Pakistan F-16 Discussions 2

[The Raven]

A bit inaccurate depiction I guess....Remember reading somewhere that escorting F-16s were not armed and orders were to clip off the rudder if C-130 ever tried to deviate from flight path. Also 84715 is showing inflight refueling which was not available in 1998.

All PAF F-16s, going back to the first Block-15s, have IFR capability. The US uses boom IFR for their main fighters (F-15, F-16), which requires the receptacles to be inbuilt and integrated with the airframe, and would require work to actually remove IFR capability. It's not like drogue/probe IFR where either a fixed or retractable external probe is required.

 

[GriffinsRule]

Each F-16 was instructed to not deviate from the flight path in ANY circumstances after takeoff. Their radios were switched off, so that after takeoff, no order could be given to stop them. They were armed with 4 air to air missiles.

What's this C-130 story?

 

[arjunk]

What's this C-130 story?

For the nuclear tests, the nuclear devices were themselves flown in completely knocked down (CKD) sub-assembly form on a Pakistan Air Force C-130 Hercules tactical transport aircraft from Rawalpindi to Chagai, escorted even within Pakistani airspace by four PAF F-16s armed with air-to-air missiles.

The security of the devices was so strict that the PAF F-16 escort pilots had been secretly given standing orders that in the unlikely event of the C-130 being hijacked or flown outside of Pakistani airspace, they were to shoot down the aircraft before it left Pakistan’s airspace. The F-16s were ordered to escort the C-130 at a designated airfield in Balochistan with their radio communications equipment turned off so that no orders, in the interim, could be conveyed to them to act otherwise. They were also ordered to ignore any orders to the contrary that got through to them during the duration of the flight even if such orders originated from Air Headquarters.

May 28, 1998 dawned with an air alert over all military and strategic installations of Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force had earlier been put on red alert to respond to the possibility of an Indian and Israeli pre-emptive strike against its nuclear installations. PAF F-16A and F-7MP air defence fighters were scrambled from air bases around the country to remain vigilant and prepared for any eventuality.

Before twilight, the automatic transmission data link from all of Pakistani seismic stations to the outside world was switched off.

 

[Amigator]

Can't imagine what those f16 pilots were thinking during the mission.

 

[Blueskiez 2001]

Can't imagine what those f16 pilots were thinking during the mission.

Yeah it was probably a mentally very tough mission.

And not to think about the pilots of the C-130 - did they know the orders to the F16 pilots?

Many interviews has been given by many about the situation in 1998. Any interview of the pilots?

I have not read any

 

[baqai]

i think in such sensitive missions the crew of the C130 would have gotten separate briefing of taking actions (kill to take control) against his fellow pilot/co-pilot in case of any deviation from standard plan, i might be wrong though, someone with knowledge might make a comment on that

 

[Yasser76]

i think in such sensitive missions the crew of the C130 would have gotten separate briefing of taking actions (kill to take control) against his fellow pilot/co-pilot in case of any deviation from standard plan, i might be wrong though, someone with knowledge might make a comment on that

The more you think about it and the fact the likes of the US, Russia, India and Israel really wanted to prevent this happening and we still did it shows why (despite our economic and social challenges) Pakistan holds itself head very high up in the Muslim world. Still after 23 years after we test, the world's only muslim nuclear power

 

[Windjammer]

The more you think about it and the fact the likes of the US, Russia, India and Israel really wanted to prevent this happening and we still did it shows why (despite our economic and social challenges) Pakistan holds itself head very high up in the Muslim world. Still after 23 years after we test, the world's only muslim nuclear power

And transporting the devices from the airfield to ground Zero was another risky and major challenge....so formation of some 200 trucks was used so no one knew which trucks or how many were actually carrying the sensitive cargo.....

 

[SQ8]

And transporting the devices from the airfield to ground Zero was another risky and major challenge....so formation of some 200 trucks was used so no one knew which trucks or how many were actually carrying the sensitive cargo.....

Interestingly that truck formation technique was used for some years even after the tests to transport devices. Hiding in plain sight has been the Pakistani preference for a long time until a few years ago.

 

[Reichmarshal]

AM Najeeb Akhtar was I think commanding the mission.

 

[arjunk]

And transporting the devices from the airfield to ground Zero was another risky and major challenge....so formation of some 200 trucks was used so no one knew which trucks or how many were actually carrying the sensitive cargo.....

Pakistani nukes up till recently at least were carried in plain sight. The next time you see a truck, it may be carrying part of a warhead that could end up vapourising a few enemy brigades.

 

[Windjammer]

Interestingly that truck formation technique was used for some years even after the tests to transport devices. Hiding in plain sight has been the Pakistani preference for a long time until a few years ago.

I guess now even here in UK, where a few years back they stopped flypast by a couple of Typhoons, as there was a Zoo in the flight path where some birds were hatching but they are fine transporting Nuclear devices on a busy motorway....just for precaution, there is a fire truck and ambulance as part of the convoy.

 

[Raja Porus]

 

[StructE]

The U.S. Air Force’s F-16 Replacement Plan Is Taking Shape

In comments made to the Defense Writers Group, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown explained that the Air Force would like a new, from-scratch fighter to replace the F-16 with wha

www.realcleardefense.com

In comments made to the Defense Writers Group, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown explained that the Air Force would like a new, from-scratch fighter to replace the F-16 with what seems to be capabilities somewhere in between the F-16 and the F-35. “Now, I will also tell you I don’t think that everybody’s going to exactly agree with what I say,” Brown explained. “But I want to actually have a starting point as a point of departure, a point of dialogue.”

Brown elaborated on the design, saying that it would tentatively be categorized as a 4.5 or 5-minus generation fighter, Breaking Defense reported.

 

[Raja Porus]

The U.S. Air Force’s F-16 Replacement Plan Is Taking Shape

In comments made to the Defense Writers Group, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown explained that the Air Force would like a new, from-scratch fighter to replace the F-16 with wha

www.realcleardefense.com

In comments made to the Defense Writers Group, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown explained that the Air Force would like a new, from-scratch fighter to replace the F-16 with what seems to be capabilities somewhere in between the F-16 and the F-35. “Now, I will also tell you I don’t think that everybody’s going to exactly agree with what I say,” Brown explained. “But I want to actually have a starting point as a point of departure, a point of dialogue.”

Brown elaborated on the design, saying that it would tentatively be categorized as a 4.5 or 5-minus generation fighter, Breaking Defense reported.

Why not F15-EX or f16V. Won't it be a waste of useful dollars