Greenday1Expect more nice ones soon! Should have (nrewly delivered) P-3Cs, Squirrals, F-16MLUs, JF-17s (PAF colours!) and (the first!) Erieye all before years end I reckon…..
Greenday1New colour scheme of recently delivered PAF C-130s. Shown loading aid to Lebanon
Greenday1Does it not defeat the point of DACT Agressors when you start equiping them with teh same aircraft that are in yoru front line squadrons!? Surely operating some F-7s and/or Mig-29s is not neyond the capability of teh USAF? Dare I say probably cheaper then operating F-16s and F-15s as Agressors!?
Greenday1Yup the Turkish AF is pretty good. 😀
Yeah, heavily outnumbered, those PKK guys have a massive air arm! 😉
Greenday1Israel, South Korea and Singapore may order follow in batches, there current F-15I/K/S fleets are small and may want more to bulk up before the production line finally closes, especially considering the fact there will not be many surplus USAF F-15Es, hanging around to be picked up…..
Greenday1Seeing that the IDF have kicked the asses of every Arab airforce (except Jordon, Mirages v Hunters is a bit too one sided to be counted as an ass kicking) that they have fought against since 1948 (the only major losses that they have suffered in the air were against the SAM 6 and ZSU 23-4s in 1973), I would say that its not the IDF.
Mr Greenday is most likely a Brit and is pointing out to a little confict in 1982 where on paper the Losing side had at least a 4 to 1 advantage in fixed wing airpower, the Losing side was trained and equiped by the USAF, USN, IDF and the French and they were not bad stick and rudder men (good thing for the winners that their tactics sucked. ;))
Not a brit, proud to be a Pakistani though! 😉
Greenday1International Pilots Train to Fly U.S. Fighter PlaneBy Priscilla Huff
Tucson, Arizona
31 July 2006
The U.S. military’s F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of the most popular fighter jets ever. About 4,500 have been sold all over the world. But pilots must be trained by Americans — and that means traveling far from home and learning an entirely different way to fly. VOA’s Priscilla Huff has the story from the desert of the American Southwest.
http://www.voanews.com/english/imag…jul06_150_1.jpgThe F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of most popular fighter planes in the worldPilots who want to fly the F-16 fighter jet must come here, to the desert near Tucson, Arizona. One of the instructors is Lieutenant Colonel Mike High. “Our mission is to train students from all over the world — whoever flies F-16s and whoever wants the training — to train them to fly the F-16.”
The 162nd Fighter Wing of the International Guard hosts the U.S. military’s program to train pilots from allied nations. But before they arrive, they have to master one skill — speaking English. This is critical, says squadron commander Lieutenant Colonel Will Johnson.
http://www.voanews.com/english/imag…31jul06_150.jpgLieutenant Colonel Will Johnson”It’s the language. Every country comes in and they understand English but sometimes, they don’t understand our gang signs or our slang, so that is confusing. But once they figure us out and we figure them out, it’s no problem.”
It is about more than just the language. The F-16 training program also involves learning the American approach to flying the $30 million aircraft. Lessons start with a lot of classroom time.
http://www.voanews.com/english/imag…31jul06_150.jpgLt. Col. Ross Stepaniuk, Polish Air ForceThe American training emphasizes more independent thinking during a mission. Pilot Ross Stepaniuk of the Polish Air Force must learn a different leadership style. “Most of us need to get accustomed to the procedures here. The way of doing things that we are used to in our Air Force, they are totally different here. It is a huge transition for pilots from our system of flying to where, first of all, there is a lot of traffic in the air, second, you fly a lot, and finally, you have to meet very, very high expectations.”
http://www.voanews.com/english/imag…31jul06_150.jpgLt. Col. Mike HighIt will take Stepaniuk and the rest of the Polish Air Force several years to completely make the transition from the Russian MiG to the F-16. Lieutenant Colonel Mike High explains, “I would say there is a very big difference between what he’s been doing, and what he’s learning how to do now. Which means it may be more of a challenge than it may appear to the casual observer. The F-16 is much, much more advanced than the MiG; much more advanced – it’s 21st century technology, whereas the MiG was 1950s technology. Really, I mean, it has been upgraded, but it is a very, very old aircraft.”
http://www.voanews.com/english/imag…31jul06_150.jpgA pilot on an F-16 training missionThe F-16 was first built in 1976. The planes are now assembled under a consortium deal managed by NATO. Parts come from several nations. Once a purchase contract is signed with the U.S. military, the preparation process begins, as ground crews and officers learn how to care for the jets.
And, of course, the pilots need to learn how to fly the planes, which can reach speeds of Mach 2: 2400 kilometers per hour.
Ross Stepaniuk is one of the first seven Polish pilots to graduate from the program after nearly two years of hard work.
http://www.voanews.com/english/imag…_31july_150.jpgColonel Stepaniuk at his graduation ceremonyBut his training is not complete. Stepaniuk must remain in Tucson to earn his wings as an instructor pilot for the Polish Air Force.
“It’s a wonderful aircraft. It feels very good, maybe it’s too good,” he says. “But, it’s still difficult because the more experience you have, the higher the expectations go. You have to know more and more about this plane we all fly, so you have to have tremendous experience in so many areas.”
Pilots from Singapore, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates also are being trained in Tucson. And the next F-16 training program is in the works for Pakistan.
Some footage courtesy Lockheed-Martin
Greenday1very well.. Hamza submarine (3rd Agosta 90b) is about to enter in PN fleet this month. though it had never been tested but i think these harpoons may equiped Hamza as a primary antiship missile… as this boat is better than the previous ones…
Depends if the French electronic combat system can support Harpoon II (Should not be a problem), and also if torpedo tubes are the right size. Considering the fact PN has been operating sub Harpoon since the early 80s, I would be suprised if this was not integrated in the sub along with Exocet
Greenday1PN to launch submarine Hamza in August
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Commodore Shahid Saeed, Managing Director Submarine Construction Project, said on Monday that PNS Hamza, the third submarine of the AGOSTA-90-B Class, built by Pakistani engineers and experts in collaboration with France, would be launched in August-2006 for a trial phase and then it would be commissioned in Pakistan Navy in 2007.
Briefing the newsmen at PN Dockyard he said that the first submarine of this series PNS-Khalid had been built in France, following an accord on the basis of Transfer of Technology (ToT) and then handed over to the Pakistan Navy in 1999.
Similarly, PNS-Saad, the second submarine of this series was built in France and Pakistan and commissioned the Pakistan Navy in 2003. He added that PNS Hamza is in the final stages and would be launched by next month for necessary trials and commissioning in 2007.
Giving specifications of the submarines, Commodore Shahid said that in today’s modern warfare, submarines play a very vital role and directly affect the outcome of the war. He said that the submarines by virtue of their stealth sustain endurance and lethality and have been considered to be one of the most potent fighting platforms at sea and the Pakistan Navy, since its birth in 1947, was quick to realise the importance of this technology.
He narrated that the submarine force had been started in year 1964 with acquisition of PNS/M Ghazi from USA. In 1969-70 Pakistan Navy acquired three Daphne class submarines from France. Later in 1975, another Daphne class submarine and in 1980-81 two AGOSTA-70 class submarine were acquired.
He said that in early 90s, when the need to acquire submarines arose, Pakistan Navy decided to construct the new submarines in Pakistan instead of acquiring on hot transfer basis. In this regard, in September 1994, Pakistan Ministry of Defence Production signed the contract for construction of three AGOSTA-90B submarines at PN Dockyard with DCN International, a company of France. The contract included a strong element of transfer of technology in a phased manner embedded in it.
Commodore Shahid said that the central theme of transfer of technology is to acquire the most sensitive technology of pressure hull construction and outfitting of conventional submarines. The submarine being launched is the most advanced version of AGOSTA design. It is 76 metres long and weighs around 2000 tonnes. Its range is 10,000 nautical miles and can remain at sea for continuously 60 days.
He said that submarine HAMZA consists of 50 officers and men. It is equipped with state-of-the-art combat system, the Subtics (Submarine Tactical Integrated Combat System). This is capable of firing SM-39 Exocet Missile and wire guided torpedoes. The unique feature of this submarine is its Air Independent Propulsion (AIPP system, MESMA, making it capable of achieving greater underwater endurance and long range.
The commodore informed the newsmen that Pakistan is the first country to use MESMA AIP system on board a combat ready submarine. Submarine Construction in Pakistan Navy is a continuation of the naval construction efforts, which started in Pakistan Navy Dockyard in 1971 for self-reliance and indigenisation.
It includes construction of floating docks, missile boats, X-Craft submarines and MCMVs. PN Dockyard had 30 years of repair & maintenance experience of DAPHNE and AGOSTA 70 submarines prior undertaking Meta construction project of AGOSTA-90B submarines in 1994.
He narrated that another benefit of this project is a changed quality culture and work methodology. ISO 9002 standard was awarded to PN Dockyard in Nov 1997, the first defence industrial setup to receive this prestigious certification. Presently PN Dockyard is certified to the requirements of ISO 9001-2000 Standard.
Commodore Hasan Nasir, Deputy Managing Director (Production) Submarine Construction Project, Commodore Saleem Akhtar, Managing Director PN Dockyard and Lieutenant Commander Salman, besides others were also present at the occasion.
Greenday1hmm… haven’t we already ordered 130 Harpoons? is it the part of that deal or is it new deal…??
This is just the contract to Boeing from the initial order this year that was declared.
Not an additional ordeR
In all its about 180 odd Harpoon IIs on order taking into account last year and this years orders
Greenday1Fair enough, alot of the “back end” is being outsourced or done by PFI deals, but if you look at the planned “sharp” end, its not taht bad at all. MOD are just trying to operate logistics and training on the cheap, but remember RAF sharp end will still have 200 odd GR4s, 230 odd Typhoons and 150 odd F-35s
Thats something to fight with in mybook….
Greenday1Well, its Flight International, maybe it will be SU-30 with all Russian kit then…
Greenday1First non Indian MKI order? Wont some of teh sub assemblies be Indian/French/Israeli?
DATE:01/08/06
SOURCE:Flight International
Russia ignores US objections to seal Venezuela arms deal
Caracas buys Su-30MKI fighters to circumvent Washington’s F-16 spares embargo
Venezuela last week signed a $1.3 billion arms deal with Russia, under which it will acquire 24 Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighters and 30 Mil helicopters. Moscow approved the sale despite last-minute pressure from the USA to reconsider.
The Su-30MKI purchase represents the largest part of the 27 July contract. The aircraft will be delivered in a configuration similar to those already in service with the Indian air force. The deal also covers the provision of an extensive armaments package including beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles and precision-guided air-to-surface weapons, plus spare parts and crew training.
President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has signalled that the first batch of six fighters will arrive in the country by December. The Su-30MKI fleet is intended to replace the air force’s Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs, since Washington has refused to provide spare parts to support those aircraft following a spat with the Chavez administration. Sources suggest the new deal with Moscow also includes an option to acquire another 30 Su-30MKIs to replace Venezuela’s Dassault Mirage 50 fighters.
The rotary-wing package expands on earlier orders signed in 2004 and 2005, and is believed to comprise 14 Mi-17V5 transports and two Mi-35M2 assault helicopters for the Venezuelan army and 14 aircraft for the Venezuelan air force.
Greenday1An air force that has done all the above!?
Greenday1I would say
Pilots with
1) Recent combat experiance against huge odds
2) Participating in modern full simulation exercises (Redflag ,Anaotilan Eagle)
3) Flying in both modern and older jets
4) Exposure to different training systems exspecially US
5) Patricipation in coalition air ops
I know one air force that fufills that criteria 😀
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