Tempest-II Wargame: PAF Seeks Operational Synergy With Army, Navy

By News Desk

Islamabad—Pakistan Air Force (PAF) seeks to enhance its operational synergy with two sister forces in latest wargame, Tempest-II which commenced yesterday here in Islamabad. According to news, a detailed inaugural briefing regarding the aim, objectives and conduct of the PAF exercise Tempest-II was held at Nur Khan Auditorium Air Headquarters, Islamabad, on Tuesday. Opening cermony was attended by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCS) General Rashad Mahmood along with top tier of tri-service was also present along with Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sohail Aman, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force.

Pakistan, US and F-16s: What is Wrong in the Mix?

By Shahzad Masood Roomi

In the latest twist in ever shaky Pak-US relations, the US has told Pakistan to arrange the full US$699 million to get 8 F-16s Block 52s instead of spending just US$276 million for the same after Senate Committee on Foreign Relations members and head barred the Obama administration from using the American taxpayers money to subsidies the deal. According to original deal, the US was to arrange US$430 million through Foreign Military Financing (FMF).

Russia: Intensive Weapon Testing of PAK-FA

By News Desk
 
Russian latest 5th generation fighter Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA 'fifth-generation' has conducted trials of munitions launched from its internal weapons bays for the first time, the former commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) General Vladimir Mikhailov told state TV.

Despite the announcement, the claim could not be confirmed by any other sources, and neither has it been disclosed which weapon types were launched during the trials.

According to IHS Janes, there are total 5 prototypes of PAK-FA out of which 3 prototypes (T-50-3, T-50-4, and T-50-5R)  have necessary avionics and radars installed required for weapon testing. These three prototypes are currently in the Ministry of Defence's test centre in Akhtubinsk, which specializes in the testing of mission systems and airborne weapons.

At the same time, the T-50-1 and T-50-2 are undergoing captive-carry tests in Zhukovsky near Moscow with various configurations of external loads. Among the noticed configurations there are two air-to-surface Kh-31 and two air-to-air R-73 missiles, and also six 250-kg free-fall bombs.

According to unofficial information, a sixth prototype will depart the production facility in Komsomolsk-on-Amur at the end of April. It will be the first aircraft of the second test batch, reportedly fitted with significant changes in the airframe structure.

PAKFA project has direct relevance to Indo-Pak military balance as well. India's next generation fighter program (FGFA) is based on PAKFA fighter. Though there are certain issues where both the countries are yet to settle their differences like amount of Indian investment and Russian cooperation in terms of transfer of technology to India along with the aircraft. 

IAF is planning to induct FGFA by mid of next decade and once inducted, this would pose a serious challenge to PAF which has not yet announced any plans to induct any next generation fighter aircraft and is contended with modernizing its 4th generation fighter fleet comprising on F-16s and JF-17 Thunders.

ISIS Eying Europe to Acquire Nuclear Material

 

By Shahzad Masood Roomi

Pakistan is often sighted by many western analysts as potential source of supply of nuclear material for international nuclear terrorism. India has used these fear for her own geopolitical reasons. For instance, in May 2015, India "warns" the world that ISIS could obtain nuclear weapon from Pakistan.

Defence Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, while speaking on the sidelines of the Shangri-La regional security conference in Singapore, claimed "With the rise of Isis in West Asia, one is afraid to an extent that perhaps they might get access to a nuclear arsenal from states like Pakistan." 

To corroborate his claim he just had a statement issued by ISIS last year just days before Rao's speech in Singapore. Despite the lack of any proof, the statement of Indian minister got attention of wider western populace. But today, UK based news service, The Guardian, has exposed chilling details about ISIS's original plan to acquire nuclear material (for possible purpose of making a dirty bomb) and according to the news, ISIS is actually eying Germany for acquisition of nuclear material.  

According to the Guardian, Salah Abdeslam, a prime suspect in the Paris attacks, possessed documents about a nuclear research centre in Germany. The news outlet cited German newspaper reports as source of this disclosure.

The Juelich centre near the Belgium-Germany border is used for the storage of atomic waste. Thoguh German media is trying to downplaying the incident by saying "that there was no indication of any danger and that Juelich was in contact with security authorities and nuclear supervisors." But question remains, how an ISIS fighter was able to get its hands on such information.

As per Guardian's report, German media, however, confirmed that Abdeslam had photos of the Juelich chairman, Wolfgang Marquardt, in his apartment in the Molenbeek area of Brussels. This is serious development. Kidnapping of such officials at any nuclear facility could lead to far serious security dilemma. This revelations must also put the entire debate on nuclear security into a completely new perspective based on objectivity and transparency rather than geopolitical maneuvering by any nation state against anyone. 

  

India Conducts Second and Third Secret Tests Of K-4 SLBM

BY News Desk (DefenseNews.in): India tested it's most ambitious weapon -- the K-4 submarine-launched long range ballistic missile -- twice last month. Top sources tell Livefist that the two tests, both conducted at less than ceiling range of 3,500 km were conducted at an undisclosed location in the south Bay of Bengal.

"Zarb-e-Azb is Not Only an Operation But a Wholesome Concept", Gen Raheel Sharif

BY NewsDesk

Pakistan Army chief, Gen. Raheel has declared that operation Zarb-e-Azb is not only an operation but a wholesome concept. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Op Zarb-e-Azb is not only an operation but a wholesome concept. It ultimately aims at breaking the syndicate of terrorism, extremism and corruption.", he said. He was addressing to a seminar held at a hotel here in Gawadar.

Pak-China Joint Air Force Exercise 'Shaheen-5' Begins

By News Desk

China's air force on Saturday began joint training exercises with that of Pakistan, China's defence ministry said, as the two nations' militaries strengthen operational ties. The military drill, code-named “Shaheen (Eagle)-5” began on April 9 in Pakistan and will continue till April 30.
“China’s Air Force hopes to widen the scope of cooperation and dialogue with all countries and regions,” the Chinese Ministry of Defense statement said in a statement quoted by Reuters. 

 

As far as the composition of participating units, no details  where offered by Pakistani or Chinese side. Considering the respective components from the both sides in the previous exercises it is prudent that both sides will deploy front-line fighters along with force multipliers (AWACS and Air Refuelers).  The exercise will continue next three weeks.
Last year’s Shaheen-4, featured fourth-generation fighter jets and bombers as well as airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. The PAF alone participated with three different types of frontline fighter aircraft from different squadrons (likely the JF-17 Thunder, Dassault Mirage III/5, and F7 PG fighter aircraft).
The PLAAF and PAF have held Shaheen series exercises on regular basis since March 2011. The second training exercise took place in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in western China in September 2013, the third was held in Punjab, Pakistan, in May 2014.
Speaking to Reuters, the PAF second-in-command, Air-Vice Marshal Muhammad Ashfaque Arain, said that the PAF heavily relies on its fleet of around 70 U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets in its anti-terrorist operations in Pakistan. Whether any F-16 aircraft will participate in the training exercise is unknown. In February, the United States finally approved a possible of eight additional F-16 Block-52 fighters to Pakistan in a deal valued at $699 million.
Earlier, this Monday, the PAF also inducted 16 upgraded JF-17 Thunder Block II combat aircraft during a handover ceremony in Kamra, also known as Aviation City, the center of aircraft manufacturing in Pakistan. And now the chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman has said that Pakistan is going to produce 24 JF-17 Thunder fighters in 2016 after achieving the milestone of producing 16 in 2015.