According to an India Today report, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is stronger than ever. The paper admitted that since the last 1971 war, the PAF has built up numbers, lethal capabilities and a combat force now counted as one of the most disciplined and well-trained air forces in the world.
The report said the recent presentation by the defence intelligence establishment paints a morbid picture of how the numbers and capability advantage that the Indian Air Force has always found comfort in is rapidly slipping away. Headlines Today has accessed the recent presentation made to the Ministry of Defence. The document makes singularly ominous projections. The most glaring warning is about combat force ratio.
The presentation says that the ratio of 1:1.7 is likely to progressively dip to 1:1.2 by the end of 2012. It describes this as a “historic low”. According to India Today, with Pakistan rapidly acquiring early warning aircraft, mid-air refuellers and long-range missiles, the technology gap is at a historic low. The paper said that the Indian government has been warned that with the Indian Air Force’s edge slipping fast, the Pakistan Air Force’s assertiveness is likely to increase.
Once seen as a primarily defensive force, the Pakistan Air Force will use its new strength to employ offensive and defensive operations in equal measure. With new precision weapons, the Pakistan Air Force will conduct limited strikes to achieve strategic effects. The one thing that will not change – it said are the high-value targets in Indian-held Kashmir will be high-priority targets for the PAF. There’s a deeper threat at play than just fighter numbers.
Rapid inductions of new generation fighters give the Pakistan Air Force significantly enhanced fighting potential. The air superiority fighter advantage that the IAF once enjoyed is progressively disappearing. Finally, according to India Today, with an ageing Soviet fleet of aircraft (MIGs) that are troublesome and facing retirement, the Indian Air Force looks at an even greater dip in the numbers advantage. The message to the Indian Defence Ministry and the government is simple. Cut your losses and plan hard for the future, the paper warned.
India has ordered a whole range of new Sukhov and Jaguar planes. It is also in the market to purchase some new US aircraft. The PAF may have the edge in the short and medium term however in the long run India will be able to outspend us by far. They have already done this vis a vis the Navy and the Army. It is only a matter of time.
What we need to do is to be realistic about our capabilities. We need to focus on our internal political and economic well being – First and Foremost. If we can elect honest and more responsive leaders, we should be able to start down the road of peace with ALL of our neighbours.
This doesnt stop us from supporting a political settlement in Kashmir and Afghanistan and the ultimate evacuation of non muslim peackeepers.
Once we have benefitted from the peace dividend we must strengthen our outer deterrence in an intelligent fashion. The future battles will not be fought in the air, water and land. It will be the battle of ideas, media, cyberspace and economics. Let us prepare for this while we continue to support our brave defenders within our means.
We should never become self congratulatory. Let us fix the wrongs in our country.
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