Contingency plan ready to respond to threats: PAF

[HAIDER]

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman of the Air Staff PAF along with media personnel on the occasion of Exercise High Mark 2010 briefing at the Air Headquarters. - Photo by APP.

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said on Saturday a contingency plan was ready to counter any threat to the country’s security and made it clear that any misadventure by the adversary would invite a ‘massive reaction’.

Speaking at a briefing here at Air Headquarters, he said Pakistan did not harbour aggressive designs against any country, but was capable of beating back any aggressor.

He said Pakistan believed in peace with honour and observed that peace cannot be maintained from a position of weakness.

In reply to a question about the threats of surgical strikes inside Pakistan by India in case of another Mumbai-like terror attack, the PAF chief said “the neighbours know that in case of a sneak attack by them, reaction will be coming within hours”.

He said India would not be able to penetrate deep inside Pakistan’s territory, and the most they would do in such a case would be to choose an area near the border for a hit-and-run operation.

He said when the President House received a hoax call from ‘the Indian foreign minister’ after the Mumbai episode, the Pakistan Air Force identified certain targets across the border.

Air Marshal Qamar Suleman said permission from the government for replying to any aggression had been obtained and preparations made for a matching response.

He said India would not be able to defeat Pakistan in a conventional war.

He said the High Mark 2010 was not aimed against any country, but aimed at evaluating capabilities in an environment where dimensions of threat were changing warranting new concepts. He said the exercise was different in nature from the previous ones because the other two services were also actively taking part in it.

He noted that a future war would be swift and intense and said that is why the high tempo operation with a component of time sensitive targeting was being undertaken.

He said the budget for the exercise had been managed by savings as a result of 20 per cent reduction in flying from June, without asking for additional funds for the mega event from the Government.

Responding to question, he indicated that there was no plan to set up an air base in Azad Kashmir saying that the base in Skardu was sufficient to meet operational requirements of the PAF.

The Air Chief said Pakistan would start receiving 18 F-16 planes paid for it years back from June and the process would be completed by December. He disclosed that the United States had agreed to provide another 14 block 52 F-16s to Pakistan shortly. He said the existing fleet of F-16s would be upgraded in Turkey from September. He said all the F-16s would be upgraded to block 52 by 2014.

He said he said he never wanted a deal with the US for purchase of drones since it would be very expensive, but said it would be welcomed if sensors were provided by the US. He said Pakistan develops its own surveillance drones and would invest in research and development to make its own armed drones if a need was felt.

Earlier Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans) Air Commodore Javed Ahmad briefing reporters on the concept of High Mark 2010 said the primary target was to put to test the high state of combat readiness while gearing up all supporting units and validate the lessons learnt to improve deployment tactics.

He said since international, and domestic situation impinges upon the security calculus, the near realistic exercise was in line with the transformation in PAF’s concept of operations. He said new acquisitions had been operationalised in minimum possible time to take part in the exercise that will continue till the mid of May.
DAWN.COM | Front Page | Contingency plan ready to respond to threats: PAF

 

[MZUBAIR]

I think we will get all New Block 52 F-16 (18 & 14) before Dec 2011. Where as the upgradation process will be completed in 2014.
Till then we will be having few Sqds of JF-17, might be we will get few J-10B's.
Till then our A5 and few F7 will be grounded

 

[Donatello]

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman of the Air Staff PAF along with media personnel on the occasion of Exercise High Mark 2010 briefing at the Air Headquarters. - Photo by APP.

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said on Saturday a contingency plan was ready to counter any threat to the country’s security and made it clear that any misadventure by the adversary would invite a ‘massive reaction’.

Speaking at a briefing here at Air Headquarters, he said Pakistan did not harbour aggressive designs against any country, but was capable of beating back any aggressor.

He said Pakistan believed in peace with honour and observed that peace cannot be maintained from a position of weakness.

In reply to a question about the threats of surgical strikes inside Pakistan by India in case of another Mumbai-like terror attack, the PAF chief said “the neighbours know that in case of a sneak attack by them, reaction will be coming within hours”.

He said India would not be able to penetrate deep inside Pakistan’s territory, and the most they would do in such a case would be to choose an area near the border for a hit-and-run operation.

He said when the President House received a hoax call from ‘the Indian foreign minister’ after the Mumbai episode, the Pakistan Air Force identified certain targets across the border.

Air Marshal Qamar Suleman said permission from the government for replying to any aggression had been obtained and preparations made for a matching response.

He said India would not be able to defeat Pakistan in a conventional war.

He said the High Mark 2010 was not aimed against any country, but aimed at evaluating capabilities in an environment where dimensions of threat were changing warranting new concepts. He said the exercise was different in nature from the previous ones because the other two services were also actively taking part in it.

He noted that a future war would be swift and intense and said that is why the high tempo operation with a component of time sensitive targeting was being undertaken.

He said the budget for the exercise had been managed by savings as a result of 20 per cent reduction in flying from June, without asking for additional funds for the mega event from the Government.

Responding to question, he indicated that there was no plan to set up an air base in Azad Kashmir saying that the base in Skardu was sufficient to meet operational requirements of the PAF.

The Air Chief said Pakistan would start receiving 18 F-16 planes paid for it years back from June and the process would be completed by December. He disclosed that the United States had agreed to provide another 14 block 52 F-16s to Pakistan shortly. He said the existing fleet of F-16s would be upgraded in Turkey from September. He said all the F-16s would be upgraded to block 52 by 2014.

He said he said he never wanted a deal with the US for purchase of drones since it would be very expensive, but said it would be welcomed if sensors were provided by the US. He said Pakistan develops its own surveillance drones and would invest in research and development to make its own armed drones if a need was felt.

Earlier Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans) Air Commodore Javed Ahmad briefing reporters on the concept of High Mark 2010 said the primary target was to put to test the high state of combat readiness while gearing up all supporting units and validate the lessons learnt to improve deployment tactics.

He said since international, and domestic situation impinges upon the security calculus, the near realistic exercise was in line with the transformation in PAF’s concept of operations. He said new acquisitions had been operationalised in minimum possible time to take part in the exercise that will continue till the mid of May.
DAWN.COM | Front Page | Contingency plan ready to respond to threats: PAF

This was the article i was talking that appeared in Sunday Dawn newspaper.

There, in bold, the air chief says that all F-16s to be upgraded to BLK 52 standard. Now does that mean all f-16s prior to recent 18 purchases or just the 12 used ones Pakistan received?

Mods, you may merge this thread, because all f-16s to blk 52 standard, even avionics wise would mean a big boost.

 

[Donatello]

I think we will get all New Block 52 F-16 (18 & 14) before Dec 2011. Where as the upgradation process will be completed in 2014.
Till then we will be having few Sqds of JF-17, might be we will get few J-10B's.
Till then our A5 and few F7 will be grounded

Haha, i don't think they would be 'grounded', but merely 'Decommissioned' or put in reserve.....

 

[Avatar]

He said India would not be able to defeat Pakistan in a conventional war.

On what basis did he say this?

If this is true, why does Pakistan not have a nuclear no first use policy ?

It's very wrong of him to make such misleading statements. Let's judge the facts ..MKI is the best in S.Asia, and IAF will have 300 of those ..Let alone MRCA, Jaguars, Migs, Mirages, etc.

Even for arguments sake we assume that Pakistan's upgraded F-16's are superior to IAF Flankers ..How are 54 F-16's supported with JF-17's (which is not even tested in simulated combat) ..expected to take out THREE HUNDRED MKI's ?

Modern aerial warfare has very little to do with pilot skill ...Especially when you're up against something like the SU-30MKI. It could take you out without allowing you to get into range.

 

[Donatello]

On what basis did he say this?

If this is true, why does Pakistan not have a nuclear no first use policy ?

It's very wrong of him to make such misleading statements. Let's judge the facts ..MKI is the best in S.Asia, and IAF will have 300 of those ..Let alone MRCA, Jaguars, Migs, Mirages, etc.

Even for arguments sake we assume that Pakistan's upgraded F-16's are superior to IAF Flankers ..How are 54 F-16's supported with JF-17's (which is not even tested in simulated combat) ..expected to take out THREE HUNDRED MKI's ?

Modern aerial warfare has very little to do with pilot skill ...Especially when you're up against something like the SU-30MKI. It could take you out without allowing you to get into range.

Umm, Mr avatar, first he is the Chief of Airforce, and he says India cannot defeat in aerial warfare. About the first use poilicy on nuclear weapons, the command rests with the Army strategic command, hence General Kayani.


As you say you will have 300 of SU30, we can also claim we will have 79 f-16s all blk 52 or better (Considering Pakistan wants 14 more f-16s) and the old ones to be upgrade to blk52 status with APG 68 radars. Then we can claim we will have this and that and J-10s and Jxx....please be realistic.



Lastly, are you trying to put zero experience pilots in Indian airforce of new MRCA with decades old experience of Pakistani F-16 pilots and say that doesn't matter just because the MRCA might have a AESA radar or BVR missiles?
You've got to be out of your mind.