F-16s, 30+ Years old of Mirages III/V, 20+ Years old F-7P, 10 Years old F-7PG
Let not discuss JFT they are under going extensive training and continuous upgrades..
I do not think so PAF is a challenge or poses a challenge but it is good for many small states around it.
22 Years is a long time the only thing we came up in this time is couple of awacs, couple of air refullers and initiated and complete JFT project as JFT has still to prove itself in the next 5/7 Years, I am seriously doubting where the money is channeled in the past 22 Years that we had to come up with these only? Amazing, I remember just before OBL Operation, Air Force Chief 2 days or so earlier said our Air Space is secured mahfooz like his predecessors and yeah bad luck struck him 2/3 days later.
I have to ask this question we are in the state of war both our Easter and Western Borders are engaged how in the Hell were radars inactive and then run away with such statement and then explains that we will initiate an investigations what investigations when PAF Chief Orders to keep radars inactive, does he plan to oust poor young men and get away with it safe his .
Perhaps they were.
Perhaps they were not...
Whats the going rate for a Sq Ldr?? or a Major?? 5?? ten million dollars?
not to report a hit on the scope??
Ignore it?
Then again... low flying choppers, mountainous terrain.. its easy for choppers to evade detection using NOE flight profiles.. The first strikes at Iraq's ADA network were carried out by Apache's escorted by MH-53's flying low. And that was flat terrain..
Now if the Chief was to reveal that our network was bypassed till it was too late.. and that when they did realize what was going on and went in to assess the situation.. the US Def Attache gave a simple ..lay off or we send in a strike package of SH's escorted by growlers and lay waste to whatever is in our path..???
Language such as "Bomb you back to the stone age" has a strong effect on our brave military leaders...
The Truth of the event will probably never surface.. what is surfacing is "ankh churana" of PAF personnel when asked questions similar to yours..
Will time tell.. ??
or like Ojhri, like Kargil, like tens of "nazuk mor's" in Pakistan's history, this will be brushed over and forgotten as well.
As far as the money channeled in the last couple of years goes to??
Well.. the JF project ate a lot of cash.. so did the F-16's.. the actual cost of which is more than disclosed.. the SAAB purchase was heavy on the pockets.. as were refuellers.. upgrades to the C4I system, K-8P payments, FT-5 LOTEX, FOB upgrades, MOB upgrades, "Housing" upgrades, Staff essentials upgrades.. and few other trinkets here and there..
Not to mention the brand spanking new staff cars roaming around E-9 these days.