The problem is the overwhelming Indian air force, which rapidly grows from year to year, faster than ours. That is the reason why many members here are talking about air defense, because the Indian air superiority in numbers and quality can not be longer talked down and answered with 70 F-16. Especially on the battlefield for our ground forces it will have devasting and seriously danger, see Soviet and American air superiority in the second world war, the Wehrmacht was unabel to conduct any effective offensive operation, because the german formations came 24 hours under the fire of USAF or RAF. There must be find a fast solution to overcome this danger or we have to live with this fact ! Many Members for example Mr Oscar and Masterkhan have already discussed this issue to death. Lets see which cards PAF has hidden and will play in any future confclit, Longewala 1971 looked bad for our ground Troops, the same was 1999 in Kargil.
Concerning Air Defence when operating in enemy territory.
This is an excerpt from an officer who was commanding a unit (38 cavalry) which took part in battle of Longewala regarding providing air defence to Pakistan armoured forces taking part in the battle.
In the first week of November 1971, 38 Cavalry, less ‘A’ Squadron detached to 55 Brigade at Chor, concentrated at Manthar, about 25 miles on the road Sadiqabad-Rahimyar Khan. A few days after the regiment concentrated, the COAS and Air Marshal Rahim, the PAF chief came to Rahimyar Khan where the 18 Division plan was discussed and
the PAF chief assured the required air support for this operation.
Operational group(Basically units of 18 Division):
22 cavalry (T-59 tanks, took the maximum losses)
38 Cavalry (Sherman tanks, had problems with overhauled engine, was tasked to capture Jaiselmer after Longewala)
1 Punjab Regiment
28 baluch Regiment
Mortar battery
Where is the AD regiment?
When the 18 Division "Operational group" assembled, the PAF liaison officer, a wing commander informed the ‘Operational Group' that the
PAF would not be able to support the operation because the Jacobabad airfield had not been activated.
The GOC 18 Division called up CGS in GHQ and advised him on situation
that PAF has backed off at the last moment. The CGS told the GOC to go ahead with the operation and the operation failed.
This was an armoured force which had no AD SP support and PAF backed out.
In recent conflict, the AAA guns like 35mm or 37mm or 40mm will be useless against IAF strike aircrafts. even the Shoulder based SAM's like Anza/Stinger/RBS-70 will be useless due to altitude at which IAF will drop LGB or unguided bombs at Pakistan infantry positions in Indian territory.
If PAF is absent, Pakistan Army would need to send in LY-80 battery or SPADA-2000 battery to counter IAF strike aircrafts like Mirage-2000, SU-30 MKI and Jaguar aircrafts but this is highly doubtful.
Any other PA SAM system that can engage IAF above 10,000 meters?
