The question that I’ve never seen asked anywhere is “Why would India invade Pakistan?”

So far India has not acted in a way that has looked like absorbing Pakistan. The issues of Kashmir is different entirely – basically a border issue.

But there certainly doesn’t seem to an existential threat to Pakistan.

The nuclear deterrent works – since both parties went nuclear, there has been greater emphasis on tension diffusion and progress towards lasting peace.

They do talk a great deal about it in their press. Basically, their religious ideology is that India should be one. A good number of articles have been around about taking down Pakistan, even books suggesting so.

Recently, there is the Cold Start Doctrine which basically looks to grab territory in a limited way (or so its says publicly) but its suspected to split Pakistan across the waist-line.

I don’t think India can do that. I do think that the main concern is that there may be some insurgent attacks in India and they may try to act like the US and try to do “precision strikes” on Pakistan. Such a move is what deterrence is all about. This could of course quickly escalate into a full scale air war.

as other AF’s (IAF/RSAF/RMAF etc) are doing.

IAF is a much more professional force than RSAF and RMAF, I wouldn’t put them all in the same brackets if I were you.

As I said earlier, there is no photographic evidence, so take what you will of my opinion, or not.

Another bit of news from H Khan of Pakdef:

The Argentinians are not going for the JF-17 but the FC-1 (Chinese version of JF-17). They are interested in both the twin seater and the single seater and apparently are interested in using the former to control their UAVs that they are developing (?) or have developed (?)

What UAV is Argentina making?

They have to start somewhere, deterrence is about adding to the cost of a decision to target Mexico’s sovereignty. Mexico isn’t Philipines, its among the the top rising economies in the world. They need to think long term, Chinese-style long term planning.

Investing in building a viable full-spectrum defense should be a long-term goal of Mexico.

An interesting post by Windjammer of defence.pk (former PAF). Regarding the Eurofighter vs. PAF F-16 in Anatolian Eagle:

Actually that was misreporting, the Typhoons in question belonged to the Italian Air Force, I had the privelege of speaking to some one who was assigned to the team under a NATO set up, out of three packages, PAF bagged all the kills.

On a side note, Boeing and European Consortium must be cursing both the Italians and Saudis and Lockheed Martin must be having a do and toasting the PAF pilots.

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/pakistan-air-force/124858-pafs-exercises-around-world-16.html#ixzz2XJNBg1b3

A PAF Mirage from the recent exercise in SA:

A group photo:

Incidentally, one of the funny things noted is that PAF has female fighter pilots while Saudi Arabia doesn’t even allow women to drive…

That all assumes you stay a 400 aircraft air force. Remember that even Britain is now a 220 aircraft force as is France.

Fighters are costly business and Pakistan is not rich.

True, but if you ask my opinion, and I’ve followed the PAF for over 20 years and visited airbase and manufacturing facilities, the PAF is constantly considering the IAF, and is wary of being big enough. They are particularly careful to not be half the IAF’s size, because of specific tactical and strategic reasons. This means that an IAF which is 700 fighters big will need at least 400 fighters to deal with…

Honestly, in the Subcontinent no one cares what is going on elsewhere. PAF’s main threat is the IAF, and every calculus is made according to this perceived enemy.

I didn’t really want to post on this thread given my general dislike of discussions relating to the PAF (can’t stand flame wars), but my curiosity has gotten the better of me, so I’ll ask anyways.

PLA, do you happen to know of any photographic evidence of BVR weapons on Pakistani Mirages. I’ve heard that claim for years now, and I’ve never actually seen a Pakistani Mirage with a BVR weapon of any sort onboard.

Your thoughts?

Hi Phantom, no I have never ever ever heard of such photographic evidence. The closest “evidence” I know of is that during major exercises, the PAF Mirages where noted even by the IAF as simulating R-Darter launches.

The R-Darters as well as the MUPSOW and Raptor I (Raptor II was possibly developed for PAF) are widely known to serve in the PAF. The reason that there is no official or photographic evidence – the PAF and the South Africans prefer to keep things quiet regarding their arms trade and R&D sharing because of international political realities.

I hope that answers your question.

I think you should try 1/2 cigognes. They fly m2k-5, should be easy but… They are “Cigognes”

??

Which of the participants fly M2K-5s? PAF doesn have any, neither do the Saudis or the Turks. Maybe you’re mixing them up with the UAE, even they don’t fly the M2Ks anymore because they are too expensive to keep up in the air.

The PAF will be buying 3 JF-17s for the cost of each M2K upgrade for the IAF!