Critically Evaluating PAF Capabilities:
There are concerns regarding fleet of Pakistan Air Force turning obsolete. PAF needs to retire around 10 squadrons of its Mirages and F-7s till 2020 to keep pace with its development goals. The air force officials have gone on record raising their concerns about our eroding capability. In current state our Air Force cannot sustain operations for more than three weeks.
Related: Why India Keeps Violating Pakistani Soveriegnty
Surely, we could not be adamant to the fact that technology keeps the contest going. And that Pakistan Air Force has lost its qualitative edge big time and it faces urgent retirement of half of its operational squadrons, over next 3-4 years. Some also think that we have lost our qualitative edge to IAF thanks to the poor finances and rank indifferent leadership. And that despite good Air safety record, it is still different from combat potential. However, man makes the machine fly. ‘Junoon’ is a great substitute for power punch, as we ignominiously discovered in 1965.
Statistically Speaking:
The reader may also please look statistically the number of air accidents and machine failures for the IAF you’ll realise India’s dependence on Russian technology has always been a bad choice. Comparatively, Pakistan pretty much has an edge with a mix of American & Chinese technolgy along with in-house equipment. And now PAF too will participate in friendly strategic exercise with fellow Russian Air commands.
