“We are not below deterrent level,” said Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, at the formal induction ceremony of the Chinese-built F-7 PG medium-tech, multi-role aircraft, here on Wednesday.
The aircraft, having much improved avionics, replaces F-6 aircraft, which for more than three-and-a-half decades served as its mainstay, making over 400,000 sorties.
The induction ceremony of the Mach Two F-7PG at Samungli base, about a week after the ground-breaking ceremony of Gwadar deep-sea port with Chinese assistance, added greater strategic depth to Pakistan-China cooperation in all fields in a radically changed security environment.
Balochistan governor Justice (retired) Amirul Mulk Mengal was the chief guest. The ceremony was also attended by Lt-Gen Zheng Shen Xia, Chief of the Chinese PLA Air Force, and representatives of the China Aviation Industry Corporation.
Speaking on the occasion, Mushaf Ali Mir recalled the Chinese support to Pakistan at a time when western allies had turned their backs on Islamabad and hoped that induction of F-7PG would enhance continuity of deep-rooted relations between the two countries.
He said induction of the aircraft had significantly boosted the country’s fighting capability. The PAF, he said, had been a prime beneficiary of Pakistan-China friendship.
The arrival of the first batch of 20 F-7 PG aircraft has equipped the PAF with a very potent and reliable system. Twenty- six more such aircraft are on way whereas the PAF would acquire 11 more F-7 PG aircraft.
He said after successful co-production of K-8, Pakistan and China were currently engaged in a more ambitious programme, designated Super-7, which has already entered prototype manufacturing stage. The maiden flight of the biggest joint venture between the two countries is scheduled in June 2003.
The Balochistan governor said the induction of new fighter aircraft was a step in the right direction. He said it was heartening and reassuring to note that the newest acquisition of the PAF was deployed in the province, which had acquired greater importance in a changed security and strategic environment.
He said Balochistan was destined to acquire strategic importance and hoped that the cycle of rejuvenation and replacement would continue unabated. He emphasised the need for multi-million air defence weapons system.
The PAF, the governor said, had a very important role in country’s security and appreciated China’s role in meeting Pakistan’s economic and defence requirement. He said Pakistan-China friendship was enviable model of good neighbourly relations.
The leader of the Chinese team said the people of China were proud of their friendship with the people of Pakistan, and hoped these relations would be cemented further.
Later, talking to newsmen, Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir said the F-7 PG was a single-engine aircraft with improved air-to-air and air-to-ground capability.