Wow! PAF kept that quiet till teh last minute, participation in a major NATO exercise will be good for the pilots……

I think unless SERIOUSLY PROVOKED, no one will attack Iran, it may be taking the doctrine of pre emption too far, it would alieniate Europe (see the mass demos against teh Iraq war) and there would be outrage in the Islamic world on a mass scale that would make the proetests about Afghanistan and Iraq seem like a quiet one man show……

Then of course there is the fact that almost every major Islamic country would break what little ties any of them had with Israel and of course not be too worried the next time there is any sort of attacks of Jewish targets in Israel itself, in fact would not be suprised if some countries would facilitate Irananian retalitory action…….

Indian Minister dies in chopper crash….

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3680794.stm

Glad pilot is safe, but how , on the name of Zeus’s b*tt hole, does a wheel fall off in mid air!?

i think that it will be a mamoth achievement on that part of pakistan to actually secure orders for 70 f-16’s and i really think that it is something that is going to be very tough to pull of. Maybe at best a few dozen token f-16’s can be accomodated but good luck trying to pull something off with this congress and senate.

that will be something very tough because then a case has to be made that pakistan actually needs all those advanced fighter jets and the weaponry to go with it for a reason any other then pertaining to india (and i dont mean it in a bad way)..making the viper purchases as a key factor in the WOT will be highly questioned by the legistlatures. All i can say is tough lobbying will be required and even then a few people in the senate and congress can just spoil it.

Very true!
Lets not also forget alot depends on what TYPE of F-16 we are talking about and numbers.

a dozen more stored F-16A/Bs will hardly raise eyebrows and in fact not add that much to the PAF

I concede, asking for 70+ F-16C/D Block 50/60s may be a whole different ball game….

However if Sweden or France approve sales of Gripen and M2K-5 then it may well become an issue of US jobs rather then strategic concerns….

Yes, and every PM and General will continue doing it even if there is a tiny chance, they will continue to ask. Why? Because we are poor country and if we can get effective aircraft at low cost we will make no quams about going, bowel in hand if need be, to secure these aircraft.

Sea Eagles and Harpoons may not be a threat to SU-30s but they will be to any ship based platform that launches Brahmos

With regards to air launched Bhramos, there is a Navy in the neighbourhood that has LY-60N, Phalnax and Standard

These will be controlled by 9LV 200 Mark 3/9SCS Mark 3 command systems coupled with CEROS radar and sights for anti missile work….

Any govt in US-be it democrat or republican-would do wot (to them) serves american intersts in the best manner. If that means arming the enemy of ur best friend…then so b it…as long as it serves american interests.

That was my point exactly!