PAF did not have BVRs only cause they were not going to get it atleast in 1983.
Srry for double posting
I think you are right. When I read the PAF Official History Book which published in 1982-83 (written by Shabbir Hussain I think), the major threat that was mentioned was Mig-23 of IAF equipped with new radars and AA-7 Apex BVRs too.
Now if the main threat was Mig-23MF, then its not understandable that why the Govt of Pakistan/PAF did not buy a single platform capable of BVR missiles. The F-16A at that time (early 1980s) was not supposed to carry BVRs. However I am sure that PAF would have wanted to get AIM-7s with them but USA was trying to give downgraded things to Pakistan.
Initially they offered A-7 Corsairs to Pakistan and if u see the 1980 edition of Jane's All the World Aircraft, Pakistan is listed as user of Corsair. PAF insisted on something better than a ground attack aircraft. US then offered the F-16/79, F-16A equipped with old J-79 engine. PAF being bent on getting the right thing, at least succeeded in getting F-16A with latest engines.
But the answer lies outside F-16 deal. At that time (around 1980), PAF decided to get 40 F-16s, 32 Mirage-Vs and 50 A-5s.
I think that we should have opted for Mirage F-1Es instead of Mirage-V and thus could have achieved BVR capability in the form of Super 530D.
In the 1980s or perhaps late 1970s, almost all countries ordered Mirage F1s like Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait, Spain etc. Only Pakistan chose to stick with the same Mirage-V even in the 1980-81 while ordering 32 of them (exocet equipped).
Exocet could have been easily carried by F1 too, rather I think F1 can carry two Exocets. The advantage of F-1 would have been the BVR missiles like Super 530D. Iraq also obtained these missiles for use against Irani F-14s.
Mirage F-1 was better in all respects as compared to Mirage-3/5. More fuel, more maneuverability, shorter take-off, greater range and climb rate etc
By 1980, Pakistan was almost a nuclear power and for the defence of nuclear installation a BVR capable squadron was extremely important simply because any attack formation coming for the nuclear installations would certainly be escorted by BVR capable air superiority fighters.
A Sidewinder equipped fighter cant destroy an intruder unless it is 8-9 km away, thus defining an air defence strategy for nuclear installations with Sidewinder equipped fighters cant be fool-proof.
Here it must be clarified that SAMs cant be guarantee for protection of vital national assets. Thats only one layer of defence.
Then in 1994-95, a serious effort was done by ACM Abbas Khattak to acquire Mirage 2000-5 (I think 32 of them) but Govt and some retired PAF officers like Air Marshal Ayyaz A Khan wrote against the deal.
At that time the daily Muslim used to publish a military special addition once a week, called "MILITARY PANORAMA" and ex-Air Marshal Ayyaz A Khan wrote many articles againt the Mirage-2000 and in favor of Gripen, knowing that quite recently US denied Pakistan its paid F-16s under Pressler or Brown amendments and Gripen was using US-derived engine and US weapons. I still have all those articles of Ayyaz A Khan. I like Gripen but only if SAAB could have provided it with a european engine and european BVR missiles.
A new Gripen with engine of Eurofighter or Rafale and armed with european/south african missiles is a possibility now but I am not sure if that was possible in 1994-95. South Africa has integrated A-Darter with its Gripens and Meteor is already on the list of Gripen. So now, its a good option.
After ACM Abbas Khattak, ACM P Q Mehdi too gave interview to The News, stressing the need for new fighters. Therefore PAF tried its best but its the rulers who are responsible for this whole BVR mess.
This was to bear fruit in 1999, during Kargil conflict. IAF, feeling the imbalance between the two air forces, launched unhindered operations. Although these operations were mostly inside IH territory and some of those who violated the LoC were shot down, but still it was felt in Pakistan that IAF was very bold during all the operations.
