Mar
24
Mirages at War
Filed Under PAF, Pakistan, Technology | 1 Comment
by Air Cdre M Kaiser Tufail(Retd)
“Enemy pilots should see it, but never catch up with it.”
[MARCEL DASSAULT]
At the outbreak of the 1971 Indo-Pak War, Mirage IIIEs were the newest and most advanced combat aircraft in the PAF inventory. Besides performing a wider variety of missions, they could generate a higher daily sortie rate compared to the aging F-86s, F-104s and B-57s. They could navigate accurately to relatively deeper targets and, after the attack, egress at high speed. They could carry out straight line, hit-and-run intercepts against raiders as adeptly as the F-104s, though the radar performance of both fighters was suspect against low-flying targets in ground clutter. Coupled with marginal performance of the five-odd low level AR-1 air defence radars which were interspersed with yawning gaps, PAF’s intercept capability was of consequence during day only; at night-time, it was a chance in a million, as it were. Read more
Mar
19
How Wireless is Changing Us
Filed Under Technology, United States | 1 Comment
by Izaz Haque
In just 30 years after its inception, one in two humans now carries a cell phone. Even in developing countries like Pakistan, half the population acquired cell phones in just the last four years. The adoption rate in developing countries is higher, as it makes tool that developed countries have, with in the reach of the common man. The wide open spectrum allocation allows for early adoption of the latest wide band technologies, that have trouble making it into the mainstream in the developed world. The Smart phones offer a cost effective computer to the people who could not otherwise afford a laptop or a computer. The cell phone is being increasingly used for governance, education and delivery of health services. The smart phone promises to be more transformational to computing than personal computer was to workstations. Companies like Microsoft, Google and Dell are jumping on the bandwagon. Read more
Mar
12
The Origins of Pakistan-China Military Friendship
Filed Under China, PAF, Pakistan, Technology, United States, US Policy | 1 Comment
An informal off-the-record expose by Air Marshal (R) Inam H. Khan
Pakistan was the first Muslim country to recognize China in 1950 and the third non communist state. Pakistan then voted for a bill concerning the restoration of China’s legitimate rights in the UN. PIA became the first non-communist airline to fly into China in 1964.
Mar
7
Pakistanis are STILL Dying: For What? For Whom? Why?
Filed Under Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Peace, United States, US Policy | 8 Comments
by Imran H. Khan
Little did I know when I first posted this that there would be a number of drone strikes and suicide explosions immediately after wards. I know of no nation in the world that willfully allows another nation to attack and kill its citizens, specially when it has the resources to stop it. The current civil and military leadership of Pakistan needs to be held accountable for allowing Pakistani citizens to be killed, on a nearly daily basis, by its people. I had recorded a talk show on US policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan in April 2009. It discussed the anticipated change in the US policy brought about by the new Obama administration. Read more
Mar
4
Accelerating High Tech/High Margin Industries in Pakistan
Filed Under China, education, Entrepreneurism, Pakistan, Technology | 2 Comments
by Imran H. Khan
Pakistan’s current export of engineering goods stands at around $243 million out of total exports of $19 Billion. If we are to also include $300 Million in defense oriented exports and $169 Million in Software products and services exports, the total high margin high tech industrial export is a meager $712 Million for last year.
Views: 15765ShareMar
1
F-6s at War
Filed Under China, PAF, Pakistan, Technology, US Policy | 7 Comments
by Air Cdre M Kaiser Tufail (Retd) 
The US embargo on military sales to Pakistan at the outbreak of 1965 Indo-Pak War was received with dismay and disbelief by the PAF, whose combat and training aircraft were totally of US origin. Already starting to get outclassed by more modern aircraft, the F-86Fs, F-104s and B-57s were now plagued by spares support problems that rendered them virtually worthless in the PAF. The C-in-C of the PAF, Air Marshal Nur Khan who had cannily led the force during the war, sensed the criticality of the situation and started an immediate search for suitable aircraft from new sources. Read more
Views: 18162Share