PAF invited world-famous 'Red Flag' wargames.

[air marshal]

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Pakistan May Participate In Red Flag Exercise
September 19, 2008

by John M. Doyle

The Defense Department is inviting the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) to participate in the Red Flag aerial combat training exercise next year at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

An Air Force spokesman told Aerospace DAILY there is “a possibility that the Pakistani Air Force will participate in a Red Flag in 2009.” Group Capt. Ahmer Shehzad, the air attaché at the Pakistani embassy, confirmed that the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) had been invited to Red Flag, but he said officials in Islamabad will decide whether to accept the invitation. India, Pakistan’s regional rival – the two countries have fought three wars since they both gained independence in 1947 – participated in Red Flag for the first time this past summer.

First indications of Pakistan’s participation came at a hearing before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee earlier this week in which State and Defense Department witnesses tried to persuade skeptical lawmakers of the merits of reprogramming more than $250 million in military assistance funding to pay for upgrades to Pakistan’s aging fleet of F-16A/Bs (Aerospace DAILY, Sept. 17).

Bush administration officials insisted that the U.S.-funded upgrades to Pakistan’s 1980s F-16s will be used to counter al Qaeda terrorism – not Indian air superiority.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Burton M. Field, vice director of strategic plans and policy on the Pentagon’s Joint Staff, told committee members the upgrades will allow the PAF to conduct close air support and precision strikes at night – which it can’t do now.

Field said Pakistan’s participation in Red Flag would be preceded by “a series of progressive building block approaches over in their own country, getting them ready for that large scale program.”

Link: PAF Falcons - News Section

[TOPGUN]

I think we should participate ! but perhaps Islamabad is watching carfully to see how US-PAK relations occur to the safety of our nation for time to come only time will tell!!!!

[dk33]

I think we should participate ! but perhaps Islamabad is watching carfully to see how US-PAK relations occur to the safety of our nation for time to come only time will tell!!!!

Its not just that:

the upgrades will allow the PAF to conduct close air support and precision strikes at night – which it can’t do now.

Field said Pakistan’s participation in Red Flag would be preceded by “a series of progressive building block approaches over in their own country, getting them ready for that large scale program.”

Lets see if all the acquisitions and upgrades stay on track.

[Munir]

There is a difficult trend ahead... Both Obama and McCain can change the whole impression. If US delivers 18+18 block 52, upgrades 34 to block 52 then you have a very tough airforce. There are rumours of getting more F16's but I doubt that. With 250 JF17, 40 FC20 and some oldies (PG/Mirages) you do not have that much budget to keep it operational unless you get KSE exploding...

Imagine the change of non bvr towards netcentric (latest AEW+C), lots of BVR, air refueling and new planes in jus a few years...

[T-Rex]

Pakistan May Participate In Red Flag Exercise
September 19, 2008

by John M. Doyle

The Defense Department is inviting the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) to participate in the Red Flag aerial combat training exercise next year at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

An Air Force spokesman told Aerospace DAILY there is “a possibility that the Pakistani Air Force will participate in a Red Flag in 2009.” Group Capt. Ahmer Shehzad, the air attaché at the Pakistani embassy, confirmed that the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) had been invited to Red Flag, but he said officials in Islamabad will decide whether to accept the invitation. India, Pakistan’s regional rival – the two countries have fought three wars since they both gained independence in 1947 – participated in Red Flag for the first time this past summer.

First indications of Pakistan’s participation came at a hearing before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee earlier this week in which State and Defense Department witnesses tried to persuade skeptical lawmakers of the merits of reprogramming more than $250 million in military assistance funding to pay for upgrades to Pakistan’s aging fleet of F-16A/Bs (Aerospace DAILY, Sept. 17).

Bush administration officials insisted that the U.S.-funded upgrades to Pakistan’s 1980s F-16s will be used to counter al Qaeda terrorism – not Indian air superiority.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Burton M. Field, vice director of strategic plans and policy on the Pentagon’s Joint Staff, told committee members the upgrades will allow the PAF to conduct close air support and precision strikes at night – which it can’t do now.

Field said Pakistan’s participation in Red Flag would be preceded by “a series of progressive building block approaches over in their own country, getting them ready for that large scale program.”

Link: PAF Falcons - News Section

The purpose of this invitation might be to test the PAF fighter pilots and PAF tactics. When the time will arrive the USAF will use the knowledge to fight the PAF. Therefore, PAF should not disclose its tactics to the USAF.

[Muradk]

The purpose of this invitation might be to test the PAF fighter pilots and PAF tactics. When the time will arrive the USAF will use the knowledge to fight the PAF. Therefore, PAF should not disclose its tactics to the USAF.

T-Rex we have been conducting joint exercises with USAF since the 60s and they know everything about PAFs tactics.

[T-Rex]

T-Rex we have been conducting joint exercises with USAF since the 60s and they know everything about PAFs tactics.

In that case I hope the PAF also knows all about the tactics of the USAF.

[Munir]

Our best pilots are probably trained in USA or fly US planes. Our best planes are US planes and they hardly have to investigate how we fly them. We can learn a lot from the US. Just look at budget differences...

Training inside your own team is nice but training against new unknown adversaries is perfect!

[fatman17]

^^^Red Flag & Anatolian Eagle (AE) excercises are very similar in design & ops. PAF's performance has been quite credit-worthy in AE, hence the invitation IMO. additionally the UASF may just also compare IAF and PAF under similar conditions.

[bernard]

^^yea they want to see jf17 THUNDER multirole 4.5 gen strike aircraft ( only if it qualifies for that exercise )

[BATMAN]

^^yea they want to see jf17 THUNDER multirole 4.5 gen strike aircraft ( only if it qualifies for that exercise )

Would you mind sharing with us those qualification items?
What is the harm in showing THUNDER to the wider world incl. US?

[fatman17]

Would you mind sharing with us those qualification items?
What is the harm in showing THUNDER to the wider world incl. US?

if i were u, i would ignore this guy!

[bernard]

Would you mind sharing with us those qualification items?
What is the harm in showing THUNDER to the wider world incl. US?

i never said there is any harm, it is good to check its capability in real situations, but some US officials quoted that PAFs fleet needs preparation extensive helps from now till next yr and are not ready/qualifying to participate, but is the radar upgrades of jf17 ready?

[blain2]

i never said there is any harm, it is good to check its capability in real situations, but some US officials quoted that PAFs fleet needs preparation extensive helps from now till next yr and are not ready/qualifying to participate, but is the radar upgrades of jf17 ready?

It would be good for you to understand what the work up process is. Your IAF was in the same boat as the PAF. The additional work-up for the PAF includes the IFR stuff. Also if PAF decides to take the JF-17s (not sure if they would) then the logistics around the platform have to be worked out too. The IAF got the invite exactly a year from the ex. and they decided and then started the prep right then. All Air Forces have to do this work up for Red Flag. The Swedish Airforce did not even send a single Grippen to the RIAT air show because they were doing the work-up preparation for the next Red Flag session even though they have been flying and operating alongside NATO Air forces for years now.

[fatman17]

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It would be good for you to understand what the work up process is. Your IAF was in the same boat as the PAF. The additional work-up for the PAF includes the IFR stuff. Also if PAF decides to take the JF-17s (not sure if they would) then the logistics around the platform have to be worked out too. The IAF got the invite exactly a year from the ex. and they decided and then started the prep right then. All Air Forces have to do this work up for Red Flag. The Swedish Airforce did not even send a single Grippen to the RIAT air show because they were doing the work-up preparation for the next Red Flag session even though they have been flying and operating alongside NATO Air forces for years now.

however Saab did have a static display of the Gripen JAS-39 at RIAT.