Interview: Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Pakistan Air Force Chief of the Air S

[fatman17]

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INTERVIEW
Date Posted: 06-Aug-2009

Jane's Defence Weekly


Interview: Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Pakistan Air Force Chief of the Air Staff

Farhan Bokhari JDW Correspondent =Islamabad
Attachment 4416

A year after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was called to join the country's military effort in combating Taliban militants along the border with Afghanistan, the planned arrival in August of the first air-to-air refuelling aircraft on lease from Ukraine for training purposes carries a special significance.

By 2010, the PAF plans to complete the induction of up to four Ilyushin Il-78 aircraft fitted with a mid-air refuelling capability, extending the capacity of its fighter aircraft to patrol areas over the border region.

Western defence officials see the induction of a mid-air refuelling capability as a significant boost to the PAF at a time when the force aims to reconcile itself with duties related to anti-terror operations while maintaining what its senior commanders describe as a "minimum deterrence" against the much larger Indian Air Force (IAF).

According to the chief of the air staff of the PAF, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, the refuelling capability is an "extremely significant" development. "This is an absolutely new capability we are getting, which we are inducting. We never had this capability in the Pakistan Air Force," ACM Qamar told Jane's.

The PAF's operations in Pakistan's northern areas, ranging from the northern Swat valley and its surrounding region, have been carried out mainly by some of the 45 US-supplied F-16 multirole fighter aircraft in Pakistan's inventory.

"These armed aircraft can stay for up to four, five, six hours in the area," ACM Qamar said.

"During this time, if there is any militant attack anywhere in the FATA [Federally Administered Tribal Areas], these aircraft can go there immediately, within minutes, and they can bomb the militants. It will create the right kind of deterrence against the militants."

ACM Qamar said the PAF's operations in the north have brought significant pressure to bear on Taliban militants, who were on the advance until the recent military campaign in Swat began reversing the tide. "They [Taliban militants] never see us on the ground. The only time they find out that an aircraft has struck is when the bomb explodes on them. It creates a great psychological impact."

The PAF's experience in the past year is beginning to influence its future plans, both in terms of operational procedures as well as the choice of aircraft and ammunition.

"This was a new kind of warfare for us. The PAF was focused on enemy air forces. We remained focused on enemy land forces and enemy air forces and, therefore, we were preparing ourselves to fight against organised modern air forces and against modern armies," ACM Qamar said. "We never thought we would be required to fight against militants or be involved in counter-insurgency operations. When we started this [counter-insurgency], we had to learn while on the job. We had to re-orient our thinking, we had to refine our ... existing SOPs [standard operating procedures] and we had to develop new SOPs for this kind of warfare. However, we did that very quickly."

This experience has led the PAF to identify new areas for development, such as acquiring more precision-guided bombs, enhanced night precision attack capabilities and the capability to monitor communications and track the movement of militants.

The PAF's other, already established, requirements include the development of the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, co-produced with China.

The PAF plans to eventually induct up to 250 JF-17 fighters, making the aircraft the backbone of its inventory. The first 'fully made in Pakistan' JF-17 is expected to be produced by the end of this year at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in Kamra, north of Islamabad. However, there is still a requirement for a more advanced fighter aircraft, as the PAF prepares to counter the future edge that may be acquired by the IAF once it completes the planned purchase of 126 multirole combat aircraft (MRCAs)

"We knew about this requirement of the Indian Air Force for 126 latest-generation fighter aircraft. Yes, it is an alarming development because when they get 126 such capable aircraft, then we also need to have something matching to counter that threat," ACM Qamar said.

For the PAF, not only will the induction of 14 used F-16 aircraft and 18 new F-16C/D aircraft figure prominently in narrowing the gap, but continuing negotiations with China to purchase up to 36 FC-20 fighter aircraft - designated the J-10 in China - will also play an important role.

ACM Qamar said the PAF has finalised the technical proposal for the FC-20 and informed the Chinese of its requirements.

"[The technical proposal] is more or less finalised now. There are some changes that are required, which [the Chinese] are making," he said.

The next stage of the contract will involve financial negotiations between China and Pakistan. ACM Qamar believes that, following the signing of a contract, it will take two to two-and-a-half years before the first FC-20 aircraft is received.

Other elements of the PAF's force expansion include the purchase of four Erieye airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft from Sweden.

The PAF expects to receive the first of these aircraft by end of this year and the other three next year.

ACM Qamar said the PAF has also signed a contract for the purchase of four Chinese airborne early warning and control aircraft. The first of these is due to arrive in 2011 and the remaining three will be delivered in 2012.

this should clear some of the "discussions" and "speculations" going on the forum

[greatsequence]

There is nothing new in this interview.

[fatman17]

There is nothing new in this interview.

good for you!

[hj786]

There is nothing new in this interview.

Nothing new to you maybe. It says FC-20 will arrive circa 2012, previously we thought it would be 2014-2015. Thanks for posting it FM sahib.

[mean_bird]

Nothing new to you maybe. It says FC-20 will arrive circa 2012, previously we thought it would be 2014-2015. Thanks for posting it FM sahib.

Where did you get that from?

Its true that there is nothing new in the interview but atleast there's confirmation of previously known facts. Not every single interview has to have something new.

Thanks Fatman for the post

[hj786]

Where did you get that from?

Its true that there is nothing new in the interview but atleast there's confirmation of previously known facts. Not every single interview has to have something new.

Thanks Fatman for the post

My bad, I didn't read it properly. Yup, at least it confirms the various procurement projects are on schedule so far.

[fatman17]

Australian air chief visits PAF Headquarters

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal Mark D Binskin, on Monday visited the Air Headquarters. He was received by Pakistan Air Force chief Rao Qamar Suleman. After reviewing a guard of honour, Binskin met the principal staff officers of the Pakistan Air Force and also paid homage to the martyrs of PAF by laying a wreath at the Martyrs' Monument. The Australian air chief later discussed various issues of bilateral interest with air chief Rao Qamar Suleman. Binskin was also briefed on the organisation, role and functioning of the Pakistan Air Force.

staff report

[fatman17]

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Air chief marshall calls on Qaim

KARACHI: Air Chief Marshall Rao Qamar Suleman called on Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah at the Chief Minister’s House on Friday.

Shah welcomed Suleman and appreciated the Air Force’s role in defending the country and its people. The air chief marshall apprised the chief minister about the performance and activities of the Air Force. He asked Shah to provide some land required for expansion of the base at Nawabshah. Shah assured him that the required land will be provided. On the occasion, the air chief marshall presented a Pakistan Air Force shield and crest to Shah who in return presented a Chief Minister’s House shield and traditional gifts of ajrak and Sindhi cap.

ppi