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Pakistan To Test-Fire Italian Air Defense Missiles in 2010
May 12, 2009

By tom kington

ROME: Pakistan will test-fire next spring the Spada 2000 air defense system it has acquired from MBDA Italia, officials at the Italian firm said.

The test-firing, which will be staged in Pakistan in the first half of 2010, will follow the delivery in February of the first of 10 Spada batteries ordered by Pakistan for 415 million euros ($565.1 million) in 2007.

"We aim to deliver all 10 of the batteries within 36 months of the test-firing, that is to say by 2013," said Antonio Perfetti, CEO of MBDA Italia, which is the Finmeccanica-owned Italian operation within the European missile house MBDA.

Operated by Italy and Spain, each Spada 2000 system features two firing sections, each containing two to four missile launchers, each hosting six Aspide 2000 missiles. The missiles have an intercept range of more than 20 kilometers.

Since the contract became operational in February 2008, MBDA has launched the construction of facilities in Karachi for maintenance on the systems.

The set-up forms part of an offset arrangement on the sale, which Perfetti said had been "important" to winning the contract.

Two facilities are being prepared, one for maintenance of the Spada system and a second for guidance system testing and maintenance of the Aspide missiles, both completed in February.

Training of Pakistani technicians will start this year, while Pakistani military officials visited MBDA in Italy last week to follow progress, part of a cycle of visits.

Perfetti said the Italian military was continuing to act as liaison with the customer. A second MBDA official added that the Italian Air Force had already helped prove the effectiveness of the system in 2005 when it staged eight test-launches at its Salto di Quirra range for visiting Pakistani officials.

Link: http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i= ... =ASI&s=AIR

PAF launches relief campaign for IDPs
May 14, 2009

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force launched a relief campaign for the IDPs.

Relief cells have been established at all PAF bases for collection of edible items, medicines and other relief goods from PAF personnel. A central relief camp has been established at Air Headquarters, Islamabad.

Tents, bedding and ration for 300 families are being dispatched to Mardan relief camps. PAF has also offered services of its transport aircraft for airlift of donated goods for the IDPs.

It has established dispatch centers at PAF Base, Faisal (Karachi), PAF Base Lahore and PAF Base Samungli (Quetta).

PAF offers to Airlift goods for IDPs
May 15, 2009

LAHORE: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has offered the services of its transport aircraft fleet to airlift relief goods for the internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The PAF has launched a relief campaign for the IDPs of Swat, Buner and Dir on the instructions of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman to express its unity with the nation in alleviating the sufferings of the displaced persons. Camps have been established at all PAF bases for the collection of relief goods from PAF personnel.

The CAS Relief Fund accounts have been established at Habib Bank Limited’s F-8 Markaz branch in Islamabad. The PAF and PAFWA (Pakistan Air Force Women Association) have donated Rs two million and Rs 0.5 million respectively for assisting the IDPs.

PAF playing important role in country’s defence; Zardari
May 23, 2009

ISLAMABAD (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan Air Force always played an important role in the country’s defence besides providing support to civil administration in relief and rehabilitation efforts.

He made these remarks in meeting with Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman who called on him here in Presidency today.

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman apprised the President of various measures taken by the PAF to optimize its effectiveness and efficiency. He also informed the President about the ongoing projects regarding PAF’s up-gradation and modernization.

Pakistan says Indian AWACS would trigger arms race
May 28, 2009

Pakistan voiced concern over the acquisition of Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) aircraft by India and said it would counter the threat by inducting 500 American Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles.

Claiming that induction of AWACS by India would trigger a new arms race in the subcontinent, Pakistan's Air chief Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said Islamabad would match this capability by acquiring its own AWACS by September this year. The Air chief told newsmen in Risalpur that Pakistan was also procuring more US-made F-16 fighter aircraft.

Suleman was commenting on reports that India had inducted the first of its three Phalcon AWACS into the Indian Air Force. Pakistan is proposing to buy a Swedish SAAB Ericsson
AWACS, which however, have a limited range as compared to the Phalcons.

The Air Chief said PAF was supporting the military in its ongoing operations in Swat and Malakand in NWFP. "PAF had destroyed several Taliban hideouts and caches of ammunition to pave the way for rapid advance by ground forces in Swat."

Asked about whether Pakistan had capability to shoot down drones, Suleman said "definitely" and cited the shooting down of an Indian surveillance plane in 2002 near Lahore.

PAF FT-7 aircraft crashes near Mianwali
May 29, 2009

ISLAMABAD: A Chinese built FT-7 jet aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force crashed over civilian areas in Moosa Wali area of Piplan near Mianwali killing one woman and injuring at least six people.

The fighter was on a routine training mission when it crashed, but both pilots named Kamran and Musharraf ejected safely and a board of inquiry has been ordered by the Air Headquarters to determine the cause of accident, the Pakistan Air Force said in a statement here.

The the Chinese-built FT-7 fighter jet crashed into a house during a routine operational training mission injuring at least six people including Yasin, Zainab, Nazia and Samina. The injured were shifted to District Headquarters Mianwali where Zainab Bibi succumbed to her injuries.

“On the instructions of Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, the PAF will fully compensate the damage occurred on ground and provide free medical facilities to injured persons,â€

PAF being made Air Force of 21st Century - PAF Chief
May 30, 2009

ISLAMABAD: “Pakistan Air Force is in the process of acquiring latest and state-of-the-art equipment to build an Air Force, worth of the challenges of 21st century,â€

PAF to safeguard Pakistan from External, Internal dangers
May 30, 2009

LAHORE: Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman called on the Punjab Governor Salman Taseer at Governor House, Lahore.

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman expressed his satisfaction over the preparedness of Pakistan Air Force to safeguard Pakistan from external as well as internal dangers.

The Air Chief apprised the Governor of the latest achievements of Pakistan Air Force in acquiring the most modern technology keeping in view the challenges confronted by the Pakistani nation. “PAF remained perpetually ready to combat terrorism and our fighter pilots were patriotic enough to offer all sacrifices necessary to foil insurgency against the Government of Pakistan, “ he added.

Governor Salman Taseer acknowledged the role of PAF in defending the territorial integrity of Pakistan and said whole the nation stood behind Armed Forces of Pakistan and whole-heartedly supported the mission to wipeout terrorists from the safe havens of Swat Valley. “In this connection, a consensus exists among all the political parties and the public at large,â€

PAF facilitate relief efforts for IDPs
June 6, 2009

MARDAN: Air Vice Martial Hafeezullah on Friday said the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was making all-out efforts to facilitate the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of the Malakand Division and was using the C-130 planes for supplying relief goods to camps in Mardan and Swabi.

Talking to the media during his visit to the Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School No 1 here, he said the PAF was taking all possible measures for the rehabilitation of the IDPs.The relief goods provided by the PAF to the IDPs include fans, mattresses, rations, bedding, tents, medicines and clothing.

He added that they had constructed tube-wells and bathrooms, besides distribution of a huge quantity of food items. Hafeezullah said they had opened a relief cell where they were collecting donations for the IDPs.

Earlier, he handed over 18 truckloads of relief goods to NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti and said that the IDPs would not be left alone in this hour of need.Meanwhile, the Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH), Islamabad, has set up a satellite hospital at Pabbi to look after the IDPs.

Medical treatment is being provided on round-the-clock basis. Major and minor surgeries are being carried out everyday. Senior consultants are also visiting the hospital.Dr Shahbaz Kureshi, head of the Cardiology Department, visited the satellite hospital and examined children and adults. All the medicines are being provided free of cost and they are available in abundance.

Meanwhile, teachers and students of the Peshawar Public School and College have collected a donation of Rs 250,000 for the IDPs, said a press release issued here on Friday.They distributed the amount and medicine to the 50 families staying at the Government Primary Schools for Girls at Zaryab Colony, Gorgathree, and Gulbahar No 2, Peshawar City.

Shama Zulfiqar, a female teacher, donated Rs 35,000, including her full monthly salary, while a female student of the 10th Grade donated Rs 5,000.A delegation, headed by Boys’ Section Principal Arbab Jamil and Girls’ Section Principal Almas Ali, distributed cash and medicine among the IDPs.

Meanwhile, the Mashal Welfare Trust (MWT) distributed food items and gift packs among the IDPs in Mardan on Friday.The relief goods included mineral water, bakery items, clothes, bedsheets, spoons, floor sheets, packets of rice, spices, ghee, sugar, tea sets and other items.

MWT Chairperson Shehnaz Javed Gandapur and two office-bearers, Mariam and Sara, had collected the goods during a donation campaign in Lahore.Meanwhile, a delegation of the Interfaith League against Poverty (ILaP) on Friday distributed relief goods among 1,200 IDPs of Swat and Buner, based in a camp at Kahuta in the Swabi district.

The relief goods included mattresses, kitchen sets, water coolers and mosquito nets.Meanwhile, Dr Syed Muhammad Salim, the president of the Malgari Doctoran, an ANP-affiliated organisation, said on Friday that the provincial government had launched a lady health workers (LHWs) programme to provide healthcare for women at various camps for the IDPs.

He said the programme included health education, maternity care, first-aid treatment for the respiratory tract infection and anti-natal cases, besides the registration of women. He said around 3,000 patients were examined and acute cases were referred to major hospitals. He said they had held 5,000 health sessions so far.He said the ENT specialists and gynaecologists were also available in the OPD on regular basis for proper medical check-up of the IDPs.

- The News

US delivers four MI-17 cargo helicopters to Pakistan
June 11, 2009

ISLAMABAD - The United States has handed over four MI-17 cargo helicopters to the Pakistan Army to facilitate its counter-terrorism operation.

“On a request by the Government of Pakistan, the United States delivered four MI-17 cargo helicopters to the Pakistani Army,â€