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Ex-Air Chief asked to appear as witness
June 20, 2009

By By Usman Manzoor

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s standing committee on defence has convened former air chief Saadat Kaleem as witness to publicly scrutinise the multi-billion dollar defence deals by the Pakistan Air Force.

The committee took up the matter when a news item appeared in this newspaper regarding non-scrutinised deals of the PAF worth billion of dollars having procedural violations and compromise on technology.

Syed Haider Ali Shah, a member of the committee, told The News that a meeting of the NA Standing Committee on Defence has been convened for June 27 (Saturday) and the former air chief Saadat Kaleem has been asked to attend the meeting as a witness.

The former air chief when contacted said that he would not offer any comment to the media. He neither denied nor confirmed whether he had accepted an invitation from the Standing Committee on Defence to appear as witness.

However, a committee member told this correspondent that the former air chief had conveyed to the committee that he would appear before it only after getting permission from the chief of the army staff.

Saadat Kaleem had accused General (retd) Pervez Musharraf of ruining the PAF’s $1.2 billion Saab surveillance system deal by adding the Chinese technology to the Swedish for possible kickbacks, producing a mismatch.

It was reported that the PAF Air Board had been bypassed in quite a few defence deals during the recent years owing to pressures both from within and outside the force. This newspaper reported that before the last major PAF deal worth $1 billion for the first consignment of JF-17 aircraft, an influential Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) pilot having close association with the holder of a high office in Islamabad was seen visiting the top offices at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad. Following these visits towards the end of January 2009, the $1 billion deal on JF-17 moved on a fast track.

The same PIA employee interestingly travelled to China, along with President Asif Ali Zardari, in February this year to obtain a one billion dollar loan. According to the report, besides the latest deal, the PAF Air Board was also ignored in quite a few other deals worth $800 million struck with Brazil, South Africa, Russia and Italy in the last few years for purchase of different technologies for the PAF.

Source: The News

Graduation Ceremony at PAF Air War College
June 21, 2009

KARACHI: The award of Fellow of Air War College (FAWC) Certificates Ceremony was held at Air War College, Pakistan Air Force Base Faisal, Karachi. An ISPR (PAF) press release issued on Sunday said that Acting Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, Air Marshal Hifazat Ullah Khan, was the chief guest on the occasion.

It said that the chief guest distributed certificates among the graduating officers of 22nd Air War Course comprising the officers from Pakistan Army, Navy, Air Force, and friendly countries including China, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Turkey, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

In his address on the occasion, Air Marshal Hifazat Ullah Khan congratulated the recipients of the certificates and commended the faculty of the Air War College for their consistent hard work and commitment to excellence.

He said that nuclearisation and rise of non-state actors in South Asia have recast the shape and nature of future conflicts in our region, resulting in additional intellectual and professional challenges.

He advised the officers to be prepared to meet the enormous challenges lying ahead and conduct themselves ably under all circumstances to make their alma mater proud of their achievements.

Earlier, Commandant Air War College, Air Vice Marshal Tubrez Asif, presented the course report in which he gave details of the different study phases that were conducted, which included professional subjects like command, leadership, human resource management, national security, military strategy and air power employment.

The Commandant conveyed his appreciation for the hard work and commitment of all the officers who underwent the course.

He also thanked all the guests and particularly the Acting Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force for gracing the occasion.

PAF-Army undertakes Joint Field Firing Exercise at Tilla Ranges
June 22, 2009

ISLAMABAD: Corps Commander Rawalpindi Lieutenant General Tahir Mehmood reiterated the need for constant operational preparedness to meet all facets of security challenges. He was talking to the troops undertaking field firing exercises at Tilla Ranges (Jhelum).

In this combined training event, PAF fighter aircraft in coordination with Army’s heavy weapons including Artillery Guns engaged the targets to practice joint operational skills.

He appreciated battle worthiness of the soldiers and lauded their precision and accuracy in shooting skills.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

PAF Air-lifts relief goods for IDPs
June 22, 2009

ISLAMABAD: On the instructions of Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, a C-130 aircraft air-lifted relief goods, donated by the personnel of Pakistan Air Force, from PAF Base, Faisal (Karachi) to PAF Academy, Risalpur.

Relief goods, weighing about 20,000 pounds, included tea, dry milk, sugar, ghee, flour, rice, mineral water, fans, water coolers, bedding and clothes, would be distributed to Internally Dislocated Persons (IDPs) of Swat , Buner and Dir.

Until now, Pakistan Air Force has carried out 08 sorties of C-130 aircraft, carrying relief goods weighing about 240,000 pounds.

Pakistan Air Force has been providing continuous help to these IDPs and has extended its whole hearted support to them.

Pakistan Air Force has established relief cells at all its Bases to collect relief goods from PAF personnel for the IDPs.

PAF’s C-130 Aircraft are providing airlift of relief goods to these IDPs camps from three major cities like Karachi, Lahore and Quetta.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

Military operation in South Waziristan intensified as Swat operation almost accomplished
June 23, 2009

By Farzana Shah

ISLAMABAD: Military operation in South Waziristan, FATA, is getting intense by every day. Pakistan Air Force is now a regular participant of ongoing military operation. Latest strike of PAF was in Salay Rogha area in South Waziristan, where 11 people got killed. Two compounds belonging to Malik Mohammd Amir Khan and Kabir Khan were destroyed. According to military sources these compounds were being used as training facilities for militants. Some foreigners are also believed among dead ones.

“They are occupying empty houses of those people who left their home town before operation startedâ€

1965 war veteran Squadron Leader Arshad Sami passes away
June 25, 2009

ISLAMABAD: A war veteran of 1960, Squadron Leader (Retd) Arshad Sami Khan, S.J who passed away in Islamabad on Thursday would be laid to rest.

According to DPR Air, his funeral prayers will be offered at 1915 Hrs on June 26 at Air Headquarters (Unit) Sports Ground, PAF Complex, Sector E-9, Islamabad. He will be laid to rest at CDA Graveyard (Sector H-11), Islamabad with profound Military Honour.

During 1965 War, Squadron Leader Arshad Sami Khan flew the maximum combat missions from Peshawar. His enthusiasm and aggressive spirit was of the highest order and was responsible for igniting the spirit of competition amongst other pilots in its most effective form.

He led formations into the battle area with exemplary determination and brought back excellent results. He was credited with one aircraft, 15 tanks and 22 vehicles destroyed, plus eight tanks and 19 vehicles damaged and two heavy guns destroyed.

He never looked tired or apprehensive in the face of heavy odds but kept on inflicting maximum damage to the enemy as his only objective. For his outstanding devotion to duty and bravery, Squadron Leader Arshad Sami Khan was awarded the Sitara-i -Jurat.

Air Chief Marshal, Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff has expressed great sorrow and grief on death of the War Veteran.

- Associated Press of Pakistan

PAF Operating against Extremists - Air Chief
June 27, 2009

SARGODHA: Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said Pakistan Air Forces are conducting full-fledged activities against the terrorists.

In his address to the graduating Combat Commanders Pakistan Air Force Base, Mushaf (Sargodha), the Air Chief said “The challenges, both internal and external, that confront us today and our responses to these have to be viewed in the broader perspective of the changes that are shaping the geopolitical landscape of the world.â€

First Pakistan made JF-17 to fly in country’s airspace by end of this year: Air Chief
June 27, 2009

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said that first Pakistan made JF-17 Thunder aircraft would fly in the country’s airspace by end of this year. He made this announcement while addressing the Graduation Ceremony of No 38 Combat Commanders’ Course which was held at Pakistan Air Force Base, Mushaf (Sargodha).

In his address to the graduating Combat Commanders, he said, The JF-17 Thunder programme is on track. “We will start production of this aircraft from 30th of this month and Inshallah 1st Made in Pakistan JF-17 aircraft will fly in Pakistan’s airspace by end of this year.â€

Pakistan to start production of JF-17 Thunder by month-end
June 28, 2009

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will start the serial production of JF-17 Thunder warplane, jointly developed with China, by the end of this month, with the first indigenously produced combat jet set to take to the skies by end of the year.“We will start production of this aircraft from the 30th of this month and Inshallah, the first made-in-Pakistan JF-17 aircraft will fly in Pakistan’s airspace by the end of this year,â€

Tusas sign contract to modernise Pakistani F-16s
June 29, 2009

by Asif Shamim

Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI), has signed a deal with Pakistan's Defence Production Ministry to modernise 42 of the countries F-16 aircraft.

In a statement, Tusas said the project for the modernisation of F-16s will cost around $75 million and will begin at its Turkish facilities in October 2010 lasting 46 months.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was signed between TAI and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during IDEAS Defense Exhibition in September 2006 in Karachi, Pakistan.

TAI was among several European competitors which bid for the work. At the end of an evaluation period, Pakistani authorities selected The Turkish company back in July 2008.

Following the negotiations, which started in 2009, the contract was signed between TAI and Pakistan Ministry of Defence Production on June 29, 2009 at a ceremony held in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

In 2006, as a result of an similar bidding process, TAI, signed an agreement with the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) to modernise the countries F-16s. Work was completed successfully with the delivery of the last aircraft in April 2009.