ISLAMABAD: Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad on Wednesday said 36 high-tech combat aircraft (CF-20) would be inducted into the PAF fleet by 2010.
“The 21st Century — fifth generation — aircraft are of Chinese origin and would provide an extra punch to the air force,” he said while answering questions after a briefing to the visiting participants of the National Media Workshop being organised by the National Defence University at the Air Headquarters.
He said that modalities were being discussed to acquire two squadrons of the aircraft for the PAF. He said the FC-20 aircraft had been selected after hectic and lengthy deliberations besides considering a long list of the similar category aircraft of various origins. The engine of the aircraft would be manufactured by Russia with the most modern reverse technology, he said.
The air chief said the first squadron of the indigenously developed fighter aircraft — JF-17 (Thunder) — would be inducted into the PAF fleet in the first quarter of 2009, enhancing agility of the air force and increasing its reach beyond 350 nautical miles.
He said after laborious efforts, the PAF had also acquired night-war capability, due to which the country’s defence had been made further impregnable. “This capability has brought the PAF among a few air forces around the globe, which have the ability to carry out war operations during night times.
“This capability had become imperative to be achieved, especially in the prevailing global and regional situations,” the PAF chief said. He said the roll-out of the first batch of the F-16 (C&D) aircraft for Pakistan would be held in the USA in January next, where he himself would be present to witness the auspicious occasion.
The US would supply an improved version of the F-16 aircraft to be inducted into the PAF by 2010. In the surveillance field, he said, a Swedish company would supply three SAAB surveillance aircraft to the PAF by September next year, while contract for acquiring four AWACS systems from China had already been signed.
He said despite economic constraints, all the important programmes of the PAF were being run uninterrupted with the aim to make it a real force to meet the challenges.Air Chief Marshal Tanvir said the UAV technology was achieved earlier and drones were being manufactured indigenously. Earlier, the participants were given a detailed briefing by the vice chief of the air staff. Senior officers of the PAF and the National Defence University were also present.
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