arsalabbasi
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Although PAF suffered a lot to achieve technological edge in past two decades as Pakistan was one of the most sanctioned countries in the world and sanctions were focused mainly on military hardware. As a result of sanctions, PAF resorted to explore black market spares for existing fleet and made a turn towards Chinese emerging technology. The capability of air forces today is beyond the number and quality of jet fighters. Lets compare the capability of PAF Vs IAF based on various indicators.
Air Combat Capability
PAF today carries approximately 450 combat aircrafts on its fleet of different variants. IAF operates approximately 471 fighters and 269 bombers of British, Russian and French origin. IAF has always kept numerical superiority over PAF and today IAF has a technological edge over PAF as well. This is attributable mainly to a decade of sanctions imposed on Pakistan. PAF, being aware of this fact, is not far away from minimizing this technological gap and will be a much superior air force by 2015 in terms of technology.
IAF maintenance and air crews are not as diligent, their mainly Russian technology is generally less reliable than advertised, and a large part of their fleet of MiG-21s and MiG-27s are outdated. PAF aircrafts are either of Western stock or Chinese and are far more maintenance friendly.
A big technological gap was created once IAF claimed to have Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capability. On the other hand, PAF was denied this capability and thus was forced to continue relying on the short range IR missiles. Today, PAF has got the capability of launching BVRs on F-16s and JF-17s. PAF gained BVR capability after signing a biggest ever single export order deal with U.S in the history of AIM-120 AMRAAM programme. Pakistan is also expected to acquire the Chinese-developed SD-10 AAM with its JF-17 Thunder fighters. SD-10s would also be part of any potential Chengdu J-10 order.
Air Defense Capability
PAF has invested efficiently in this area by procuring a wide range of American and Chinese ground based modern radars. The aircraft mounted radar capability named AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control System) was also pursued largely by PAF in few recent years. Despite the up gradation of existing three DA-20 mounted state of the art platforms, PAF has added four SAAB-2000 (Swedish) and four ZDK-03 (Chinese) AWACS aircrafts to its inventory.
Indian Air Force has been pursuing a programme for the acquisition of AWACS capability for over twenty years. This quest finally ended when a contract was signed for supply of three Israeli built Phalcon radar systems. However, IAF AWACS platforms are still not sufficient in number to maintain a round-the-clock watch over Pakistan airspace and other borders.
Training
There seems to be a general consensus of opinion today that in a comparison of strength between the Indian and Pakistani air forces, the Indian advantage in numbers is counterbalanced by the Pakistani advantage in personnel, training, and tactics. In fact, some would argue that the Pakistani fighter pilot, his training, and his tactics are so superior that even though the Indians have now caught up in technology, the Pakistan Air Force still has an overall edge in combat capability as long as the quantitative edge does not proceed above 3:1.
BUT Wait a minute & think seriously
Now its time to think seriously with a new angle after Abbotabad attack that Americans are very sharp. They always knew our weakness & are making plans to grab/destroy our nukes with bogus excuses after Abbot Abad attack. Our Air Force dont have capability to counter against Stealths Our latest radars cant find Stealths bombers or Helis. Thats why Air Chief Marchall clearly said to PM in the in-camera briefing that we cant stop these types of stealths attacks in future.
What should we do. our PAF officials should do against this technology barrier ?? This is really a threat to PAF sovereignty, a real big threat to our nukes & reactors. Please suggest seriously !!
Air Combat Capability
PAF today carries approximately 450 combat aircrafts on its fleet of different variants. IAF operates approximately 471 fighters and 269 bombers of British, Russian and French origin. IAF has always kept numerical superiority over PAF and today IAF has a technological edge over PAF as well. This is attributable mainly to a decade of sanctions imposed on Pakistan. PAF, being aware of this fact, is not far away from minimizing this technological gap and will be a much superior air force by 2015 in terms of technology.
IAF maintenance and air crews are not as diligent, their mainly Russian technology is generally less reliable than advertised, and a large part of their fleet of MiG-21s and MiG-27s are outdated. PAF aircrafts are either of Western stock or Chinese and are far more maintenance friendly.
A big technological gap was created once IAF claimed to have Beyond Visual Range (BVR) capability. On the other hand, PAF was denied this capability and thus was forced to continue relying on the short range IR missiles. Today, PAF has got the capability of launching BVRs on F-16s and JF-17s. PAF gained BVR capability after signing a biggest ever single export order deal with U.S in the history of AIM-120 AMRAAM programme. Pakistan is also expected to acquire the Chinese-developed SD-10 AAM with its JF-17 Thunder fighters. SD-10s would also be part of any potential Chengdu J-10 order.
Air Defense Capability
PAF has invested efficiently in this area by procuring a wide range of American and Chinese ground based modern radars. The aircraft mounted radar capability named AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control System) was also pursued largely by PAF in few recent years. Despite the up gradation of existing three DA-20 mounted state of the art platforms, PAF has added four SAAB-2000 (Swedish) and four ZDK-03 (Chinese) AWACS aircrafts to its inventory.
Indian Air Force has been pursuing a programme for the acquisition of AWACS capability for over twenty years. This quest finally ended when a contract was signed for supply of three Israeli built Phalcon radar systems. However, IAF AWACS platforms are still not sufficient in number to maintain a round-the-clock watch over Pakistan airspace and other borders.
Training
There seems to be a general consensus of opinion today that in a comparison of strength between the Indian and Pakistani air forces, the Indian advantage in numbers is counterbalanced by the Pakistani advantage in personnel, training, and tactics. In fact, some would argue that the Pakistani fighter pilot, his training, and his tactics are so superior that even though the Indians have now caught up in technology, the Pakistan Air Force still has an overall edge in combat capability as long as the quantitative edge does not proceed above 3:1.
BUT Wait a minute & think seriously
Now its time to think seriously with a new angle after Abbotabad attack that Americans are very sharp. They always knew our weakness & are making plans to grab/destroy our nukes with bogus excuses after Abbot Abad attack. Our Air Force dont have capability to counter against Stealths Our latest radars cant find Stealths bombers or Helis. Thats why Air Chief Marchall clearly said to PM in the in-camera briefing that we cant stop these types of stealths attacks in future.
What should we do. our PAF officials should do against this technology barrier ?? This is really a threat to PAF sovereignty, a real big threat to our nukes & reactors. Please suggest seriously !!