StrategyPage has an interesting description of how the F-16s will impact the Pakistani Air Force –
May 20, 2005: The American decision to sell new F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan comes not a moment too soon for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). PAF used to have technological superiority over it’s Indian counterpart as recently as the 1980s, when PAF received some 40 state of the art F-16 Block 15 fighters. These aircraft were were a cut above the warplanes of the Indian Air Force (IAF). However, all changed in the 1990s, when the US sanctioned Pakistan for nuclear weapons development and stopped delivery of more F-16s. What’s worse, the spares for PAF’s existing F-16s dried up as well and the air force had to effectively ground its F-16 fleet for a few years. Meanwhile, IAF began to induct the powerful Sukhoi-30 MKI air superiority fighter, even as it added new capabilities to its existing Mirage-2000 and MiG-29 fighters by equipping them with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles. This posed a particular threat to PAF, which lacked BVR capability.
(quoting in full b/c of StrategyPage’s non-existant permalinks)
PAF’s plight was exposed during the Pakistan army’s incursion into the Kargil sector of Indian Kashmir in the summer of 1999. Analyses by Pakistani experts revealed that when the rubber met the road, PAF simply refused to play any part in support of the Pakistan army, angering the latter. While PAF fighters did fly Combat Air Patrols (CAP) during the conflict, they stayed well within Pakistani air space. On occasions, IAF MiG-29s armed with the deadly R-77 BVR Air-to-Air missiles were able to lock on to PAF F-16s, forcing the latter to disengage. In the absence of a PAF threat, the IAF was able to deliver numerous devastating strikes on intruder positions and supply dumps. The situation changed little during the 2002 border crisis between India and Pakistan. Defense commentators in Pakistan noted later that despite public bravado, PAF had less than 50 percent of its top-end fighter jets available since the rest had to be cannibalized to keep the others flying. One Pakistani military expert observed that PAF’s perceived inability to defend Pakistan’s airspace and even put up a token fight against the IAF was the biggest driver for Pakistani leaders’ warnings that any Indian attack would lead to an immediate nuclear strike by Pakistan. It would be no exaggeration to say that after the Kargil and 2002 experiences, PAF’s psyche took a big beating. In this context, PAF’s planned F-16 purchase is clearly a massive boost to its sagging morale. For starters, PAF is likely to buy Block-52 F-16s, which are only surpassed by the Block-60 model currently being delivered to the United Arab Emirates. The Block-52 F-16 comes with the Northrop Grumman APG-68(V)9 multimode radar which has five times processing speed over the previous APG-68(V)7/8 radar. The F-16s also feature a new Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) with two-feet resolution, which enables autonomous delivery of precision, all-weather, standoff weapons like the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and the Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), both of which are rumored to be on offer to Pakistan. Most importantly, the new F-16s finally give PAF a BVR air-combat ability along with the peerless AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile, which is perhaps the best BVR weapon of its kind in the world today. PAF’s existing 32 F-16s are also likely to be given a Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU), making them BVR capable as well. While the PAF has yet to release the exact number of new F-16s it will buy, reports say that it is likely to be around 55. Given that IAF’s plans to procure newer planes are headed nowhere in the coming years and the slow rate of induction of IAF’s Su-30s, it is quite likely that by 2009 or so, PAF will be in a position where it can confidently defend Pakistan’s airspace and perhaps even be capable of deep strikes into India should the US supply offensive weapons like the JDAM and JSOW. Still, PAF faces some challenges. According the recently released official flight safety statistics, the air force logged around 82,000 hours in 2004. Given that PAF has over 550 combat aircraft and at least two pilots per available aircraft, the average comes to less that 75 hours per pilot per year. This is clearly a far cry from the PAF’s past claims of averaging over 200 hours per pilot annually. The IAF reportedly averages between 150 and 180 annual flying hours. Regardless, it now appears likely that with the F-16 purchase as well as other planned acquisitions including Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircrafts, PAF is well on its way to erasing the painful memories of Kargil and the 2002 crisis. — Kaushik Kapisthalam
Quick note to point out. The United States is selling the F-16s. I have not seen any information where they plan to sell all the systems that the F-16 can carry. Also with inconsisent media reports, the number of F-16s being sold is rumored to be anywhere between the 20s to 70s.
The AMRAAM is by far the most lethal BVR missle around. Sparrows and Sidewinders are missles that are not unique. The Russians, French, and Chinese have similar missles.
For what I have read so far, the GOI is concered primarily with the sale of AMRAAMS. An predator without teeth can’t do much harm.
JSOWs are pricey. JDAMs are simply kits attached to existing ‘Dumb’ iron bombs that guide the bomb. IF JDAMs and JSOWs do go along with the package, that would be worrysome.
Now, if they intend to use that ability on their own soil for targeting Al Qaida and Taliban positions in Pakistan without having to send their army in (and take losses) that would make sense since the USA cannot conduct strikes which it WOULD LOVE TO.
However, the dual purpose of those munitions is troubling. Those are strike weapons, not air defense weapons and give Pakistan an offensive ability, not merely ‘defend our air space’.
This is a game of chess being played at a very high level with nuances only the players can understand. From a backseat driver’s POV there are simply too many defense related factors to consider and analyze.
India purchasing subs (Likely from French, though issues are developing), aircrafts, ships, weapons, etc.
Pakistan getting subs (from French), aircrafts, etc.
Either way, India will still maintain military superiority (especially naval and air) with 125 fighters to be purchased along with the 100+ SU 30 MKI, arguably the best 4th generation aircraft around.
Although both countries have a right to protect themselves against any aggression, it seems senseless by an outsider like myself, as to the amount spent on the militaries as opposed to human development. I have followed the relations between both countries for some time, and I belive nothing will change unless the kashmir dispute is resolved. this can only be resolved by taking into account the rights of the Kashmiri people.
The amraam in not as superior as the r-27 ER missile that is equipped on the su-30 MKI , also in a multiple aircraft engagement the amraam missile would have little effect even on older aircraft such as the mig-21. Also 40 f-16s will make no diference on the 140 or so su-30s that india has. Plus India is also using mig-29s which have better manuverbility that the f-16.
I must say that we haven’t done too brilliantly, compared to the amount of technical help we have recieved from the russians , europeans and USA. Our infrastructure for providing spare parts is abyssmal. I you look at Pakistan their armed forces have massive sanctions against them from USA and europe and Russia being our ally won’t sell anything to the pakistani’s. so how is it they keep their aircraft and armament in good condition and operable. It seems to me that our military and civilian have become over confident with the numbers game (we have better and more weapons), which is useless if you don’t have the spare parts at hand. Quite a proportion of the airforce is inoperable due to lack of spares!. Our accident rate in airforce is a laughing stock of the world(over 120 jets destroyed due to flame out, pilot error etc in 10 years), whereas pakistan has one of the lowest accident rates , why because they know that new aircraft are not coming and so keep the ones they have in excellent condition. Pakistani pilot training is considered excellent(airforce monthly). In the long run we should not opt for USA aircraft, as seen in Pakistan this brings the baggage of sactions at a later date. The USA are hypocrits at this game today if they sell us expensive top of the line fighters, then tomorrow they could blackmail us by not supplying spare parts(or at exhorbitant prices). we could be in a no win situation, with over 12-15 billion investment. As to which aircraft is better, is determined by a few factors such as, avionics, radar type, missile systems and the unifying factor is the pilot, it is he who combines these systems to best effective use against enemy aircraft. Which means better pilot training is required if we are to reduce the accident rate.
We are always in habit of downplaying PAF capabilities. PAF is considered to be one of the best airforces in the world. So is IAF.
We have advantage of number and technology. All we need to do is to train our pilots better than PAF. I am sure that our pilots are as capable as their Paki counterparts. After all we are same people.
it is true that at this very moment indian airfornce has an age in terms of quiletative equipment and no of warplanes but in future this will be balanced by pakistan by inducting new block 52 F-16 having bvr capability+ the jf-17 thunder also having bvr so the good time which enjoyed india since a decade is come to an end. because the pilots which paf have are excellent as compare to india in term of skill and training
“I you look at Pakistan their armed forces have massive sanctions against them from USA and europe and Russia being our ally won’t sell anything to the pakistani’s. so how is it they keep their aircraft and armament in good condition and operable.”
Um, that’s what happens if 15-20% of the national budget is spent on defense. I think the comparable % for India is ~3% or so.
“Um, that’s what happens if 15-20% of the national budget is spent on defense. I think the comparable % for India is ~3% or so.”
Instead of talking in terms of percentages and living in erroneous perceptions won’t it be a wonderful idea to consider the exact figures. India’s 3% expenditure of total budget is exceedingly large compared to Pakistan’s 20% chunk from the entire budget. Not to forget the sanctions and restrictions that we have been living with. Despite these impediments our airforce has done tremendously well. Hopefully with the expected induction of JF thunder and F-16s squadrons we will able to put statistics in a more comparable position.
Although I agree with Mr. Kaushik about the fact that pretty soon, PAF will overcome its BVR inadequacy, I would like to put to rest the much touted claim that IAF Mig-29s locked on-to PAF F-16s. First of all, in terms of air-combat, this means very little when adversarial aircraft are flying CAPs on their sides of the borders and secondly, locking-on is no measure of one side being superior than the other (if we take that account then PAF lock-ons during the Afghan war alone would be in the 20-30 range against Soviet/Afghan aircraft). During the Kargil conflict, PAF had certain ROEs and it abided by them. The Mig-29s in service with the IAF have fairly poor BVR capability and PAF has been training its pilots in anti-BVR tactics since the Afghan war so the Mig-29s were not going to get a walk in the park.
Mr. Kaushik is also misleading his readers by providing figures like 70 hr/PAF pilot. It would do him good to understand that flying hours as a total cannot be simply used and divided amongst the PAF inventory. The active PAF inventory is around 350 combat aircraft. Also the number of 82000 hours quoted is from the pre-1998 timeframe when PAF was heavily sanctioned. According to most analyst including those at AFM, PAF certainly flies around 220 hrs/pilot. This is a reality since none of the PAF pilots/sqns are dedicated. All of the sqns fly multiple profiles round the year and this requires much more than 70 hours.
Pakistan Air Force is not sleeping. They know their limitations. PAF is the worst fear of IAF. PAF has worked very hard to maintain minimum deterance by upgrading its old aircrafts and by instituting innovative combat tactics. When it will be equipped by newer F-16s and JF-17s, it will be more than a potent threat for IAF.
Friends… First of all the F-16 dose’nt come even closer to SU-30MKI in Manueverability,straight line performance and weapons capability. Su-30 is heavy fighter and F-16 is in the light to medium class fighter. Only Block52 & 60 F-16 to some extent can be compared to the Sukhois…..just get some proper data,view comments of various defence analysts.even the USAF dose’nt compare it with SUkhois…..their F-15 and F-18 superhornets can be compared with SU-30mki. the radar of su-30 is twice as powerful as the most powerful f-16’s. Su-30 is longe range MRCA with heavy armaments capability and even a rearward firing missile and a radar at its tail….see statistics…PAF does have some good pilots but no superior jets…ur bad luck pakis. …………accept the facts that with some second hand mirage-III’s,F-7’s(itself a copy of mig-21),cheap chinese Q-5’s and a handful of old F-16’s Paf cannot counter the Very superior IAF with modern mirage-2000-5’s,Su-30mki’s,Mig-29’s,Jaguar DPSA’s and the whole mig series…and do expect some chills with some AWACS and nearly 200 modern MRCA’s.
Just like every forum, all topics quickly denegrate into India-vs-Pakistan and who’s better etc. The most important thing to keep in mind is that Kashmir is the real issue. Without Kashmir as an issue, Pakistan and India are most likely going to be be the strongest allies of each other. There’s no reason why Pakistan and India cannot be strong allies. The real question still remains India’s willingness to honor the essence of Partition, the will of Kashmiris and justice. I know a lot of Indians themselves who agree that Kashmir really does belong with Pakistan more than India. And please dont say anything about “Maharajah” of Kashmir choosing India because I will come back to you with Nizaam of Hyderabad and Junagardh, who both elected to be a part of Pakistan but India took them over forcefully anyways! But I guess its simply a power game for India, whereas the Kashmiris suffer. So all these Su-30 and F-16 comparisons become meaningless unless Kashmir is resolved.
Times have changed and without good weapon systems no one should expect to “win” any conflict. Cries of passion, chanting slogans or fanfare does not lead one anywhere. Its not the age of swords or spears its the age of technology & science and THAT can and does give desicive advantage to any party in a conflict. Pakistan’s military forces being poorly equipped makes the situation extremely volatile and dangerous for the subcontinent. Any minor act of agression from India will lead to catastrophic and disastrous consequences for both sides.