I disagree...In fact if we go by various articles quoting PAF officials it was made clear to GOP that
a) PAF lacks BVR capability and thus uneven with IAF capabilities
b) Any intervention by PAF would surely be matched by response from IAF and then there would be no point of return...
That's what I said too right?
I posted this recently in an other thread too, but it should make some things clear here too:
...PAFs intervention meant all-out war: this unmistakable conclusion was conveyed to the Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif by PAFs Chief of Air Staff in no equivocal terms.
Short of starting an all-out war, PAF looked at some saner options that could put some wind in the sails after doldrums had been hit. Air Marshal Najeeb Akhtar, the Air Officer Commanding of Air Defence Command was co-opted by the Air Staff to sift the possibilities. Audacious and innovative in equal parts, Air Marshal Najeeb, who had an excellent knowledge about own and enemys Air Defence Ground Environment (ADGE), focused on fighter sweep as a possible option. To prevent the mission from being seen as an escalatory step in the already charged atmosphere, PAF had to lure Indian fighters into own territory, ie Azad Kashmir or Northern Areas. That done, a number of issues had to be tackled. What if the enemy aircraft were hit in own territory but fell across, providing a pretext to India as a doubly aggrieved party? What if one of our own aircraft fell, no matter if the exchange was one-to-one (or better)? Finally, even if we were able to pull off a surprise, would it not be a one-off incident, with the IAF wisening up in quick time? The over-arching consideration was the BVR missile capability of IAF fighters which unfavourably impinged on the mission success probability. The conclusion was that a replication of the famous four-Vampire rout of 1st September 1965 by two Sabres might not be possible. A fighter sweep thus came to be a non-starter.
PAF in Kargil : A PAF warrior speaks out Pak Tea House
Of course it was clear that an intervention of PAF in full capablity would meant a full war, but as you can see, PAF also thought about other ways to get involved and support their ground troops, without escalating things too much.
If their conclusion would saw better chances of succsess, PAF would have taken actions in Kargil too, but the BVR advantage of IAF in that time was a big disadvantage.
You simply can't go to war and
hope, it will not escalate, it is a calculated risk that you take. The moment one side thinks they will have a clear advantage by using their Air Force, they will use it, even if it would be only one major hit.
That's why I still believe, now with more even capabilities of both Air Forces (BVR missiles and AWACS), limited air combats are possible too.
To get it back to the topic, the comander also said that the only fighter which was capable enough for patrol missions was the F16, because no other interceptors (F-7) had capable radars, or endurance. Exactly that is the point where JF 17 with BVR capabilities will bring a difference to PAF. The difference of having around hundreds of fighters,
besides the F16s that are able to take over the defensiv patrol and interception mission. JF 17 don't have to be as capable as the F16 to defend Pakistan, in numbers and with full 4. gen capabilities it will clearly will be an improvement for PAF. This also leaves the F16 for way more than just the defense role and nobody can really tell me that PAF don't had the possibility of strikes against India in mind too, when they bought the new Block 52s with CFTs, JDAMs and Sniper pods.
As a fighter I don't think JF 17 is something special, the J10 imo has more potential, but nonetheless any JF 17 in operational service will be a big improvement for PAF and the defense of Pakistan. A cost-effective workhorse on the lower level, that's what it meant for and what it will be, the only question that some members are discussing seems to be, when will it be fully capable?
That's where I agree with MastanKhan, if it turns out that the first batch will be not, or only limited BVR capable they will not be good enough to take over the above mentioned role and that can't be what PAF wanted.
.
Let me show you how...
