DTN News: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Rockwell Collins For Upgarding And Maintenance of Pakistani Air Force (PAF) C-130 fleet

DTN News: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Rockwell Collins For Upgarding And Maintenance of Pakistani Air Force (PAF) C-130 fleet 

Source: K. V. Seth - DTN News + U.S. DoD issued No. CR-010-16 January 15, 2016
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 19, 2016: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been awarded a $30,727,886 undefinitized contract action for the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) C-130 fleet. 

Contractor will design, manufacture, integrate, train, provide technical support during installation, and deliver 11 C-130E model kits and five C-130B integrated avionics suites and kits. 

Additionally, Rockwell Collins shall develop, validate, and deliver consolidated B/E flight manual and associated checklists, and maintenance supplements required to operate, maintain, and sustain the PAF C-130 fleet. 

Work will be performed at Nur Khan Base, Islamabad, Pakistan, and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2020. 


This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales to the country of Pakistan. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8553-16-C-0005).

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DTN News - PAKISTAN DEFENSE NEWS: Pakistan Intent To Sell JF-17 Thunder Fighter Jets To Sri Lanka

DTN News - PAKISTAN DEFENSE NEWS: Pakistan Intent To Sell JF-17 Thunder Fighter Jets To Sri Lanka

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources The Nation
(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - October 27, 2013: Pakistan’s strained economic condition puts to question the country’s capability to spend billions of rupees on the defence sector on the pretext of enhancing the defence exports and kicking off related strategic ventures.

The JF-17 was primarily developed to meet Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) requirement for an affordable, modern multi-role combat aircraft as a replacement for its large fleet of Dassault Mirage III/5 fighters, Nanchang A-5 bombers, and Chengdu F-7 interceptors. It was also to have export potential as a cost-effective and competitive alternative to significantly more expensive Western fighters.

In 1999, Pakistan and China signed the contract to jointly develop the FC-1/Super 7. Initial difficulties in acquiring an avionics and radar package from Europe led to many problems, solved in 2001, when design of the airframe was decoupled from the avionics. In 2003, the maiden flight of the first prototype occurred in China. The Pakistani designation "Super-7", meanwhile, were replaced with "JF-17". Later test flights with a modified design occurred in 2006. Deliveries to the PAF for further flight testing and evaluation began in 2007 and the aircraft's first public aerial display took place that year in Islamabad. The PAF officially inducted its first JF-17 squadron, No. 26 Squadron, on 18 February 2010 with fourteen aircraft.


The Block 1 JF-17 is expected to cost approximately US$ 15 million per unit, with Block 2 aircraft costing US$ 20–25 million. The PAF has a confirmed order for 150 JF-17s, which may increase to 250 aircraft

While the country grapples with worst kind of economic crises owing to crippled industry due to ever-rising inflation, increasing cost of industrial expenditures following massive hike in power tariff as well as security situation, billions of rupees are reportedly being pumped in the strategic projects without any accurate anticipation whether such kind of large-scale investment at the cost of public money would bear any fruit.

Some reports suggest that Pakistan intends to export sophisticated JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to certain countries by next year and $ 100 million (over 10 billion rupees) have been released in this regard. Interestingly, this reported amount is more than four times the size of funds allocated to Pakistan’s defence production sector (2.3 billion rupees) in this year’s fiscal budget. In the defence budget for the ongoing year, there is no mention of any prioritised project in the Defence Production Division suggesting the exports of JF-17 Thunder and the allocation of over Rs 10 billion for related expenses.

The budgetary allocations for defence and defence production sectors for the fiscal year 2013-14 suggest, of the Rs 627 billion defence budget, the Defence Division has received Rs 4.2 billion and the Defence Production Division, Rs 2.300 billion. Separately, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) have respectively got Rs 1.3 billion and Rs 5.8 billion. Pakistan Army has got Rs 310 billion in this year’s fiscal budget, which is almost 50 percent of the total defence budget for 2013-14. The PAF got Rs 131 billion that makes 21 percent of the Rs 627 billion defence budget while Pakistan Navy got Rs 63 billion, around 10 percent of the defence funds. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) got Rs 6.2 billion.

As many as 20 projects have been prioritised for which Rs 3.5 billion have been allocated while only two projects in the Defence Production Division have been prioritised with the allocation of Rs 2.3 billion.

Adding to the mystery shrouding reported plans for exporting JF-17 Thunder, the top government functionaries concerned have kept conspicuous mum over the issue. This correspondent called Rana Tanvir Hussain, Federal Minister for Defence Production thrice at his personal cell number on Friday to get his viewpoint on the issue but he did not speak. His personal assistant Muhammad Bilal said the minister was in a meeting with Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar and was not available for comments.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, on contact, expressed inability to comment on the issue saying the matter was not known to him. “Frankly speaking, I haven’t heard of any such development. How can I say anything without having proper knowledge?”

The Secretary Defence Production Lieutenant General (r) Tanvir Tahir was called at his official landline number 051-9270930 but he, according to his staff, was not in the office.

Jointly manufactured by Aviation Industry Corp of China and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), JF-17 Thunder is originally a Chinese product, with the related technology shifted to Pakistan in the recent years.  Regarded as a third-generation multipurpose combat jet, the JF-17 Thunder, in technical terms, is known as FC-1 Fierce Dragon.

In an interview with a Chinese news agency in May this year, Chairman PAC Air Marshal Sohail Gul Khan had claimed that several countries were interested in buying JF-17 Thunder from Pakistan. The PAC manufactured more than 40 JF-17 Thunder aircraft, he had said

The recent media reports claim Pakistan is to export five to seven JF-17 Thunder jets to the countries like Sri Lanka, Kuwait and Qatar and related deliberations are under way.

Requesting anonymity, a retired air marshal said, the manufacturing cost incurred on JF-17 Thunder is 1.5 billion to two billion rupees, roughly. “It needs to be determined whether there is a significant room for exporting this aircraft and earning profit after incurring such huge amount of money,” he said.   Pakistan’s current defence budget of Rs 627 billion has seen 15 percent surge compared to the last year’s defence budget of Rs 545 billion that was revised at Rs 570 billion.

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*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources The Nation
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DTN News - PAKISTAN DEFENSE NEWS: Pakistan Deal For Chinese J-10 Fighters Uncertain

DTN News - PAKISTAN DEFENSE NEWS: Pakistan Deal For Chinese J-10 Fighters Uncertain

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources DefenseNews
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - October 9, 2013: Tough International Monetary Fund conditions on Pakistan and concerns about untested technology likely will delay Islamabad’s plan to buy 36 J-10B Vigorous Dragon multirole fighters from China under a $1.4 billion deal signed in 2009, analysts said.

Current economic conditions “preclude any possibility of acquiring new weapon systems in the next two to three years, at least,” said retired Pakistani Air Commodore Kaiser Tufail, a veteran fighter and test pilot who is now an independent military analyst in Lahore.

Under IMF loan terms, the government faces harsh conditions on raising revenue and controlling spending, including on military equipment.

A Chinese defense delegation visited Pakistan the last week of September to discuss the status of stalled defense deals. Whether this included the J-10 order is unclear.

The J-10B Super-10 is an advanced variant of the J-10A, first fielded in late 2003 with China’s Air Force. The new Super-10 will reportedly be powered by the Chinese-designed WS-10A turbofan engine, which will replace the J-10A’s Russian Saturn AL-31FN. Built by Chengdu Aircraft Industries, the jet is based on Israel’s Lavi indigenous fighter program by Israel Aerospace Industries that was canceled in 1987.

Even if a friendly Arab Gulf state provided financing, Tufail said more used Lockheed Martin F-16Cs from US stocks are preferable, “rather than trying out a new weapon system that is an unknown commodity in the realm of modern-day combat.”

Tufail questioned the wisdom of buying one squadron of J-10s.

To be cost effective “at least three to four squadrons would justify the additional wherewithal and maintenance facilities that would be needed,” he said.

Over-reliance on US high-technology equipment like fighters worries Pakistani officials, and while Tufail said diversification “be explored fully, with China and Russia as suitable sources,” in the case of the fighter, the government may not have another option.

Should a deal occur, however, Tufail foresees no problems with directly or indirectly acquiring Russian equipment such as the J-10’s AL-31FN engine.

The J-10B was first revealed to the public in early 2009. Images appearing on Chinese-language military websites indicate the J-10B had a new nose configuration with an infrared search and tracking system and a “new Diverterless Supersonic Intake configured engine air intake,” also seen on the Chengdu FC-1 Xiaolong (Fierce Dragon), which is co-produced in Pakistan as the JF-17 Thunder, said Richard Fisher, a senior fellow of Asian military affairs at the International Assessment and Strategy Center.

At least one prototype J-10B has featured the indigenous Shenyang-Liming WS-10A turbofan engine, but it remains to be seen whether all production J-10Bs will feature the WS-10A or the Russian Saturn AL-31F turbofan,” Fisher said.

“I think the JF-17 arrangement has been a workable one so far, and future weapon systems with core Russian and Chinese components can be acquired by the Pakistan Air Force on a similar basis, without difficulty,” Tufail said.

Russia allowed China to supply Pakistan the JF-17s Klimov RD-93 engine despite Indian opposition, and prospects have since improved.

“The thawing of Pak-Russo relations over the past few years is certainly a welcome development, and should help override Indian objections to any military cooperation between Pakistan and Russia,” Tufail said.

Technological advances may also scrap the J-10 deal.

Tufail believes the air force may be turning to the stealthy Chengdu J-20 though this is not presently “anything beyond a mere statement of intent.”

“It is a futuristic aircraft, not yet fully operational, and its capabilities are hardly known, so reading too much into this may be rather premature,” Tufail said.

The J-10B would offer Pakistan some advanced fourth generation capabilities.

“The canted nose cone immediately led to speculation that the J-10B also featured a new fixed antennae phased array radar and this was confirmed in 2011,” Fisher said. “There remains some speculation that this radar may be a ‘passive’ versus an ‘active’ electronically scanned array [AESA], but the key point is that the J-10B is clearly a 4+ generation fighter that also included upgraded cockpit systems and electronic warfare systems.”

But if Pakistan chooses not to become the first customer for an export configured J-10B, at $50-60 million per aircraft it will become attractive to countries like Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, Malaysia and Indonesia, who are looking for an affordable multi-role fighter, Fisher said.

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DTN News - PAKISTAN DEFENSE NEWS: Crashes Raise Concern About Pakistani Air Force

DTN News - PAKISTAN DEFENSE NEWS: Crashes Raise Concern About Pakistani Air Force

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Dawn
(NSI News Source Info) SINGAPORE - December 17, 2012: Over a dozen Pakistani air force planes have crashed in roughly the past 18 months, raising concerns about the health of an aging fleet that officials are struggling to upgrade because of a lack of funds.

A significant number of the air force's combat aircraft are nearly half a century old and have been called on in recent years to help the army fight a domestic Taliban insurgency that has killed thousands of people. This has added to the strain on a force that has historically focused on countering the threat from Pakistan's neighbor and archenemy, India.

Pakistan has turned to the U.S. and China for help in modernizing its air force, but economic woes have strained the government's budget, even for the country's powerful military. Tension with the U.S. over a host of issues, including the covert raid that killed Osama bin Laden last year, also hasn't helped.

Shahzad Chaudhry, a former senior Pakistani air force officer, said the number of planes that have crashed "would be worrying for any air force."

"If I were air force chief, I certainly wouldn't want to see over a dozen airplanes being lost," said Chaudhry. "Obviously we need to bring those numbers down."

At least 13 planes have crashed since May 2011, many because of technical problems, according to a record maintained by The Associated Press. The air force did not respond to request for comment on the crashes.

The most recent accident occurred on Nov. 22, when a Dassault Mirage fighter jet crashed on a routine night training mission in central Punjab province, killing the pilot. The air force said at the time that it was investigating the cause of the crash, but eyewitnesses said the plane caught fire before it fell out of the sky.

Nearly half the planes that have crashed were decades-old Mirage fighters. They make up at least a quarter of the force's fleet of about 400 combat aircraft, according to the website GlobalSecurity.org. Many were built nearly 50 years ago and acquired from foreign militaries that had already retired them.

"We bought them at almost throw-away prices, brought them over, overhauled them and continue to operate them," said former Pakistani air force chief Tanvir Mahmood. "This was our compulsion because of the financial constraints that we had."

Chaudhry, the former senior air force officer, said the Mirage was a "very sturdy platform" that shouldn't fail easily.

"But when you have the intensity of an operational combat environment, problems tend to be there," said Chaudhry.

The crashes raise questions not only about the age of the aircraft, but also flight maintenance practices, said Sajad Haider, a celebrated former air force pilot who has written a book about the service.

Other planes that have gone down include the Chengdu F-7 fighter jet bought from China, the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet jointly developed with China and Pakistan's Mushshak trainer, a propeller plane.

The most advanced fighter jet operated by the Pakistani air force is the F-16 Fighting Falcon, over 60 of which were purchased in various batches from the U.S. over the past three decades.

U.S. military support came to a halt in the 1990s because of sanctions imposed on Pakistan over its nuclear program, but resumed in 2001 when Washington needed Islamabad's support to fight al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Military assistance largely dried up once again over the past two years because of renewed tensions between the two countries, although the U.S. did deliver more than a dozen new F-16s purchased by Pakistan.

One of the reasons Pakistan turned to China for help with its air force was the country's troubles with the U.S.

The government has purchased over 100 F-7 fighter jets from China, mostly in the 1980s, and has reportedly ordered more advanced FC-20 fighter jets in recent years. Pakistan is also domestically producing the JF-17 fighter jet, jointly developed with China, but it has not yet entered full service.

"The JF-17 program was pushed through during my tenure of office because we knew we couldn't live with these old Mirages and some of our old Chinese planes for too long," said Mahmood, who served as air force chief from 2006 to 2009.

The current head of the air force, Tahir Rafique Butt, told Pakistan's Senate defense committee at the end of November that the force was struggling to modernize its equipment and technology because of a shortage of funds, said the head of the committee, Mushahid Hussain.

While Pakistani military spending makes up about 20 percent of the government's budget, the air force is lower down the totem pole than the powerful army.

Hussain said the air force was doing the best with what it has, but the recent spate of crashes "was linked to use of technology that is fast becoming outmoded and obsolete."

"That reinforces the argument the air force was making to us about a lack of resources," said Hussain.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Dawn
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DTN News - PAKISTAN DEFENSE NEWS: Pakistani Taliban Claim Responsibility For Brazen Kamra Air Base Attack

DTN News - PAKISTAN DEFENSE NEWS: Pakistani Taliban Claim Responsibility For Brazen Kamra Air Base Attack
*Eight militants killed in Kamra airbase attack: PAF officials - Dawn

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources ANI
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 16, 2012: Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan has claimed responsibility of the attack on Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) Minhas airbase at Kamra.

"We have killed scores of security personnel. We are proud of this operation. Our leadership had decided to attack Kamra base a long time ago," The Dawn quoted Ehsan, as saying.

"Nine of our men entered the base, four from one side and five from the other... They got together and launched the operation," Ehsan said, adding that they have damaged three JF-17 thunder aircrafts.

Ehsan said the attack was a revenge for the deaths of Baitullah Mehsud and Osama Bin Laden, adding that they "will continue the attacks on the military installments until the establishment of Islamic rule in the country".

He also confirmed the death of all nine TTP men who attacked the base.

During the early hours of Thursday, heavily armed militants stormed the PAF Minhas airbase sparking an intense gun battle lasting almost five hours.

The militants were said to be armed with automatic weapons, grenades and suicide vests. Intense exchange of fire between militants and security forces ensued after the attackers infiltrated the base, located in Attock, Punjab.

One Pakistani soldier, Muhammad Asif, also lost his life in the attack, the officials added.

Kamra is located about 70 kms from the Pakistani capital Islamabad. The Minhas airbase is a heavily guarded compound with the Pakistan Air Force's Kamra Aeronautical Complex in its vicinity, where Pakistan assembles and overhauls JF-17 Thunder fighter jets in collaboration with China.

This is not the first time that Kamra has been the target of a militant attack. On Oct 23, 2009, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra. Two security officers and six other people were killed in the attack. (ANI)

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources ANI
*Eight militants killed in Kamra airbase attack: PAF officials - Dawn
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Pakistan Forges Ahead With New Fighters, Upgrades

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Pakistan Forges Ahead With New Fighters, Upgrades

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources

by Greg

Waldron - Flight International

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - March 21, 2011:

Pakistan has inducted its new Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 52+ fighters, while its first two full-strength squadrons of Chengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 Thunders are also on the verge of becoming fully operational.

The Pakistan air force inducted 17 F-16 Block 52+ fighters into its 5 Sqn on 11 March, the service says. The final aircraft in the 18-unit deal is still in the USA undergoing testing and will arrive in another month.

Pakistan's new batch of aircraft comprises 12 single-seat C-model versions and six two-seat F-16Ds. The air force says it is also in negotiations with the USA for additional Block 52+ aircraft, with its original deal having contained an option for another 18.

Pakistan's new F-16s are powered by Pratt & Whitney F100-229 engines, with other systems understood to include Northrop Grumman's mechanically scanned APG-68(V)9 radar and ITT's ALQ-211(V)9 advanced integrated defensive electronic warfare suite.

A proposed weapons package outlined by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency in 2006 included 500 Raytheon AIM-120C5 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles and 200 short-range AIM-9M-8/9 Sidewinders, plus 500 Boeing joint direct attack munitions, 1,600 enhanced GBU-12/24 laser-guided bombs and 700 BLU-109 penetrator bombs.

A mid-life upgrade of 34 F-16A/B Block 15 aircraft is also under way, with some being upgraded in Pakistan and some in Turkey. The project is likely to be completed next year, and will see the aircraft equipped with modern sensors and weapons.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's first full-strength squadron of 18 JF-17s is likely to become operational next month, with a second unit of the same strength likely to follow within two months.

At Air Show China in Zhuhai last November, Zeng Wen, vice-president of the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), said Pakistan had 50 firm orders for the JF-17, but could end up buying 200.

Pakistan will use the JF-17 to replace a number of types, such as the Chengdu F-7, Dassault Mirage III and Mirage 5 and the Nanchang A-5. All A-5s will be decommissioned by early April, says the Pakistan air force.

China and Pakistan jointly developed the JF-17. Pakistan began indigenous assembly in 2009, and could incorporate Western avionics, radars and other systems into the type from 2012.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources

by Greg Waldron - Flight International

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DTN News: Chinese Military Assistance To Pakistan And Implications For India

DTN News: Chinese Military Assistance To Pakistan And Implications For India

Source: eurasiareview.com - 8/25/2010

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 25, 2010: Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan acknowledged that no relationship between two sovereign states is as unique and durable as that between Pakistan and China. Pakistan China relations started from 1950 when the former broke diplomatic ties with Republic of China and recognized Peoples Republic of China. With the passage of time relations between both the countries strengthened as they have India as a common enemy. Both the countries support each other on international issues too. China supports Pakistan on Kashmir issue while the later supports China on Tibet, Taiwan and Xinjiang issues. Hussain Haqqani a senior Pakistani diplomat pointed out that “For China, Pakistan is a low cost secondary deterrent to India while for Pakistan, China is a high value guarantor of security against India.” China also favours tension between India and Pakistan, as in this way India remains busy in South Asia region and it could not challenge China in international arena. Chinese Military aid to Pakistan Lisa Curtis of Heritage Foundation, a Washington based think tank, mentioned in an article that “Chinese policy towards Pakistan is driven primarily by its interest in countering Indian power in the region and diverting Indian military force and strategic attention away from China” China is the biggest arms supplier for Pakistan. For transfer of technology and know-how also Pakistan depends on China in a big way. China transferred 36 M9 ballistic missiles though it officially acknowledged it only in 1992.. From then on, the defence ties between the two nations have gone from strength to strength s later on China also supplied JF-17, F-7 aircraft and different kinds of small arms and ammunition to Pakistan. Pakistan’s 70 percent of armed forces aircraft and Main battle Tanks (MBT) were procured from China. China gave more than 400 military aircraft, 1600 MBT and more than 40 navy ships. Most of Pakistani missile projects are started by China. China has not only modernized Pak army but it also established joint projects in Pakistan. J-10 and JF-17 are the latest Chinese version of Russian aircraft SU-27 and Mig-29. JF-17 Thunder aircraft was jointly developed by Chinese and Pakistanis at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra. It is an advanced multi role light Combat aircraft. Initially Chinese missiles would be fitted in JF-17 and later the aircraft would be equipped with more sophisticated radars and missiles. Besides JF-17 other important joint projects include K-8 Karakorum advance training aircraft, Al Khalid Tanks, Babur cruise missiles,F-22 naval frigates, AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) etc. China also constructed Gwadar Deep Sea Port and assisted Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) in developing space technology. Heavy Rebuild Factory (HRF) at Taxila was established through Chinese assistance. China helped Pakistan in the development of nuclear programme also. According to a US intelligence agency report, China had transferred not only the nuclear weapons designs but also weapon grade uranium so that Pakistan can build two nuclear bombs. China built two nuclear reactors in Chasma and also wanted to build two more nuclear reactors there but could not so far. 054A anti-submarine frigate which was built in Huangpu shipyard was sold to Pakistan navy. Chinese Defence minister Liang Guangile, while meeting Noman Bashir, Pakistan Chief of Naval Staff in December 2009 in Beijing reiterated that Chinese armed forces would like to improve its friendly ties with Pakistani Defence forces. General Liang confirmed that Pakistani navy would receive a total of eight F-22 P 3000 tonner Frigates from China. However Pakistan wants to acquire 4000 tonner ships too besides F-22 P Frigates. Chinese leadership is willing to give 4000 tonner ships to Pakistan. Pakistan also acquired 120 Chinese C 802 long range anti-ship cruise missiles. China had also given second ERIEYE radar-equipped SAAB 2000 to Pakistan and would also give Shaanxi ZDK-03 airborne early warning aircraft. China would be establishing military bases abroad. At least one military base would be established in Pakistan. A Chinese military base in Pakistan would pressure India and would counterbalance US influence in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Not only this, Chinese military base in Pakistan would also facilitate China to curb the uprising of Uighurs who are demanding an independent nation in Xinxiang province. China is liberally assisting Pakistan not only on diplomatic, defence, technical, nuclear fronts but also on economic front. More than 60 Chinese companies and about 10000 Chinese workers are involved in 122 projects in Pakistan. Chinese investment has already crossed $7 billion and it would enhance to $10 billion this year. Visit of Chinese delegation State Councillor and Minister for National Defence of China, General Liang Guanglie, led a 17 member delegation to Pakistan on May 23, 2010 on a two- day visit. The visiting delegation met Pakistani President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister and top military generals including General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Army Staff and General Tariq Majid, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee. Both General Kayani and General Majid appreciated China for its whole hearted support to Pakistan. The defence ministers of both the countries signed three agreements ostensibly to enable Pakistan to fight terrorism. Under these agreements, cooperation and strategic communication between the armed forces of both the countries would be enhanced. Army, Navy and Air Force of Pakistan and China would participate in joint military exercises. The ministers also agreed to share intelligence to weed out the menace of terrorism. Chinese defence minister also promised to provide four trainer aircraft to Air Force and 60 million Yuan (US dollars 8.78 million) to Pakistani defense forces. Both Pakistani President and Prime Minister highlighted the strong friendly ties between China and Pakistan. However during the talks President Zardari alleged that Indian intelligence is behind the terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani also charged that there is ample proof that an Indian intelligence agency is assisting terrorist organizations in Pakistan through Afghanistan. Gilani stated that Pakistan wants to eradicate terrorism from its soil but it needs China’s support to counter terrorism. Gilani also lauded Chinese companies namely China National Electronic Import and Export Corporation (CEIEC) and China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) for giving credit to Pakistan Defence forces. General Liang stated that China want to make Pakistan self-reliant and does not desire to keep it dependent on China. He promised that China would provide more spare parts, assembly units, over hauling facilities and additional joint venture projects to Pakistan in future. What Next? India should try to counter the nexus between Pakistan and China as the military and nuclear ties between both the countries are being strengthened. China is still clandestinely supplying nuclear and missile technology to Pakistan. Although United States has confirmed information about this unholy alliance but it appears that US does not want to give credence to these glaring evidence. India has also not made any active opposition to this unhealthy relationship. India should muster international support against the illegal proliferation activities of China. It is high time when India adopted a tangible campaign against illegal proliferation of China. Not only this, China should also comprehend that the pressure of Taliban is escalating very rapidly in nuclear Pakistan, which may be dangerous phenomenon for the world. China must utilize its clout so that the impact of Taliban reduces in Pakistan and terrorists are unable to gain control of nuclear devices.

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DTN News: JF-17 To Represent Pakistan In Farnborough Air Show

DTN News: JF-17 To Represent Pakistan In Farnborough Air Show

Source: DTN News / The News

(NSI News Source Info) ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - July 17, 2010: Indigenously developed aircraft by Pakistan with the help of China will make its maiden appearance at an international show being held in the United Kingdom.

In line to make their physical appearance in Farnborough Air Show 2010 along with other modern aircraft, being held 19-25 July in the UK, two JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft of PAF on Friday flew into the UK from a PAF Base.

These aircraft are manufactured at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra. The JF-17s would be displayed for the first time in the Farnborough Air Show alongside other modern aircrafts of the world.

The JF-17 Thunder distinguishes PAF as the only air force in the world that manufactures combat aircraft. It is an all-weather, multi-role, combat aircraft that has the potential to be the mainstay of any modern air force.

DTN News: PAF To Get F-16s With Tough Stipulations

DTN News: PAF To Get F-16s With Tough Stipulations

Source: DTN News / The Nation (Pakistan)

(NSI News Source Info) ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - June 16, 2010: Despite being a key ally in the war against terrorism in which Pakistan have rendered innumerable sacrifices, the United States is extending military assistance to Islamabad under strict conditions and stipulations, reflecting the nature of relations between the two countries.

According to sources, Washington will deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) by the end of this month under a series of conditions including an assurance from Pakistan that aircraft would not be used in any conflict with India.

During last week’s strategic dialogue between India and the US, the Indian leaders had conveyed to their counterparts in Washington their concerns over the US military assistance to Pakistan. Besides assuring Indian side, Washington for the first time came out open to state that it was taking steps to ensure that its military aid to Pakistan would not be used against India.

Sources said the US Air Force engineers would accompany the delivery of the F-16s and supervise not only the airbase but also the operations to be carried out by the PAF against Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

Though the PAF pilots will fly the jets, the logistics, management and control is stated to remain with the US engineers.Sources said the Block 50/52 Model F-16 jets equipped with latest missiles would land at Shahbaz Airbase in Jacoabad.

It is said that around US$500 million were spent to upgrade the airbase to make it conducive to the new F-16s.