F-16 of Pakistan Air Force

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CLASHES OVER KASHMIR​

1. Aviation Features
2. Clashes Over Kashmir

21st March 2019
FEATURE


A series of confrontations beginning in late February saw Indian Air Force (IAF) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft engage in air combat and strikes on targets in the disputed territory of Kashmir. During these encounters the loss of at least one Indian MiG-21bisUPG fighter was confirmed.
The IAF launched air raids on February 26 in response to a militant attack in Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops – the deadliest to take place during a threedecade insurgency against Indian rule in the region. Jaish-e-Muhammad, a Pakistanbased group claimed responsibility for the attack. IAF Mirage 2000s struck a suspected militant training camp at Balakot in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in the early hours, reportedly using Israelimade SPICE standoff munitions. A day later, the PAF conducted air strikes over the ceasefire line, reportedly targeting Indian Army positions and a logistics installation. The aerial attacks across the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Indian and Pakistani territory are the first since the two countries went to war in 1971.
Pakistan claimed to have shot down two IAF aircraft that entered the country’s airspace during its February 27 strikes. Authorities in Islamabad initially said two IAF pilots had been captured. In fact, only one was confirmed taken into custody: Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman had been flying MiG-21bisUPG serial CU2328 of No 51 Squadron. As a gesture of goodwill, he was handed back on March 1 at the Wagah border crossing.
Varthaman’s MiG-21 was among those scrambled together with Su-30MKIs and Mirage 2000s to intercept a large package of PAF aircraft detected by IAF radar heading towards Indian territory in the general area of Jhangar before crossing into Indian airspace west of Rajauri in the Sunderbani area. It is unclear what PAF type claimed the MiG-21 kill, however, parts of an AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM missile, which is only carried by F-16s in PAF service, were recovered from Indian territory east of Rajauri. Islamabad stated that none of its F-16s were involved in the mission. The Indian MoD claimed that a two-seat PAF F-16D was downed by a MiG-21 using an R-73 (AA-11 Archer) air-to-air missile.However, Pakistan denies losing any aircraft a claim confirmed by the Pentagon.
In a separate incident on the 27th, an IAF Mi-17V-5 helicopter crashed in the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir in India. The Hip had been flying a routine mission from Srinagar airfield when it came down, killing all six on board.

Originally published in Aviation News Magazine​

 

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F-16 History​

The 9th squadron was the second within the PAF to be equipped with the F-16. The first aircraft arrived in the course of 1984. With the introduction of the F-16, the squadron was moved from Masroor AB to Sarghoda AB to form the 38th Wing there. This move was meant to reinforce the units at Sarghoda AB which is situated closer to the Afghan border then Masroor AB, which lays on the southern coastline.
Immediately with its introduction, the F-16 was the premier front-line fighter of the Pakistani Air Force. This meant that the F-16 was sent out to patrol Pakistans borders. With the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan in 1979, a lot of turmoil existed in the Pakistani-Afghan border region. Russian and Afghan aircraft regularly crossed the border with Pakistan. F-16s were sent to counter these intrusions.

PAF F-16A #85726 and F-16B #84608 over the Choolistan desert, armed with AIM-9 Sidewinders - the PAF's main air-to-air weapons [PAF photo]
This tense situation existed until the Soviet withdrawal in 1989. In that period, 9th squadron was credited with three air kills against Soviet and Afghan aircraft. The first interception occurred on May 17th, 1986 when Squadron Leader Mohammed Yousaf shot down two Su-22 fighters near Parachinar. The second interception occurred on March 30th, 1987 when an An-26 fell victim to Squadron Leader Sikander Hayat near Miranshah.
Already worked up as an air defence asset, the Pakistani Air Force wanted to expand the possibilities of the F-16 and also use it in the ground attack role. Therefore it installed the Thompson-CSF ALTIS II laser designation pod on its F-16s from 1987 onwards. Pakistan was the first country to introduce this pod on its F-16 which makes it possible to accurately deliver laser guided bombs as the GBU-10/12.
With the decision to upgrade the existing F-16s to MLU standards in the near future, the possibilities of the PAF to put the F-16 into operation will expand drastically.

PAF F-16A block 15 #84715 from the 9th sqn is coming in for landing at Konya AB during exercise Anatolian Eagle held there in June of 2006. [Photo by Emin Fýndýklý]

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NEW PAF F-16 SQUADRON​

1. Aviation Features
2. New PAF F-16 squadron

20th June 2019
FEATURE

Alan Warnes
A FIFTH Pakistan Air Force F-16 squadron was formed earlier this year at PAF Base Mushaf in Sargodha. As evidenced by the tail markings on F-16A serial 84718, 29 Squadron is an aggressor squadron operated by the co-located Airpower Centre of Excellence (ACE). However, the unit also has a combat role and is believed to have played a major part in Operation Swift Retort, when the PAF responded to an Indian Air Force attack on February 27.

Originally published in AirForces Monthly Magazine​

 

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Pakistan Air Force (PAF) General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon (serial# 84717) photographed at Kamra Air Base in 1991. It's the same F-16A that was piloted by Flight Lieutenant Khalid Mehmood and shot down Afghan Air Force Sukhoi Su-22 on November 3, 1988.

 

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Another One for the Tail Choppers - November 3, 1988​

Another One for the Tail Choppers - November 3, 1988​

Post Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:53 am
Hat Trick for Khalid

Pilots: Squadron Leader Ehtsham Zakaria (Leader), Flight Lieutenant Khalid Mehmood (No. 2)
Controller: Squadron Leader Saif ur Rahman
Date: November 3, 1988
Aircraft Shot: Su-22
Area: West of Thal

Squadron Leader Khalid's third and PAF's last confirmed victory came during the course of a CAP mission near Kohat. On this occasion, Khalid was flying as No. 2 in a two ship formation of F-16's. The encounter opened with Khalid and his leader at 10,000 feet when they were informed by GCI that six unidentified hostile aircraft (bogeys) were heading towards the border. A subsequent message confirmed that three of them had violated Pakistani airspace while the other three stayed right on the border line.


On a heading of 280 degrees, the two F-16's moved to engage; the lead quickly informed GCI that he had radar contact. Khalid obtained a lock on the No. 2 aircraft, which was flying on the southern side of the formation. They continued to close the gap but at a distance of 8 NM, Nos. 2 and 3 of the enemy formation executed a 180 degree turn that very quickly allowed them to regain the security of the Afghanistan airspace. For some reason, the leading Afghan fighter kept coming in and at a range of 7 NM, the F-16 lead pilot obtained a visual contact, with Khalid following suit moments later. At this time both F-16's were still at 10,000 feet while the bandit, an Su-22, was some 7,000 feet higher. Both F-16's then initiated a gradual climb as the Su-22 began turning to depart, the enemy pilot having been warned by his GCI of the presence of the two F-16's. His tardiness in heading for safety was to prove fateful. The leader elected to press home his attack, but the Su-22 pilot then showed good tactical sene by turning to face the threat. This prevented the first F-16 from launching a missile. Besides, the leader had experienced some difficulty with his Sidewinder, which may have prevented him from engaging the target. In choosing to evade the threat posed by the leading F-16, the Su-22 pilot placed himself at the risk of attack by Khalid, who wasted no time in making a hard right turn into the Su-22 and launched an AIM-9L from a range of 2.7NM in a head-on pass. While all this was going on, the lead F-16 began manoeuvring into a position which would enable him to engage the Su-22 with gunfire from a 6 o'clock position. He still had some way to go when Khalid's Sidewinder struck home. Smoke and flying panels issued from the damaged fighter, which continued flying about 10 NM inside Pakistan.

Khalid realized very quickly that the Su-22 was damaged. He waited a few more seconds before launching another AIM-9L at an aspect angle of about 150-160 degrees. The missile had barely left the rail when the enemy pilot ejected. This missile also scored a direct hit, causing the Su-22 to break in two and to head earthwards in flaming debris. The entire incident was observed from the ground by personnel of the Pakistan Army and by Pathan tribesmen. The wreckage of the Afghan Su-22 fell 10 NM from Thal on the bank of river Kurram.

Pakistan's Militia forces in the area apprehended Captain Abdul Hashim, the pilot of the ill-fated fighter.

A tribal chief in the Kohat area contacted Air Headquarters (Air HQ) and expressed the wishes of his people to present arms to the pilot who had shot down the Afghan aircraft. Following the directive of the CAS, the Base Commander Kohat arranged a special function, to commemorate the occasion. Most of the civilian and military dignitaries of Kohat, some senior PAF officers from Air HQ and many tribal chiefs were invited. In the ceremony, Khalid was presented a pen-pistol (on which his name was engraved as Pilot Officer Ababeel), a stiletto, two scabbards of Klashnikov rifle and some bullets for the pistol. Besides, a copy of the Holy Quran, wrapped in the national flag, placed in traditional coloured hand-woven 'Changairs', was also presented to Khalid. It was according to him, quite a touching moment.

For the PAF, that was just about it, although Khalid was to enjoy a further moment of excitement when flying solo during a hot, night scramble mission in an F-16B on January 31, 1989. On that occasion, he was directed to investigate a border violation near Bannu and he headed towards the area at 10,000 feet under GCI control. Repeated attempts at obtaining an IR lock on the enemy contact (which was down at 2,000 feet and which was suspected to be a bombing raid) failed to meet with success. As Khalid moved closer under GCI control, the aircraft put its light on and was revealed to be an An-24. Displaying outstanding airmanship. Khalid let it go. He pulled up and began flying above it, advising GCI that the An-24 was probably planning to defect. Ultimately, the transport aircraft made a landing approach over the River Kuram (a dried-up riverbed), apparently because the pilot believed it to be a paved runway. Moments after touching down, the An-24 struck a palm tree and cartwheeled before being engulfed in a massive explosion, followed by numerous secondary detonations of the ammunition it was carrying.

Link: http://paffalcons.com/afghanwar/hat-tri ... khalid.php
PAF Falcons - Second to None
www.paffalcons.com

 

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This flightline shot shows some of the 12 single seat and 6 dual seat Block 52 F-16s of PAF. Normally found at Jacobabad, but seen here at Konya.

Ian French

 

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And 11sq Arrows moved to Shahbaz AB with their MLU F-16s.

Erwin van Dijkman