The Hindu : Pak. withdraws aircraft from forward operating bases

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 18, 2002

International

International

Pak. withdraws aircraft from forward operating bases

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Dec. 17. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has withdrawn `war assets' from its forward operating bases, the Chief of the Pakistan Air Staff, Mushaf Ali Mir, has said.

In an informal talk with correspondents here at the inaugural function of a seminar on `self-reliance in military aviation' today, he said most of aircraft had been withdrawn and normal training resumed at peacetime locations.

Pakistan had moved its military aircraft to the forward operating bases after mobilisation of forces by India following the December 13 Parliament attack.

To a question on the alleged mass procurement of hi-tech aircraft and avionics by India, he said ``at present, our ratios are not very bad. At the same time, there is no denying the fact that if India continues to get more hi-tech aircraft from the West or from the East then this balance will tilt in favour of our adversary.''

``It is always our endeavour to get more hi-tech aircraft and right from top to down, this is an acknowledged fact that the PAF needs to be strengthened.'' He said AWACS and radars were needed.

He said ``right now, the international political situation is not favourable for any country to sell expensive hi-tech and what to talk of the aircraft.''

Brushing aside the impression that the manufacturing of the K-8 aircraft project had been shelved, Air Marshal Mir said the project had been going ahead during the last three years and the media reports were wrong.

The project was a joint venture with a Chinese firm (Ketic), and some major parts and components were being manufactured in Pakistan. The PAF has recently inducted six K-8 aircraft and six more would be coming next year. ``We intended to increase the number of the aircraft by adding 18 more.''

He said the prototype of the indigenously developed Super-7 medium to hi-tech aircraft would make its maiden flight by June-end next year.

The aircraft was a medium tech one but would have reasonably hi-tech avionics.

However, he said, it could not be compared with the latest aircraft such as F-16 and others.

``It is a second-tier aircraft and can be compared with the Indian Light Combat Aircraft. There can be unforeseen delays, but our all-out endeavour is to meet the deadline successfully.'' He said it would take many more years for the aircraft to make regular flights.

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