Hi,
As for the “Full spectrum Offense, point to be noted with regards to PAF is that PAF won’t be focusing on JUST aerial warfare, nope, that would be a secondary. Primary goal would be STRIKE, SEAD, CAS, AAD for land troops and armour, as well as countering the enemy fighters in HEAVY numbers as well as facing a tough BVR environment. This will require at least 1/4th of our total fleet to be present on offense while others are in air as well. It will be a MULTIROLE environment in huge spectrum with expectations of heavy enemy aircrafts UNLESS the aircrafts have been “pillowed while sleep”. IAF will come in huge, they will give it maximum they can at least time, this is when PAF might consider a tactical retreat to lure them to our grounds just to bring them in close to our other fleet which is in air along with a heavy EW environment by our AWACS. Retreating one’s can refuel in air/land to get loaded up again, while the others engage them to get a better outcome being a defensive force once again IN AIR. However, the retreat might push IAF to send in M2K/MKI/Jaguars as well as IA helos to ambush our advancing infantry and armoury which will definitely result in a BAD outcome. This is where we fell short in heavy Air Defence environment, AD should have been the top most priority of PAF and PA since forever but no use of blaming now. Even though AD have quite a less success rate compared to BVR/WVR, they do cast fear into the enemy hearts and planners are also left with even narrower options to plan out.
PAF has always got lucky, 27 Feb was also a lucky yet successful encounter. Now as per what we have seen on pdf and other platforms, PAF played a clever game by getting close, release the GBs into India territory, then wait for them to come back, once they are in our tracking range, send in the BVRs and boom !!!
But an offensive would be a whole different situation and Light weight fighters such as Thunders should be at least 280-300 in numbers to think of such a strategy of all out offense. One Thunder can barely bag enough Anti ground+BVR+WVR weaponry to go on such a mission so dedicated aircrafts are more suitable in this case. It is Air superiority that will judge the overall outcome in the end. God forbid, PAF losses such, our ground forces and tanks would be reduced to nothing while inside IOK.
That is why i still believe J-10C has a special requirement for PAF and was always the best fit for PAF but we just don’t do things the easy and good way. J-10C is a highly potent Anti ground role as well as Air superiority roles fighter. Even in multirole mode, it can bag enough to give a balance to both capabilities.
Going on an unending blind offense would result in total loss of valuable assets of Tri forces.
Stay on defensive, if they try to play with you, Play the China card, bring in advance weapons on lease from China, Enemy will be shook from core, this is where they will retreat or cry at international forum.
As for your concern regarding IAF weakness,
As per my strong belief, it’s totally a WORST CASE OF MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP/COMMAND. Either they are played orphan in budget distribution or they lack competent Air Command chiefs as well as coordination and preparedness. Remember, these all weaknesses are short term and can be taken care off if really dedicated. We must worry once if these are really taken care off.