PAF wants more Chinese defense missile systems

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is interested in buying more defense systems and equipment from China, and hopes to deepen cooperation to upgrade its armed forces, a top Pakistan Air Force officer said, Trend Pk learnt today.

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman told China Daily that Pakistan is evaluating, among other options, three or four Chinese surface-to-air missiles including the advanced “HQ-18″.

The missiles, with a maximum range of 100 km, can be used against short-range ballistic missiles, aircraft or cruise missiles, with intercepts taking place between a low-level 25 meters and an altitude of 25 kilometers.

Suleman also said China had completed the first of four Chinese ZDK-03 airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft for the Pakistan Air Force on Nov 13.

“The delivery to Pakistan will start in the early part of next year,” said

Pak. Air Chief Rao Qamar calls on COAS Gen. Kayani

Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman called on Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at General Headquarters on Thursday.

According to an Inter Services public Relations press release, the Chief of Air Staff remained with him for some time and discussed the matters of professional interest. Trend Pk

Pakistan receives three US F-16 aircrafts

Pakistan on Saturday received three new F-16 aircraft from the US as part of 18 such fighter jets scheduled to reach the country by December.
The jets landed at the Shahbaz Airbase of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in southwestern Jacobabad city, media reports said. It was initially reported that five F-16s will reach Pakistan in this consignment but only three arrived Saturday. Senior officials of PAF were present at the airbase on the arrival of these aircraft.
Three other aircraft reached Pakistan in June as part of the consignment, while the remaining would be handed over by the end of December. Pakistani pilots were trained by the US Air Force prior to the handing over and they flew the aircraft in the Pakistani airspace.
A PAF spokesman said: ‘Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman has congratulated the Pakistani nation on enhanced strength of its fighter jets’ fleet.’
Sources said the arrival of these five F-16 jets was scheduled for September 2010 but was delayed due to floods in August and September. The Shahbaz Airbase was partially inundated during the floods that wreaked havoc across Pakistan, leaving over 1,800 dead and over 20 million homeless.
The government of former Pakistan president Gen. (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf had struck a deal with the US for the purchase of 24 refurbished F-16 aircraft to enhance air warfare capacity of the country. The new government, after taking charge in 2008, decided to buy 18 additional new block-52 fighter jets.

FIA, CBI to jointly investigate Mumbai attack

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India Saturday agreed that their civilian intelligence agencies Federal Investigation Agency and Central Bureau of Intelligence would jointly look into acts of terrorism and Mumbai attacks.

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FIA, CBI to jointly investigate Mumbai attack

Michael Mullen calls on Rao Qamar

ISLAMABAD: Admiral Michael G Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, United State Armed Forces called on Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force here at the Air Headquarters.

Original post:
Michael Mullen calls on Rao Qamar

ECP to give demonstration on EVMs on Monday

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan will give a demonstration on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) which will be held at a local hotel on June 28 (Monday) at 9.00 am.

Senior leadership of leading political parties will also attend the demonstration session.

Under the plan to reform the voting system in the country the ECP wants to introduce electronic voting machines in future.

PAF to get first batch of F-16s tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force will receive first batch of 18 new F-16 fighting falcon jet fighters from United States on Saturday.

Three F-16s are scheduled to arrive at Shahbaz Airbase in Jacobabad, Pakistan on Saturday, with 15 more to be delivered later this and next year, said US Air Force Maj Todd Robbins, the Pakistan country Director in the US office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force for international affairs.

According to American embassy, the US Air Force is set to deliver the first batch of these F-16s to the Pakistani Air Force as a sign of deepening relations between the United States and Pakistan.

“This is the most visible part of a strong and growing relationship between the two air forces that will benefit us both short-term and long-term,” Robbins said.

The sale of F-16s to Pakistan renews new aircraft sales that existed between the United States and Pakistan in the 1980s, but were halted in the 1990s.

The F-16 is a multirole jet fighter sold to 24 countries around the world, according to its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.

US Air Force Maj. Todd Robbins said, “The 18 being sold to Pakistan are the Block 52 versions of the aircraft, which will give Pakistan new capabilities, including day-night, all-weather and precision-attack capabilities.”

He said “They”ve not had these capabilities before, so this is a major milestone in the US providing this capability, which older models of F-16s don”t have.”

Robbins said, “This will enable them to strike terrorists within their borders while helping them to avoid collateral damage.

It”s an increase in capabilities that are beneficial to us all.”

Pakistan is paying $1.4 billion for the 18 new aircraft, in addition to $1.3 billion in upgrades to its existing F-16 fleet, which are to begin being delivered in 2012, Robbins said.

The US Air Force also is training Pakistan Air Force pilots. The first eight recently completed training with the Arizona National Guard in Tucson, with additional training done by Lockheed Martin, Robbins said.

The Air Force also training Pakistanis in night-attack training and recently completed training to four instructors and five flight leads.

Head of UK armed forces to retire early over Afghan war

LONDON: The professional head of Britain”s three armed services will retire early, a leading figure in the new coalition government confirmed on Sunday, in a move which heralds significant long-term changes in military policy.

The new defense secretary, Dr Liam Fox, said that the services” professional head, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, had not been sacked, but he would be replaced early, leaving his post in the autumn some months earlier than his retirement in the spring of next year.

Stirrup, who began his military career as a jet fighter pilot, has been criticized for his handling of the war in Afghanistan, which has seen an expensive and bloody escalation over the past few years.

A lack of troops on the ground and helicopters to move them around dogged the early years of a major additional deployment of the British army in Helmand Province in Afghanistan from 2006 onwards.

Sir Bill Jeffrey, the top civil servant at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), will also leave his job in the autumn.

The British government is committed to a far-reaching Strategic Defense Review (SDR), which began at the beginning of this year.

Fox said in an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper, “We have to be able to maintain full stability and the full confidence of the people who work for us, not least because we”re in a very dangerous armed conflict.”

Fox added that Stirrup and Jeffrey would stay in post until the SDR was completed. “I”ve been discussing with them and other senior staff how we transition to the new structures,” he said.

“We”ve talked about the best time to be replacing our senior staff, probably the end of the SDR in the autumn.”

Stirrup had been the chief of the defense staff, professional head of the three armed services, since 2006. His term in office was extended by former prime minister Gordon Brown, in a move seen by many to stop the then head of the army, who had been critical of government policy and spending on the war in Afghanistan, from moving into the job.

The SDR will be a fundamental review of Britain”s military forces, and will look closely at how military policy can reflect foreign policy. It will set the priorities of military spending for the next 10 to 15 years.

In the wake of the global financial crisis and with the new government committed to cutting the record public sector deficit of 156 billion pounds (about 250 billion U.S. dollars), military spending is an area where cuts are certain to be made.

Military spending for the current year is protected from any government cuts, but after April 2011 savage cuts are expected and the capabilities of the three military services are likely to change radically.

A public debate between the three service chiefs — from the navy, the army and the air force — has seen all of them attempting to present their service as essential to future defense and foreign policy.

But several expensive and prestigious programs are likely to be ended or radically changed.

Pakistan starts production of avionics for JF-17 Thunder jet

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday successfully launched the production project of avionics for the fighter jet (JF-17 Thunder) at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, speaking as chief guest on the historic occasion, said, “a strong air force is essential for our nation”s survival; therefore, self-reliance for PAF (Pakistan Air Force) is an important factor. Today”s ceremony is an important step in this direction.”

He expressed satisfaction that significant progress had been made in achieving national objective of attaining self-reliance in defence industries.

He commended the management, airmen and civilians of PAC for their devotion and dedication towards this project of national importance and urged them to continue this journey with added zealand zest.

Earlier, PAC Chairman Air Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan presented an appraisal of the JF-17 avionics programme activities.

He said the generic production and testing facilities had been established at Kamra Avionics and Radar Factory where, besides the Chinese avionics, four indigenously designed and developed avionics systems were also being produced.

He informed that the production scope would be progressively broadened to include the production of complete JF-17 avionics suite at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.

Secretary of Defence Production, Members of JF-17 Board of Directors, Principal Staff Officers of Pakistan Air Force and representatives from the Chinese aviation industries attended the ceremony.

Air Chief, COAS witness military exercise

RAWALPINDI: The largest military exercise Azm-e-Nau-3 has entered into fourth day today (Tuesday).

More than 20,000 troops and contingents of arms and services are taking part in the exercise.

Chief of Army Staff(COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayai with Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman witnessed ongoing exercise.

According to sources, COAS is present in the exercise area since three days whereas Air Chief spent Monday night in the area. The army has been divided into defender Blue Land Army and attackers Fox Land Army for exercises.

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