Pakistan AirForce Flexes its Muscles

The awesome Firepower Demonstration-2010 by jet fighters marked the end of first phase of Highmark-2010 countrywide exercises at the PAF firing range Thal near Jhang on Tuesday. It was the biggest firepower demonstration since the 1989 show in Somiani near Karachi. Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majid, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nouman Basheer, members of the Senate and the National Assembly standing committees on defence and attaches of friendly countries based in Islamabad also watched the demonstration.

The highlights of the demonstration were simultaneous re-fuelling of two mirage aircraft by the IL-78 mid-air refueller recently acquired from Ukraine while maintaining a measurable distance, stunning hitting of target by off-long range precision guided missile dropped from a fighter aircraft from 60 kilometres distance, an F-16 aircraft flying at an ultra-low altitude releasing chaff and flares to deceive the perceived enemy dropped two mark 2,000 pound bombs at the target, two A-5 aircraft with one carrying the national flag and the other a welcome banner. Four JF-17 thunder aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, dropped weapons at 1,900 feet, targeting the mock hideouts of militants. A Mirage aircraft flying at extremely low 200 feet, dropped its weapons at the targets, while two F-16 aircrafts leased two mark 84 bombs of 2,000 pounds, at the targets. Four Mirage of the Night Hawks squadron, capable of low-level penetration dropped 5,000 pounds bombs with an element of surprise for the enemy by accomplishing the task in minimum possible time, generating a thunder leaving behind flames and smoke.

The PAF also demonstrated the SAAB Early Warning and Control AEW&C system. The ERIEYE radar system mounted on the turboprop aircraft not only enables the PAF to detect all aircraft taking off and landing at all Forward Indian airbases adjacent to Pakistan, but also to identify the type of aircraft operating, the weapons systems they are equipped with, the vector they are heading and the altitude they are operating at. The Special Services Group of Pakistan Army and Special Services Wing of the PAF demonstrated a joint operation and destroyed a conceived hideout of terrorists. The commandos dropped from two helicopters killed most of the conceived terrorists and captured some of them. The fighter jets also assisted the operation with aerial bombing. ............LINK

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