jawadqamar
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Honestly, I'm shocked to discover many senior members are concluding that H-2 and H-4 are not BVRAAMs.PAF adds new bombs to its arsenal
ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: Pakistan Air Force has integrated the H-4 out-of-sight target bombs in its arsenal of fighter aircraft, official sources said.
The incorporation of H-4 bombs have added to the capability of the PAF to hit out-of-sight targets from a distance of up to 120 kilometres to evade enemy radars during air strikes. A lighter version of the bomb, H-2 model, can hit the out-of-sight targets from a range of up to 60 kilometres.
It is a step towards adding the Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles to our arsenal for defensive purposes and to address the strategic imbalance in the region, sources said.
The indigenously produced H-4 bombs is an achievement of the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), which works in close collaboration with Pakistan Missile Organization and the Air Weapons Complex.
Three successful tests of H-4, with the latest conducted this year, produced satisfactory results leading to addition of arsenal in the fighter jets, the sources said.
The H-4 bombs have been made through indigenous efforts by modifying the technological design of South African T-Darter BVR missiles. Till the induction of JF-17 Thunder in 2006, with a provision for BVRs, the H-2 and H-4 bombs could be carried by Mirage fighter jets. The H-4 infrared device is said to be comparable to that of the AA11, AA12 and Python 4 in the Indian arsenal.
Moreover, the sources said, fighter aircraft in PAFs arsenal have the provision to be fitted with precision-guided munitions and BVR missiles.
When asked about advantages of BVR in Indian arsenal, PAF spokesperson Air Commodore Sarfaraz said: We are aggressively trying to utilize whatever equipment we have to its optimum operational limits through professional training and by pursuing high standards of maintenance.
Mr Sarfaraz said: We are aware of our technological needs and are vigorously trying to meet those requirements either through procurements or indigenous developments.
The European and the US suppliers were currently not willing to share the technology with Pakistan. However, contacts were being established with China, defence sources said, adding that JF-17 Thunder (to be inducted in 2006), F-16s and the Mirage aircraft in Pakistans fleet all had the provision to be fitted with BVRs once the technology and the missiles would be acquired. DAWN
Here's an article published by DAWN on 18th December, 2003 which was also published by Indian Times.
Obviously, PAF has BVR capabilities.
As few of you are still confused about H-2 and H-4 let me try to explaine this issue with help of what i have already posted
In February 1996, soon after the PAF concluded a US$50 million deal with Italys Galileo Avionica for the supply of 30 Grifo-M3 airborne multi-mode pulse-Doppler radars for the upgraded Mirage IIIEAs, contractual negotiations began on a $160 million contract with Kentron to cover the licenced-production by AERO of the latters U-Darter within-visual-range air-to-air missile (a reverse-engineered R550 Magic-2 missile developed by MBDA). Following this, the PAF by April 1999 had commenced contractual negotiations with Denel Aerospace for co-development of a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) under a project codenamed H-2, as well as a family of ALCMs under Project H-4. Flight tests of the BVRAAM got underway in 2001 and the resultant missile is now the AERO-produced variant of Kentrons 60km-range R-Darter missile, which in turn is a derivative of the Derby BVRAAM developed by Israels RAFAEL Armament Authority.
- Missile was fired on its target from a Mirage (ROSE-I with Italys Grifo-M3 airborne multi-mode pulse-Doppler radars /some even said these were 2 South African "Cheetah" Fighters which were sold to PAF to ease the testing of BVRAAM) plane over the Arabian Sea. If Mirages pointed towards South Africa than one can only think of BVRAAM test over sea as there will be no point in testing the PGM over sea, so every thing pointed toward South African T-Darter BVR AAM missile.
[*]H-2 is described to have a range of 60 Km and South African T-Darter BVR AAM missile too had a range of 60 kms and was offered to PAF with some kind TOT in BVR technology
- It was said that H-4 missiles which was an infra-red device and H-4 PGM carries that for terminal guidance to achieve 3 meter CEP.
- "It is a step towards adding the Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles to our arsenal for defensive purposes and to address the strategic imbalance in the region," Pakistan daily Dawn quoted PAF officials as saying.
- Now this statement is extremely important as this is in quoting PAF officials and it doesnt have a blend of super journalism by these ---- journalists.
- It clearly states Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles not Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Bombs as described by them. It further goes on to say that These are to address the strategic imbalance in the region, now we know that there is no strategic imbalance in PGM in IAF favor category as PAF already have and is continuing to improve its PGM advantage over IAF, so PAF official is referring to words BVRAAM advantage that IAF had at that time over the PAF. So while H-4 long range PGM increased the PAFs attack capabilities it is H-2 that address the strategic imbalance in the region so to me H-2 is a BVRAAM with 60km range is basically a (T-Dater)
As you guys can see that H-2 is a BVRAAM with 60km range is basically a (T-Dater) which is an improved version of R-Dater with data link and some other improvements to meet PAF requirements. On the other hand H-4 is a 120km-range surgical missile armed with high-explosive runway-catering bomblets, as well as a passive radiation seeker for targeting hostile ground-based air defence radars. This is a derivative of the MUPSOW ALCM (Although few people referred H-4 as Raptor-II PGM). PAF has conducted two successful qualification flights of the H-4, these being done on April 22 and December 17, in 2003. The PAFs present plans call for the procurement of 360 anti-runway variants of the H-4 with high-explosive runway-catering bomblets and 150 anti-radar variants with passive radiation seeker beside general purpose version. For anti-runway variants and general purpose version Long range PGM H-4 carries high-resolution IIR seeker to observe the target area, IIR seeker acquires the target and compare it with files stored in its memory, the aim point will be identified and tracked and be used as the reference for terminal guidance.H-4 is also believed to have an CEP of 3meter only
South African BVRAAM with ramjet engine technology is called the Long Range Air-to-Air Missile (LRAAM) or S-Dater and was offered to PAF as joint development project as a long term solution to PAF requirements on the other hand T-Dater was offered as short to medium term solution. T-Dater was an improved version of R-Dater with data link and some other improvements to meet PAF requirements
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