Pakistan Air Force | News & Discussions

[Venom]

the reality is, and ive been saying this now for ages that HAS are useless.

Once upon a time they may have worked, but unless you want 20 foot deep walls etc, they arent stopping anything.

Mountain and underground bases arent a great idea either, you've got one entry and exit, perhaps a few, all it takes is to pound them and the assets are once again as good as nothing.

Despersed assets, motorway operations etc are the way forward. Airbases wont last.

But does that only appliy to certain ordinances which can penetrate HAS? Do long range cruise missiles have that ability? in my opinion USAF and IAF are able to launch stand off munitions while being in Iranian air space.

 

[Ak01]

But does that only appliy to certain ordinances which can penetrate HAS? Do long range cruise missiles have that ability? in my opinion USAF and IAF are able to launch stand off munitions while being in Iranian air space.

i guess, you wont really see stuff like LM's do damage like this, these are usually hardened projectiles like bunker busters. Perhaps you might be able to cause some structural damage via the sheer KE of something like brahmos assuming it doesnt flatten on impact.

 

[Cipher212]

I just hope the PAF is watching what is happening to the Iranians right now. That is not to say that India can do the same, but its a demonstration of what CAN happen on a bad day.

Underground bases have their own issues where entrances can be buried by one good hit. This could be negated by building them deep within mountain ranges however where enemy projectile has to approach at a specific angle.

Motorway and national highway strips exist but the F-16 and JF-17 are not Gripens. They don't have the fastest turnaround time and they will still be out in the open.

Another possibility is simply expanding existing bases with more and wider runways, larger taxiways and greater dispersal.

 

[Oscar]

I just hope the PAF is watching what is happening to the Iranians right now. That is not to say that India can do the same, but its a demonstration of what CAN happen on a bad day.

Underground bases have their own issues where entrances can be buried by one good hit. This could be negated by building them deep within mountain ranges however where enemy projectile has to approach at a specific angle.

Motorway and national highway strips exist but the F-16 and JF-17 are not Gripens. They don't have the fastest turnaround time and they will still be out in the open.

Another possibility is simply expanding existing bases with more and wider runways, larger taxiways and greater dispersal.

Look for my earlier post on dispersal and decoys. Information collection is getting easier but not information sorting. Flood the information sensors with false data.
Physical, EM and IR decoys that behave in similar patterns to the real deal.

 

[PakShaheen_79]

Look for my earlier post on dispersal and decoys. Information collection is getting easier but not information sorting. Flood the information sensors with false data.
Physical, EM and IR decoys that behave in similar patterns to the real deal.

Agreed. Plus Pakistan needs to develop killer adversiral AI capabilities to inject enemy ISR datasets with false informaiton. Smart and futuristic.

 

[Venom]

i guess, you wont really see stuff like LM's do damage like this, these are usually hardened projectiles like bunker busters. Perhaps you might be able to cause some structural damage via the sheer KE of something like brahmos assuming it doesnt flatten on impact.

What I was thinking that long range cruise missiles dont really have the penetration for HAS, maybe brahmos due to its supersonic nature?

 

[Blain2]

The day Pakistan’s skies answered back​

Pakistan marks 7th anniversary of Operation Swift Retort, responding to India’s 2019 Balakot strike

Muhammad Khan|February 26, 2026

On Feb 27, 2019, PAF warplanes struck around key targets in Indian Occupied Kashmir and shot down two Indian jets in a dogfight.

With every nation, there are days when everything that it stands for is tested—days that can make or break the nation. Pakistan, although still young, has seen its fair share of such days. On February 27, 2019, one day after the unprovoked strike by India in Balakot, Pakistan faced such a day. Pakistan, however, refused to blink in the storm. Instead, what followed was a response that was as hard-hitting as it was measured. Calibrated, rapid, and unmistakably airborne, today marks the seventh anniversary of Operation Swift Retort.

The operation was designed not only to give a fitting reply to the unwarranted aggression but also to establish an impenetrable deterrent to ensure that such ‘limited’ cross-border intrusions came to an end once and for all.

The Pakistan Air Force was at the forefront of Operation Swift Retort, and once again, rose to safeguard Pakistan’s skies. The PAF is a force that has grown to ensure readiness long before the first bullet is fired or the first siren blares out its grim wail. A clear message was sent to the adversary by the aces of the PAF: our skies are not to be taken lightly; they are guarded relentlessly by men who are ready to take on any threat.

The spark that led to an inferno was the Pulwama suicide bombing on February 14, 2019. Allegations of Pakistani involvement in the heinous attack were hurled from endless Indian sources. The escalation eventually led to an Indian airstrike on Balakot on February 26. Although Indian claims boasted the destruction of a terrorist hideout, the reality on the ground was that Indian munitions had fallen on uninhabited land. This was confirmed by on-site reporters, satellite imagery, and organisations like the Atlantic Council Digital Forensic Research Lab.

Then, Operation Swift Retort was executed. A formation of 25 PAF aircraft, including F-16s, JF-17s, and Mirages, made their way towards India. Staying within Pakistani airspace, they accomplished their mission with surgical precision. The strikes were carried out in open spaces, with no casualties.

Adding to this achievement was the fact that the PAF shot down two Indian jets. One of the jets crashed in Azad Kashmir, and the pilot was captured. This pilot was Abhinandan Varthaman, a man whose words, “The tea is fantastic,” echoed through Pakistani memes and beyond. Pakistan handed him back to India on 1 March, a much-lauded de-escalatory gesture.

To break down Pakistan’s strategy further, the entire set of events needs to be viewed with a macro lens. It was made amply clear that the strikes were carried out in open spaces, framing the mission as a controlled indication of capability while keeping escalation in check.

This transmitted the fact that Pakistan had the capability but was practising restraint. The next component of the same strategy was the safe return of the Indian pilot, Abhinandan Varthaman, garnering diplomatic praise from all spheres.

Operation Swift Retort had a far-reaching impact. It caused a snowball effect, which led to a spree of improvements and upgrades in the PAF. These changes led to the impressive performance of the PAF in the recent conflict with India, Marka-e-Haq. These changes revolved around four core areas: advanced fighters, unmanned systems, layered air defence, and sensor-led command-and-control upgrades.

Fighter induction included the addition of the J-10C multirole fighter, which gave pilots first-shot BVR capability. The second major enhancement was the JF-17 Block III platform, which added remarkable manoeuvrability, extended range, and advanced avionics.

Integral to the success of Marka-e-Haq, PAF’s unmanned systems have acquired and developed advanced platforms like the Shahpar series, the Lightning 1 and 2 loitering drones, Chinese CH-4 MALE UAVs, among various others. In the air defence sphere, the induction of the HQ-9/P surface-to-air missile system and other improvements enhanced overall capability. Surveillance and command-and-control have inducted Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C into aircraft and ground-based C2 networks. These upgrades played a huge role in PAF’s success in Marka-e-Haq.

Beyond platforms, PAF also established indigenous R&D ecosystems, the most prominent of which is the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park (NASTP). Inaugurated in 2023, NASTP has already fostered a substantial number of innovative start-ups and initiatives, pushing the boundaries in aviation, space, cyber, artificial intelligence, and programming.

Orchestrating these changes and reining in a force like the PAF was no easy task. PAF has always been fortunate when it comes to leadership. The current Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, is a man of great foresight and action. His smart induction policies revolve around immaculately designed parameters of quality, capability, and affordability. Under his leadership, PAF has moved significantly towards indigenous production.

Project Phoenix is another initiative by the Air Chief that overhauled every aspect of pilot training and replaced it with an improved path to turn out pilots suited for the 21st century.

Anniversaries such as Operation Swift Retort are not mere dates on a calendar; they are strategic reminders of a force that has tested its doctrine in the crucible of crisis and emerged victorious. Each passing year brings a forward-looking vision rooted in readiness, resilience, and national security commitment.

As capabilities evolve from advanced fighters and network-centric warfare to indigenous R&D and self-reliance initiatives, PAF continues to signal its status as a modern, credible power in South Asia, prepared not only for today’s challenges but for the complex battle spaces of tomorrow.

The day Pakistan’s skies answered back | The Express Tribune

Pakistan marks 7th anniversary of Operation Swift Retort, responding to India’s 2019 Balakot strike

tribune.com.pk

 

[White Privilege]

Would be hard to execute and maintain Opsec with ch****s like her around.

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There is no OPSEC in todays' day and age, for the stuff not happening inside fortified walls of military bases. And even then satellites can do instant BDA like Indians were able to achieve BDA through satellite photos.

 

[Blain2]

This is not a hidden secret. Many of our motorways were designed to sustain air combat operations.

 

[safriz]

This is not a hidden secret. Many of our motorways were designed to sustain air combat operations.

And this is also the reason why Pakistan never went for large twin engine fighter jets.
Airbasss are prone to being the first targets and then the jets will need to operate from elsewhere

 

[Ak01]

This is not a hidden secret. Many of our motorways were designed to sustain air combat operations.

doubt.

only ever seen lightly loaded mirages and f7s launching off motorways...

 

[Blain2]

doubt.

only ever seen lightly loaded mirages and f7s launching off motorways...

One of the requirements while building the M's was to sustain temporary air traffic within a certain weight class.

The fact that you have seen Mirages and F-7s doing touch and go etc. is an indication of the same. Makes sense for all the non-IFR capable platforms initially to be able to take advantage of this option.

 

[Yasser76]

This is not a hidden secret. Many of our motorways were designed to sustain air combat operations.

Yup. Large parts of M2 and M5 were designed with very long straight stretches and even small concrete areas on the side to move aircraft on to.

 

[Ak01]

One of the requirements while building the M's was to sustain temporary air traffic within a certain weight class.

The fact that you have seen Mirages and F-7s doing touch and go etc. is an indication of the same. Makes sense for all the non-IFR capable platforms to be able to take advantage of this option.

i dont understand why this has anything to do with ifr certification etc.

i simply just suspect the acn of somethimg like a loaded f16/jf17 is just too great.

 

[Blain2]

i dont understand why this has anything to do with ifr certification etc.

i simply just suspect the acn of somethimg like a loaded f16/jf17 is just too great.

Not directly tied. But if the FOBs and rear bases are under stress, then aircraft with less endurance (F-7s with external tanks have an endurance of about 40 mins) would be the more likely aircraft to rely on alternate highway runways. F-16s and JF-17s have endurance of over an hour per sortie. They can fly farther and get recovered on air fields/bases at the rear.

However, I think you are right that all aircraft in the inventory could take advantage and perhaps a fully loaded MR aircraft like F-16 would tax the roads. I think it would be silly for these motorways to have been built not taking into account the MTOW of various aircraft in our inventory. Don't think that is the case though.