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The perennial discussion of the IAF and the PAF is made more pertinent because of the current tension after the Mumbai militancy. The discussion of the PAF by Bharati officials aways makes an interesting read. We have combined the IAF assessment of the PAF with some discusison of the PAF by experts who have evaluated the Beyond Visual Range capability of the PAF planes and the upgrade program of the PAF whach has made the original aricraft must more potent than what the designers had made.

• India: More than 75% live below Sub Saharan poverty line
• China’s defense budget of $60 Billion dwarfs India’s $21 Billion

According to the Bharati assessment (‘New aircraft can make Pak airpower stronger’ 23 Sep 2008, 0502 hrs IST, Anand McNair ,TNN) the PAF is stronger than the IAF. This assessment has been made noe other than the Bharari Air Marshal Kanwar Dalinderjit Singh, air officer commanding-in-chief, SWAC. In a seminal interview he told the Times of India that the IAF was weaker than the PAF.

• Indian Airforce crying wolf? or facing shortage of jets?
• Indian missle failures. Scrap the program?
• The declining Indo-Russian relationship. Delhi scrambles for new arms sources but they come with strings.
• Trail of tears and failure: Indian missiles.
• Air Forces in South Asia: PAF counters IAF strategy.

GANDHINAGAR: Emergence of new warfare technologies have not been able to diminish the crucial role of airpower to achieve national objectives of any country. When nuclear thresholds of countries keep changing, it is superior airpower that becomes a matter of choice for nations to protect their respective national interests. Hence when Pakistan recently bought US and Chinese multi-role aircraft, Indian Air Force’s (IAF) south western air command, the frontline of defence against Pakistan, was quick to assess its long-term implications for India.

Air Marshal Kanwar Dalinderjit Singh, air officer commanding-in-chief, SWAC, told TOI that Pakistan has outlined a big plan to replenish its aircraft fleet and upgrade existing fighters. Till June 2008, US had delivered Pakistan eight second-hand F-16 s even as plans were afoot to upgrade its ageing fleet of the same variant. Besides, neighbouring country has bought eight JF-17 multi-role aircraft from China and proposes to buy 150 more in the coming years. It has also ordered for 36 J-10 fourth generation multi-role aircraft from China, he said.

According to Air Marshal Singh, a veteran fighter pilot who has flown Hawker Hunter and MiG-21 variants among other fighters and trainers, [Pakistani] aircraft are quick in response and can cause a lot of destruction, so the ongoing development by Pakistan to strengthen its airpower cannot be ignored.

He, however, added that the only comfort could be the fact that upgradation of F-16 s would not add new capabilities to the aircraft and the Chinese fighters have not proved their claims. The SWAC AOC-in-C refused to divulge any information on plans to counter airpower imbalance in immediate neighbourhood in the coming years. But he added that work was on to set up a new airbase and strengthen the existing ones under the south western air command.

EU says “India is being ruled by castes, not laws”-Indian state machinery supports License to kill Dalits

IAF has been building a new airbase at Phalodi near Jodhpur. The base which will become operational by 2009-end. It will have transport and attack helicopters, MiG-29 Bison and air defence aircraft. Jamnagar airbase is being upgraded and those in Naliya and Bhuj strengthened, he said. Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, three states that SWAC has to defend, have different characteristics in terms of economy and others, thus delineating a varied role for IAF. ‘New aircraft can make Pak airpower stronger’ 23 Sep 2008, 0502 hrs IST, Anand McNair ,TNN. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/New_aircraft_can_make_Pak_airpower_stronger_/articleshow/3515786.cms

Su-27s and Su-35 Russia chagrined at Into-US relations doesn’t transfer Flanker Su-30 development technology to India. Build plane itself. ———————————
Indian missile failures ——————————————
Pakistan rapidly moving beyond basic JF-17 Thunders. The J-10s J-11s and newer versions of JF-17 ———————————–
The Pakistani hawks in the sky: Y-89 AWACS ————————————
Nothing succeeds like success: Hataf, Ghauri, Babar, Abdali missiles

—————————————-
JF-17 Thunders: Designed, built and operationalized in a record time of 4 years. Custom built for Pakistani needs ——————————
Serial production of JF-17 Thunder expedited:30-50 per year to 100 per annum ——————————–
Pakistan Vision 2020 ——————————-
IAF vs PAF: Defined by IAF ————————————-
Beyond the Pakistani made JF-17 Thunder Fighter Plane, Chinese made J-10s. When will PAF acquire the J-11s
Pakistan defense based on missile nuclear deterrent hataf shaheen babar and abdali
Pakistan’s 500 Al-Khalid tanks have been in production since 2001. Newer generation tanks now being exported via IDEAS 2008

Here is an independent analysis of the Air Forces:The Indian Air Force has had a tough time recruiting pilots.

Pakistan on the other hand has no problems recruiting pilots – the PAF has one of the highest rejection rates amongst air forces in the world. The PAF also has a better pilot to aircaft ratio than the IAF, meaning it could sustain a greater sortie rate over a protracted conflict. PAF aircraft are also “pimped” in that they have been extensively modified. Thus, while on paper PAF is flying ancient Mirages that were bought second hand from the Australians, when one actually examines any such model, one is surprised at how extensively they have been rebuilt – almost from scratch and the hardware is extremely lethal. Other than the secretive BVR AAMs, the PAF has extensively incorporated the strike element into its Mirages, at a level only matched by the IAF’s Mirage-2000s and Su-30 FLANKERs, and even then, some of the equipment has no IAF equivalent.

PAF’s F-7s have better ranges and also don’t need to fly as far given that they would be defending. Yet, everything is not as it seems. What at first glance seems overwhelming odds against the PAF, on closer examination, do not seem as overwhelming. The IAF has far lower serviceability of its aircraft, their pilot training, as evidenced by recent Red Flag exercises with the US is also not yet up to par with the PAF, their maintenance crews are not as diligent, their mainly Russian/Soviet technology is generally less reliable and less effective than advertised, and a large part of their fleet of MiG-21s and MiG-27s are outdatedPAF aircraft are either of Western stock or Chinese and are far more maintenance friendly. Pakistan has also been upgrading their aircraft massively and have incorporated a complex combination of technology from across the globe – from China to Brazil, from South Africa to the US. PAF also very likely has BVRs that are not advertised of South African and Chinese origin. PAF pilot training is on par with the best in the world, and its maintenance crews are trained on the level of Western maintenance crews. Lastly, fighting an air war over Pakistan gives the PAF a home advantage and makes their radar and SAM infrastructure very relevant.

Even the first 50 will have a whole host of features, some of them SOC has underestimated. For instance, the radar can simultaneously engage 4 not 2 as SOC mentions. Also, detection range for something the size of an MKI are likely to be a good deal more than 75 kms. Further, data linking between the fighters and with the radar network and AEW assets means this is even greater, particularly as SOC admits, any such scenario would be over Pakistani territory.

If seems clear that the J-10 will be focused on countering the 230 odd MKI that India will eventually have. Various interviews indicate this. 100 J-10s reflect a good direct comparison to 230 MKI, given the over all exchange ratio between the larger IAF and smaller PAF. Further, in actual operational service this will actually be even better – the twin engined and maintenance intensive MKI, run by less qualified Indian technicians will generate markedly lower sortie rates than PAF’s WS-10A fitted J-10s. This is not bias, but a fact based on the Indian maintenance record.

Superiority of the MKI’s PESA radar, with a detection range of 160 Km
AEW&C assets will also negate any advantages the MKI has over any potential encounter with the FC-1 / JF-17. When both sides have this, it levels the playing field for the FC-1 / JF-17

The detection range of the Bars is (according to Janes, for a 2m squared target), 80-100 km head on. About half what was first estimated, and that assuming a 2m squared target. More probable would be a calculation for 1 meter squared target, and that is being generous, given that the JF-17 is smaller than the F-16, and hides its blades AND has RAM coating.
The 75km is the detection range of the JF-17, for a “fighter sized target”. Clearly, for the MKI, specially loaded out for offensive operations, this will be way bigger. Again, assuming that what was originally MY estimate of the detection range is in fact accurate (I actually never said 75 kms but > 75 kms, implying a minimum of, rather than a typical range. Further, given revelation of info on the KLJ-7’s surpising modernity and the increased radome size on the JF-17, the point becomes even less arguable).
Later blocks of the JF-17 are likely to have an AESA radar Grand Strategy

PAF aircraft are also “pimped” in that they have been extensively modified. Thus, while on paper PAF is flying ancient Mirages that were bought second hand from the Australians, when one actually examines any such model, one is surprised at how extensively they have been rebuilt – almost from scratch and the hardware is extremely lethal. Other than the secretive BVR AAMs, the PAF has extensively incorporated the strike element into its Mirages, at a level only matched by the IAF’s Mirage-2000s and Su-30 FLANKERs, and even then, some of the equipment has no IAF equivalent.

Pakistan air force upgraded its mirage fleet as ROSE3 and ROSE5 programme, ROSE3 for all mirage3 type aircrafts and ROSE5 is for all mirage5 aircrafts, this programme base on avionics upgradition+Elextronic warfare system, all mirages can use all advance weapon system of pakistan have avalable, like stand off weapon,RAPTOR1/2, bvr missile,tv/IR guided missile,targeting pod,etc.datalink system,ecm pod, SAGEM is main partner for this upgrde programme.

ROSE (Retrofit Of Strike Element)

ROSE III will considerably enhance the mirage pilot’s situation awareness via Sagem’s integration of a new Radar Warning Receiver two Multi-Function Display a Forward Looking Infra Red system and a Head Up Display, by virtue of the new system computer being installed.

So PAF only settled for the ROSSE-I & ROSE-II upgrades for Mirage-IIIs & ROSE-III for Mirage-V. ROSE-IV was to integrate MICA on Mirage-III but was canceled.

The PAF is nevertheless modernizing, and by 2012 would have caught up with the IAF. With induction in numbers of JF-17s and J-10s by the end of 2009, the PAF will see the gap vis-à-vis the IAF close rapidly

Dr. Haroon. Orkut

PAF Mirage Upgrades

The avionics upgrade project named the ‘Retrofit of Strike Element’ (ROSE was conceived in 1992 and commenced effectually from April 1995. The avionics package included Inertial Navigation System, Heads Up Display, Airborne Video Tape Recording System, and self-protection systems like RWR, Chaff and Flares. A modern airborne radar, the Griffo-M was also retrofitted. When the Americans released 360 AIM-9L missiles under the Brown Amendment, it was decided that the Mirages being upgraded and equipped with the Griffo-M radar must also be made capable of carrying the AIM-9L missiles. The hardware modification of this project had been completed, but its software was under development. The SAGEM Group, which was carrying out the upgrade of the Mirages, had developed their own Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) Pod. They needed to carry out the proto-typing of this equipment on an aircraft, free of cost, so that if found fit, the PAF could buy them. FLIR modification on these aircraft was also in progress.

Of the forty-five aircraft eventually recovered at PAC Kamra, there were seven dual-seat models that were allotted to No. 5 Squadron. Out of the forty-two single-seat Mirages, thirty-two with ROSE configuration, were allotted to No. 7 and CCS Squadrons. Four aircraft belonging to Photo Reconnaissance category and an additional aircraft were recovered and allotted to the No. 5 Squadron. One aircraft crashed prior to ROSE modification and the remaining five aircraft were found beyond recovery and were reduced to spares.

In the second half of 1992, the PAF had a genuine concern over the gap that would be created by the phasing out of the A-5s in 1997. After considering various courses, the purchase and re-lifting of some used Mirages seemed a practical option. The sources included Belgium, Spain, France, Lebanon and Zaire. In 1995, the planners at Air Headquarters established an operational requirement for at least fifty such aircraft. On the directive of the CAS, the feasibility of a package of forty Mirages was validated and the case for allocation of funds was taken up. The government released the necessary funds.

In order to reliably assess the physical condition of these Mirages, a PAF team visited Spain, France and Lebanon, while the Air Attaché in Paris was asked to inspect the Belgian aircraft. During their visits, the team inspected seventy-one Mirages and submitted their report. Similarly, the Defence and Technical Attaché in Paris inspected twenty-five aircraft from SABCA, Belgium.

On 25 May 1995, after a post visit presentation to the Air Board, the CAS approved the formation of a project team to manage all aspects related to a cost effective induction of about forty Mirages in the PAF fleet. These aircraft were to be of a single variant, capable of a surface attack role, not exceeding a total cost of $120 million, and were to form two viable and homogenous squadrons, fully supportable with the PAF maintenance resources and infrastructure.

The project team obtained proposals for the intended purchase of Mirages from all the potential vendors, and simultaneously launched a market study. The PAF’s own overhauling experiences in Kamra were kept in view to work out the expected costs of each aircraft and the related project. During a visit to France in 1995, the project team was pleasantly surprised to learn that forty Mirage Vs and about forty Mirage IIIs of the French Air Force were available for sale at quite a reasonable price. The French Mirage V suited the PAF requirement because of its longer range and additional payload. Later, through various coordination meeting in Pakistan, the PAF and AIRCO worked out a detailed proposal, which included the required statement of work. Representatives from the French DGA and the French Air Force accompanied the AIRCO team, to demonstrate their full support to the PAF-AIRCO agreements and obligations. SAGEM is a French company that has Defence and Security Division as one of its main branches. In this division, SAGEM specializes in three specific categories, i.e. inertial navigation, electro-optic equipment, and system integration.

In Project ROSE, the PAF was already acquiring thirty-six Mirages upgraded by SAGEM through their inertial navigation and system integration departments. In August 1995, SAGEM combined their upgrade skills with the potential sales opportunity, and proposed to the PAF a package deal of forty Mirages at a quoted cost of $150 million.
As the SAGEM proposal became more and more attractive and feasible, the PAF negotiated a further reduction in costs so that they actually fell into its feasibility regime.

Through numerous discussions, SAGEM came up with a revised proposal of $124 million in November 1995. According to this proposal, the package was to consist of thirty-four Mirage Vs and six dual-seat Mirage IIIs, making a total of forty fully overhauled aircraft. Out of the forty aircraft, twenty Mirage Vs would be modernized to the ROSE-II standards (ROSE-II modification is the same as ROSE-I, except the Griffo-M radar is replaced by FLIR). The engines installed on the aircraft would have a minimum life of four years and 300 hours. The package would also include the required ground support, alternate mission equipment, and line replaceable units. Besides, the kits for RWR, CFD and GPS would be installed in all aircraft.

Keeping in view the overall SAGEM package vis-à-vis quoted prices, the offer appeared quite viable to the PAF. According to a conservative estimate, the cost of this package should have been at least $146 million. On 27 December 1995, the PAF gave the go ahead, and the contract for the forty Mirages was signed on 1 February 1996 for a total amount of 118 million.

This deal had become somewhat controversial mainly due to misreporting in the press. The PAF preferred to have the necessary modifications done in France since PAC Kamra was during that time frame, already busy overhauling the PAF’s existing Mirages. Accepting any additional work would have unnecessarily delayed the delivery of the French Mirages to the PAF without making any difference in cost.

SAGEM encountered problems on purchase of spares, which they needed for the timely and efficient running of their upgrade program. Thus the program suffered delays during most of 1997 and 1998. However, the company managed to get the first batch ready by September 1998, when PAF pilots ferried across eight Mirages on 22 September 1998. A second batch of eight was received in 1999 while the third batch of eight came to Pakistan on 22 June 2000. The deliveries of the rest were supposed to be completed by the end of the year 2000.

ROSE (Retrofit of Strike Element) Upgrade program completed on original RAAF aircraft. There were 50 ex-Australian Mirage IIIOs acquired in 1990 for Aus $36 million for re-work at the Mirage Rebuild Factory, Kamra. Most of these aircraft had less than 4000 flying hours on them and they were in excellent condition. Out of these 50, only 45 aircraft were upgraded and 10 were stored for spares. The avionics upgrade included fitting of HUD, HOTAS controls, RWR’s chaff / flare. Very little is known about the origin of the HUD and other avionics such as ECM, navigational and attack system and the mission control and planning computer but speculations suggest that these are of the same origin as the French upgrade. The MAESTRO system includes SAGEM’s multifunction navigation equipment, combining in one unit inertial and satellite navigation, databus management and mission computer. It also features a state-of-the-art glass cockpit including multiplexed Control and Display Unit, moving map Head Down Display and multimode stroke and raster Head Up Display, for full Hand On Throttle And Stick control of modes and functions.
Additional equipment are available, such as: an IRCCD Forward Looking Infra Red navigation sensor for reconnaissance applications – laser rangefinder – air data sensors and computer – radar altimeter, and high capacityIn the French upgrade, GEC head-up display and HOTAS similar to Mirage-2000 is used. One of the French Mirages serial number 93.725 was displayed at the 1999 Paris Air Show showed FLIR of French origin. Smart weapons capabilities may be further exploited by the navigation/targeting pod shown SAGEM’s Mirage 5F at Le Bourget.

It is a widely circulated rumor among the PAF critics that Pakistan acquired South African MUPSOW, a multi-purpose, surgical-strike weapon, designed to neutralize enemy targets such as airfields, bunkers and command-and-control centres at standoff ranges. Pinpoint accuracy is achieved by using an advanced navigation and terminal guidance technology. It is also known that between 1996-98 Pakistan bought category A and B military hardware which includes sensitive major significant equipment, such as fighter jets and other large systems. Some sources also report that PAF was also testing South African Raptor I and II precision guided munitions which were designed based on Mirage III/Cheetah being the primary platform of launch.

Although identified as the DART pod, this appears identical to Rafael’s LITENING pod. Other Mirage 5F upgrades included an integrated electronic warfare suite, on-board oxygen generation system (OBOGS), and single point pressure refueling. One of the key features of the ROSE upgrade was the induction of Italian FIAR Grifo-M radar, which is a copy of US made APG-68 radar. This gave these aircraft the capability of carrying BVR missiles. At the time Pakistan was interested in South African Darter series of missiles, which later on fell through due to sanctions imposed, by South Africa when military government took over after a bloodless coup.

No 8 Squadron of PAF was assigned with some of these ex-RAAF Mirages, which also had Thomson-CSF Agave attack radar for use in conjunction with the AM.39 Exocet anti-ship missile.MAESTRO nav/attack system
SAGEM SA has designed the Modular Avionics Enhancement System Targeted for Retrofit Operations (MAESTRO) with flexibility so it can be easily tailored to any customer’s specific requirements and offers capabilities at par with those of current front line fighters. MAESTRO features full inertial and GPS performance provided by SAGEM navigation and mission computer systems implementing the Embedded GPS-Inertia (EGI) concept, Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOR) for stealth navigation and blind attack in combination with the SAGEM high-capacity data transfer system, wide field-of-view FLIR-compatible HUD, glass cockpit, Hands On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS) interface, air-to-ground and air-to-air fire control, including multimode pulse Doppler radar and/or laser rangefinder, full EW suite comprising radar warning, missile launch detection, chaff and flare self-protection and/or jamming systems and the all digital CIRCE 2001 mission planning system. MAESTRO can be adapted to new aircraft of western or eastern origin

Sigma ring laser gyro inertial navigation systems
The Sigma family of inertial navigation systems is implemented through the combination of high-performance laser gyro sensors and a GPS receiver. Such systems are intended for use in combat aircraft equipped with a multiplexed databus. Sigma systems offer all the benefits of tight hybridization between ring laser gyros and a GPS receiver by a multi-sensor Kalman filter for both alignment and navigation. The synergy between these three elements brings the following advantages; reduction in size, weight and power consumption through the integration of inertial and GPS functions; short alignment time on the ground, in the air or at sea; monitoring of sensor performance and integrity for GPS and INS; automatic in-flight calibration of inertial sensors; long-term stability of inertial performance and higher resistance to jamming and improved dynamic behavior of the GPS. Some versions combine the navigation and fire control functions. These versions provide aircraft position, velocity and attitude information, computation of navigation and steering information to waypoints; position updating by navigation fixes; terrain reference updating; weapon delivery computations consisting of ballistics, determination of release point, ripple spacing of weapons, safety pull-up information; head-up display information for target acquisition and commands for the blind release of stores; attack modes; air data computations and multiplex bus control.

Sigma 92G inertial nav/attack system
The Sigma 92G uses three ring laser gyros and three quartz accelerometers. It is fitted with an embedded GPS receiver and performs weapon delivery functions.

SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions:
(navigator) 386 x 194 x 191 mm
(control/display unit) 216 x 116 x 153 mm
(mode selector) 151 x 41 x 135 mm
Weight:
(navigator) 16 kg
(control/display unit) 3.5 kg
(mode selector) 1 kg
Power supply: 115 V AC, 400 Hz, 3 phase, 220 VA
Accuracy: 1 n mile CEP position, 5 mrad weapon delivery

Uliss inertial navigation and nav/attack systems
Uliss modular systems all employ high-accuracy inertial components consisting of two dynamically tuned gyros and three dry accelerometers, a microprocessor-controlled computer working at 1 Mops with EPROM memory and highly integrated and hybrid circuits. As an option, Uliss can be equipped with an embedded GPS receiver for high-performance INS/GPS coupling and a higher-performance RISC processor using Ada language. Uliss systems fall into two categories, in both of which the main inertial navigation unit is contained within a {3/4} ATR short case. In the first category are navigation versions with a position accuracy of better than 1 n mile/h. In the second category the navigation function is combined with the computation necessary for weapon delivery.

Alignment time is 90 seconds for stored heading and 5 to 10 minutes for self-contained gyro compassing. Standard interfaces permit the systems to be linked to other equipment via MIL-STD-1553B databusses or ARINC serial data lines. A failure detection system can detect faults at module level with 93 per cent confidence, isolate them and signal their presence on a magnetic annunciator without external test equipment. More than 80 per cent of the components and subassemblies are common to all members of the Uliss family, the principal differences being in specific interfaces and computation functions. In all, 1,600 Uliss units are in operation on 25 different types of aircraft.

Allocation of these Mirages

PAC Kamra recovered forty-five. Out of eight dual models, seven were recovered and allotted to 5 Squadron (based at Rafiqui AFB). Out of the forty-two single-seat Mirages, thirty-two aircraft with the ROSE configuration were allotted to 7 and CCS (Mirage) Squadrons. Four aircraft belonging to Photo Reconnaissance category and an additional aircraft were recovered and allotted to 5 Squadron. One aircraft had crashed prior to ROSE modifications.

The remaining five aircraft were found beyond recovery and were reduced to spares. PAF Air Headquarters decided to re-equip No. 7 Squadron with ex-Australian Mirages, thus the A-5s with which they were equipped before were transferred to Peshawar. This No Squadron flew the first sorties on 24 November 1991 after they received three Mirages from PAC Kamra. On 15 February 1993, the entire flight line assets were swapped with 22 OCU. The Squadron received the ROSE modified ex-Australian Mirage aircraft during 1997. At present this squadron operates the maximum number of ROSE modified aircraft. In January 1993, the No. 22 Mirage OCU unit was equipped with ex-Australian Mirages and its own aircraft were handed over to 7 TA Squadron.

The No. 15 Squadron, which operated F-7Ps, was number-plated on 31 October 1997 as the consequence of the PAF Force Re-structuring Programme. The F-7P aircraft in its inventory were distributed among other F-7 operating units. This unit is has been equipped with ex-French Mirages aircraft and has been moved to its new location, Rafiqui AFB.

The No. 7 Squadron, which moved to PAF Base Minhas on 25 January 1996 received the ROSE-1 modified aircraft, together with CCS Mirage Squadron (ROSE-1 modified Mirage-3EA). The No. 7 Squadron was re-designated as 25 TA Squadron and assigned the specialist night attack role with effect from March 1997. The first two Mirage-5EF (ROSE-2) aircraft were ferried to Minhas AFB from France. The Squadron become a full-fledged operational Squadron after it received the next batch of ROSE-2 Mirages.

New Mirages
PAF inducted 40-50 Mirages from France and Lebanon. These Mirages were also upgraded to the ROSE standard. Zero time wings of Mirages have been obtained from South Africa, whereas an undisclosed amount of zero time engines have also been inducted from Australia, South Africa and France.

The PAF Mirage fleet has recently been equiped with H-2/-4 [T-DARTER] BVR Missles. Hence a PAF Mirage uses 4-5 AAMs in air defence role. In air to air configuration, a Mirage ROSE-2 can carry 2 AiM-9L/M Sidewinders or Magic 2 SRMs, 2 H-2,-4 BVRAAM and a centreline fuel tank or R-530D AAM. The 30mm DEFA multibarrel cannon is retained.

The performance of these Mirages is currently being tested up to its maximum level in the HIGH MARK 2005 wargame.

PAF Mirage Types and Tail Numbers
Here is the official numbers of PAF Mirage holdings inducted since 1967:

Mirage-IIIEP
Inducted in: 1967
Quantity: 18
Tail Numbers: 101 to 108
Acquired under ‘Blue Flash One’ contract

Mirage-IIIDP
Inducted in: 1967
Quantity: 3
Tail Numbers: 301 to 303
Acquired under ‘Blue Flash One’ contract Given ROSE-1 upgrade

Mirage-IIIRP
Inducted in: 1967
Quantity: 3
Tail Numbers: 201 to 203
Acquired under ‘Blue Flash One’ contract

Mirage-IIIDP
Inducted in: 1970
Quantity: 2
Tail Numbers: 304 to 305
Acquired under ‘Blue Flash Two’ contract. Given ROSE-1 upgrade

Mirage-5PA
Inducted in: 1970
Quantity: 28
Tail Numbers: 401 to 428
Acquired under ‘Blue Flash Two’ contract

Mirage-IIIRP
Inducted in: 1975
Quantity: 10
Tail Numbers: 204 to 213
Acquired under ‘Blue Flash Three’ contract

Mirage-5PA2
Inducted in: 1979
Quantity: 18
Tail Numbers: 429 to 446

Mirage-5PA3
Inducted in: 1979
Quantity: 12
Tail Numbers: 447 to 458

Mirage-5DPA2
Inducted in: 1979
Quantity: 2
Tail Numbers: 306 to 307

Mirage-IIIEA
Inducted in: 1990
Quantity: 10
Ex-Royal Australian AF
Cannibalized for spares

Mirage-IIIEA
Inducted in: 1990
Quantity: 32
Tail Numbers: 500 series
Ex-Royal Australian AF
Given ROSE-1 upgrade

Mirage-IIIDA
Inducted in: 1990
Quantity: 8
Tail Numbers: 800 series
Ex-Royal Australian AF
Seven aircraft were recovered and one cannibalized

Mirage-5EF
Inducted in: 1996
Quantity: 19
Tail Numbers: 700 series
Ex-French Air Force
Given ROSE-II upgrade

Mirage-5EF
Inducted in: 1996
Quantity: 14
Tail Numbers: 700 series
Ex-French Air Force
Being given ROSE-III upgrade (as of 2004)

Mirage-5DF
Inducted in: 1996
Quantity: 6
Tail Numbers: 700 series
Ex-French Air Force

Mirage-IIIEL
Inducted in: 2000
Quantity: 9
Tail Numbers: 900 series
Ex-Lebanese Air Force
3/28/06
Sarmad
contd….
Mirage-IIIDL
Inducted in: 2000
Quantity: 1
Tail Number: -unknown-
Ex-Lebanese Air Force

Mirage-IIIEE/DE
Inducted in: 2002-3
Quantity: 13
Ex-Spanish Air Force
Cannibalized for spares

Mirage-5EL
Inducted in: 2004
Quantity: 50
Tail Numbers: -unknown-
Ex-Libyan Air Force

Note: Dual seaters are always the Mirage-III sub-type; the nomenclature 5DP etc is a sales gimmick, just to complete the Mirage-5 package! Fundamental airframe difference between Mirage-III & 5 is that the latter sub-type has 500 lbs more fuel and two fuselage stations more than the former. Rest are avionics differences that are utterly confusing for a non-Mirage pilot, so they can be spared.

After the re-evaluation of Mirage-2000 in the early 90s, it was deduced that Mirage-2000 is a state of the art, deep strike fighter with BVR technology, but in turning dogfights at medium and low altitudes it was out-manoeuvred by an F-16A.
Thus PAF decided to upgrade its existing Mirage fleets to the standards of a third generation strike fighter. PAF Mirages have an equivalent close combat capability which was of the early model Mirage-2000s i.e. the Griffo-M Radar and AIM-9L/Magic-2 combination.
PAF Mirages are the only Mirages to carry BVR missiles [since all Mirage-3/5 users have replaced them with aircraft having same basic airframe but improved features, avionics and weapon system e.g. South African 'Cheetah', Israeli 'Kfir' and French 'Mirage-2000'], since instead of purchasing a replacement for Mirages PAF decided to upgrade its existing fleet to the third generation standards.
PAF Mirage ROSE are better than IAF’s Floggers and Jaguars in air to air combat role since it has the edge in BVR technology, equivalent close combat capability and state of the art avionics [early Mirage-2000 standards] whereas it is equivalent in terms of strike.

Even if pitted against MiG-21s, MiG-29s, Mirage-2000s and Su-30 MKIs, our Mirages have the capability to defend themselves while exiting the arena using their BVR and close combat techniques. In the case of MiG-21 Bison our Mirages can even give them a tough time in dogfights but it would not come near a MiG-29, Mirage-2000 and Su-30 in dogfights.

PAF Mirages does not possess FBW and HMS technologies as well as thrust vectoring whereas the MiG-29, Mirage-2000 and Su-30s have these advantages.

PAF’s JF-17 Thunder has the BVR, FBW and HMS technology and is a replacement for PAF Mirage fighters. PAF’s fourth generation fighter program is also seeking for an aircraft which has all the ingredients to counter the threat which is posed by the Su-30 MKI. Till the induction of these new aircraft PAF Mirage ROSE have plugged the gap for a dedicated strike aircraft.
Sarmad. Irkut.

JF-17 Thunders
Beyond the JF-17 Thunders. The J-10s etc.
The Y-89 AWACS
Hataf, Ghauri, Babar, Abdali missiles

Su-27s and Su-35 Russia elides India in Flanker Su-30 development

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