May
5
Remote Acoustic Detection of Aircraft
Filed Under PAF, Pakistan, Technology | 19 Comments
Imran H. Khan
The recent US mission to get Osama without the knowledge of Pakistan Air Force was a success because of PAF’s lack of investment in sensors that can detect low flying aircraft in undulating and hilly terrain. This is not the first time that PAF has been caught in this embarrassing situation. Indian Air Force was able to penetrate deep into Pakistani territory in 1971, knowing that PAF did not have low level radar coverage in many areas. At that time PAF depended on mobile observer units (MOUs) for human visual and aural detection of planes. This man power intensive brute force effort only worked in limited areas and only during war. Despite investing in limited low altitude radars and airborne radars it is obvious that there are gaping holes in the air defense system as exemplified by the unscathed operation of multiple large rotor helicopters for hours in Pakistani airspace deep into its territory.
Jul
3
Core Competence: J-79, Kelly Johnson and PAF
Filed Under India, PAF, Peace, Technology, United States | 8 Comments
by Imran H. Khan
Core technologies and capabilities that drive the economies take a long time, large amounts of money and even bigger patience to bear fruit. But once they mature, the rewards are well worth the effort. Malcolm Gladwell in his book “Outliers” makes a similar case for outstanding achievers, that it is more of their earlier start than their brains that make them excel. It is sustained practice of ones art or profession that over the period of time blossoms into an unsurpassed ability. Developing countries typically try to shy away from making investments in longer gestation technologies and therefore commit themselves to the path of perpetually playing catchup with developed countries. This is a story of a jet engine that propelled Air Forces possessing it into an unrivaled position. Read more
Views: 7901ShareMar
24
Mirages at War
Filed Under PAF, Pakistan, Technology | Leave a 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
12
The Origins of Pakistan-China Military Friendship
Filed Under China, PAF, Pakistan, Technology, US Policy, United States | 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
1
F-6s at War
Filed Under China, PAF, Pakistan, Technology, US Policy | 6 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: 5043ShareFeb
27
Three Heroines of Pakistan
Filed Under PAF, Pakistan, Sports | 33 Comments
by Imran H. Khan
Pakistan has been blessed with many amazing women whose stories have been largely untold. Shahla Haeri wrote about some of them involved in the social sphere in her book “No Shame for the Sun“. OPEN’s chapters have also held conferences and forums highlighting the role of Pakistani American women in the US. In the recent years three Pakistani women have defied all odds and achieved remarkable success in achieving some of the highest goals typically associated with men. These achievements are specially significant taking into account their economic and geographic origins. Read more
Nov
17
Saga of PAF in East Pakistan – 1971
Filed Under China, India, PAF, Pakistan, Uncategorized | 18 Comments
An informal account by Air Marshal Inam-ul-Haque Khan (Retd), HJ, Former Air Officer Commanding East Pakistan
President Yahya Khan held fair and free elections in December, 1970 in which Awami League of Shaikh Mujibur Rahman won a majority largely due to his Six-Point manifesto. National Assembly was to hold its first session in Dacca on 2nd March, 1971. It was, however, sabotaged by vested interests of West Pakistani establishment and some leading politicians, who were not willing to accept a Bengali-led government. Postponement of National Assembly strengthened the secessionist movement in East Pakistan, duly supported by India. Violent civil disobedience ensued through out East Pakistan immediately, resulting in casualties including death of students in a Dacca hostel due to shelling. Army was forced to retreat to cantonments for avoiding bloodshed. The situation was bad demanding careful and intelligent handling. After about a week, when the disobedience had simmered down, Yahya and advisors reached Dacca and held final talks with Mujib on around 20th March for a couple of days. It was then agreed that Yahya will retain the Presidency and, honouring the outcome of election, he will transfer power to Mujib. Yahya, vacillating as ever, swayed by the ill-advice of leading politicians of West Pakistan and his own military junta, to ‘sort out these bloody Bengalis’, resorted to use force in starting on 25th March, 1971, instead of implementing political solution as reached with Awami League – a complete betrayal of trust. Read more
Oct
19
Why and How of Pakistan’s Creation
Filed Under China, India, PAF, Pakistan | Leave a Comment
by Air Marshal (Retd.) Inam H. Khan
Jinnah’s story is Pakistan’s story.(Biography of Jinnah by Stanley Wolpert is a must read for all Pakistanis). Jinnah single handedly brought about Pakistan, one of the two ideological state of the world, other being Israel . After Liaquat there was no leader worth a name. Jagirdars, waderas, etc and later Maulvies like Maududi . who were against creation of Pakistan hijacked it. Jinnah wanted a secular state with equal rights and complete of freedom to all religions. Punjabis, being ghulamana, obedient and slave-like mentality had leaders like Tiwanas, who were also against Pakistan, Frontier being dominated by Congressite Ghaffar Khan aka Frontier Gandhi, naturally supporting Hindu Congress as it (Congress) claimed to represent Muslims as well. Ghaffar Khan’s son Wali Khan and family are still loyal to India. All Indian dignitaries visiting Pakistan go and meet them in Charsada. Ghaffar Khan refused to be buried in Pakistan. So he was interred in Jalalabad, Adil Khattak attended the burial. Ghaffar khan’s family has property at Bombay Baluchistan was the only province which whole heartedly accepted Pakistan and Urdu as official language. It was Jinnahs advocation which brought Punjab and Frontier to its fold. Jinnah was a highly successful Lawyer of Bombay, very logical, clear headed, great orator and articulator, strictly law abiding in actions, honest to the nth degree. He was initially not only a member of Congress Party, but even its President. He was known as the ambassador of Hindu Muslim unity. But he soon found that Indian Congress Party was basically a Hindu Party. United Province now known as Uttar Pradesh, Congress did not not give even a single seat to Muslims, while they deserved 30 % seats. Crafty, so called ‘Mahatama’ Gandhi, though claimed that for him Hindus and Muslims were alike, but when Nehru’s sister Vijay Lakhshmi Pandit wanted to marry Ali Imam of Patna, he opposed it tooth and nail. Read more
Views: 741ShareOct
15
PAF F-16C Rolling Out Ceremony
Filed Under F-16, PAF, Pakistan, Technology, United States | Leave a Comment
by Imran H. Khan
On October 13th. 2009, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman of PAF participated in the rolling out ceremony of the first of the eighteen F-16C Block 52 aircraft. You can see the album of more images of the ceremony by clicking on the image below. Read more
Views: 919Share