JHELUM, Sept 15: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) tested samples of high-tech weaponry in its arsenal as it demonstrated live ammunition firing on Thursday as part of the High-Mark-05 exercise at the Tilla Range near here. The live demonstration of missiles and bombs by different combat aircraft included 60 sorties of Mirage, F-7 and A-5 aircraft and Cobra helicopters. Army units coordinated the ground attack with heavy artillery fire as PAF jets completed the assigned missions.

As part of the Joint Air Attack Team Mission, formations of Cobra helicopters demonstrated the primary and secondary destructive powers of all weather friendly TOW missiles which have the capability to destroy tanks and penetrate more than 30 inches of armour.

The live ammunition firing by the PAF continued for more than six hours as the combat aircraft flying from different air bases completed various missions, including level bombings and bursts of cannon fire from aircraft. The operation was viewed by media.

Later, the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Air Commodore Junaid Amin, told journalists that the PAF had used laser-guided precision weapons, Mark 82 bombs and anti-runway bombs and other ammunition during the first stage of Exercise High Mark-05. He said 60 to 70 combat aircraft were being used in a single raid during the exercise and added the videos of the missions flown during the exercise would be analysed to identify the strengths and weaknesses.

Senior officers told this correspondent that 2000-pound bombs were used during the exercise at Tilla Range earlier on Wednesday.

They added the bombs were used in air operations to attain maximum blast and explosive effects and over 12,000 such bombs were used during Desert Storm by US Air Force F-15s and F-16s.

The bombs could be used against a wide variety of targets, including artillery, trucks, bunkers, Scud missiles, surface-to-air missile sites, anti-aircraft artillery sites, early warning radars and supply points, said an officer.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Air Headquarters said the Chief of Air Staff,

Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, visited two forward operational bases of the PAF to inspect the operations of ongoing exercise.

Exercise High Mark-5 is being conducted after a gap of 10 years and will continue for four weeks.