support.

The air marshal said that K-8s would finally replace the T-37 trainers at the air academy, adding: “We don’t have to look around for jet trainers like other air forces are doing at the moment.”

The senior PAF official was hinting at the Indian Air Force’s search for an advanced jet trainer. The lack of an advanced jet trainer has resulted in the loss of several hundred aircraft to the IAF over the years.

The K-8 project, so far, had limited success on account of the US embargo on the supply of Garrett TFE 731 turbofan engines which the Americans claimed could be used by the Chinese to build cruise missiles. The PLA Air Force has not bought the aircraft while the PAF, which has acquired K-8s with Garrett engines, has not yet gone for the 80 aircraft it requires.

Analysts say that the Egyptian order, the largest for the type so far, would pave the way for more sales of the K-8 in the advanced jet trainer market which would mature by the year 2010.

This was confirmed by Air Marshal Mir, who said the Chinese Air Force had also decided to acquire the aircraft, which was also bought by Burma, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia.

With a price tag of only $4 million and equipped with advanced Western avionics, the aircraft is an ideal jet trainer for the Third World air forces.
 

Pakistan to conclude deal for new Chinese fighter soon
By Ali Abbas Rizvi 

KARACHI, June 25: Pakistan is negotiating the purchase of a new Chinese fighter called the F-7MG, official sources told SAMWOnline Sunday. The deal for the fighters, to be funded from the next fiscal budget 2000-2001, would be finalized soon.

Official sources said the F-7MG had been flown by the Pakistan Air Force test pilots and was found to be a much better aircraft than the F-7Ps in service with the Pakistan Air Force.

The service had acquired around 160 F-7Ps, F-7MPs and FT-7Ps during the late eighties and early nineties. The purchase of yet another F-7 version by the PAF, which itself is based on the obsolete MiG-21s, was necessitated by several factors, including the embargo on the sale of F-16s by the United States, the delay in the Super-7 project and the heightened tension between Pakistan and India over Kashmir. Official sources said that Pakistan would be getting at least 50 F-7MGs, to replace the remaining two F-6 (MiG-19) squadrons. Other reports have suggested that the number of aircraft to be acquired could be as large as 100.
The F-7MG had first flown in 1993 and appeared for the first time at the first Chinese international air show, the Air Show China ’96. According to Chengdu, the manufacturer of the aircraft, the F-7MG offers much greater maneuverability over the F-7Ps bought by the Pakistan Air Force on account of its newly-designed larger double delta wing. Moreover, it has a much better cockpit layout, avionics, radar and navigational aids as compared to the original aircraft.

Aviation analysts based in Karachi said the F-7MPs were optimized for high-speed sorties at high altitudes while the F-7MG with a much larger delta wing would allow the aircraft greater maneuverability in low-speed low-altitude combat.

However, at the same time, they pointed out that the biggest drawback of the aircraft was its WP-13F engine, which was unable to provide high thrust. The engine cannot be replaced by a Russian power plant on account of the fact that the F-7 airframe is much smaller in size as compared to aircraft like the Super 7 or the MiG-29s.

It is not clear if the F-7MGs for Pakistan will have a bubble canopy, an option offered by the Chengdu. What is, however, expected is that the aircraft would be customized to fire beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles.

Analysts said the F-7MG would give a major boost to the PAF fighter aircraft inventory, which has not seen addition of the F-16-type sophisticated aircraft since the mid-eighties.
 

Lebanon to sell Mirage jets to Pakistan

TRIPOLI (June 29) : Lebanon has agreed to sell its unused French-made Mirage jets to Pakistan, the state-run National News agency reported on Wednesday. The jets are disassembled and stored in France. They were taken apart at beginning of Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war to prevent them from falling in the hands of rival militias, and sent to France for safekeeping.

"The deal was signed in Beirut on Tuesday by Lebanese Defence Minister Ghazi Zuaiter and Pakistani officials," the agency said. The value of the sale was not disclosed. The report did not say when the jets would be delivered nor did it give their number. But a retired Lebanese army officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the state was selling all the air force's remaining 10 Mirage-3 jets.

Lebanon has no active air force. It has only six British-made hawker hunter jets which are not operational and 16 US-built transport helicopters.

France releases 3rd batch of 8 Mirages
Bureau Report

ISLAMABAD, May 24: The French government has released the third batch of eight refitted Mirage III&V that Pakistan had bought in a lot of 40 planes some years ago and which were in France for upgradation, it is learnt.

Pakistan Air Force sources when contacted confirmed that the fighter aircraft will arrive in the country in a couple of days. The addition of eight planes will take the total of Mirage III&V that had already been delivered to Pakistan, to 24.

The remaining 16 aircraft are scheduled to be supplied to Pakistan by December. The first two batches of eight each Mirage III&V were delivered to Islamabad during 1998 and 1999.

In 1996 Pakistan bought 40 Mirages from Australia, whichweretransferred to France formodernizationand refurbishment by SAGEM. The Mirages were to be handed over to Pakistan by December 1998, but delayed because of change in west's attitude toward Pakistan and also owing to India's protest it had lodged before the international powers against the deal.

Though the planes were Pakistan's property and had been sent to France for refitting, their delivery delayed apparently because of technical reason. Pakistani authorities, however, believed that the May 28, 1998 atomic test and then the Oct 12, 1999 military take over were the actual reasons for the delay.

There was no legal reason for the delay but France was initially carried away by the west's negative reaction to both the incidents of May 28 and Oct 12.

With the induction of these eight planes, Pakistan would have added 24 refitted Mirages III&V to its aging fleet of about 18 F- 16s. Another 18 F16s have reportedly already been grounded for lack of spare parts.

The supply of F16s spare parts initially blocked under the Pressler Amendment were later blocked by the sanctions imposed by the US after Pakistan's nuclear tests. When these sanctions were about to be lifted recently under the Brownback Amendment, the US decided not to lift them because of the military takeover in Pakistan.

It is believed that of all the three services, the Pakistan Air Force has been harmed the most through these politically- motivated decisions of country's foreign friends.

The authorities, however, observe a positive change in the attitude of the French authorities which besides these aircraft, France has also handed over Agosta submarine that was sent there for refitting, to Pakistan.