Pakistan Air Force's largest exercise-Highmark 2005 to begin from Sept-4
Pakistan Times Staff Report

CHAKLALA AIR BASE (Rawalpindi): Pakistan Air Force would undertake one of its largest exercises - Highmark 2005 - spanned over four weeks, involving its entire men and fleet to test new doctrines amidst changed regional and global realities
from Sunday.

"We will check our capabilities to respond to threats in an environment that has changed considerably in the past ten years," Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Operations) Air Vice Marshal Shahzad Hassan Chaudhry told newsmen at the Air Headquarters on Thursday.

The Pakistan Air Force held its last major exercise in 1995, as later planned exercises were not held due to rapidly changing situation in the region, particularly after Indian and Pakistan's nuclear test in 1998, the 9/11 and the stand off with India in 2002.

"The PAF has upgraded its aircraft, avionics, weapon systems, ground based radars and now it is time to test these," Chaudhry said.

When asked whether the ten-year gap has affected its preparedness, the DCAS said in fact the PAF has been in a higher state of readiness since Pakistan tested its nuclear devices, as a reaction to similar tests by India.

He said during the around a year-long stand off with India, the PAF's deployment was a real test of its capabilities. He said the peace provided an opportunity to check the preparedness level.

Tempest-1

The exercise follows a war game 'Tempest-1', which had focussed upon employment concepts of air power by PAF, but differs with the rest of air in terms of duration, intensity and complexity of air operations.

The DCAS said the PAF has also been testing its Air to Air Missiles regularly besides other weaponry at different firing ranges in Tilla, Thal and Somiani.

The Air Force has been adapting to the changes as the concept of air-power has completely transformed the way future wars would be fought.

He said there have been considerable changes in the geo-political environment and the PAF's doctrines aim at defending country's aerial frontiers from any adversary.

To a question about PAF's capabilities if confronted with a traditional rivals, he said despite having old aircraft, the Force is capable enough to defend country's sovereignty and security.

F-16s from USA

When asked about the announcement by the US that two F-16 aircraft would be given to Pakistan, he said, over the time different requests were made to the US for these aircraft.

He said the two F-16 are similar to the ones the PAF is using and have been delivered free of cost. He said talks for sale of 75 F-16 was underway.

During the exercise PAF aircraft will fly 8200 sorties in a three-stage exercise to be staged in the Northern Areas of Skardu, Gilgit, Chillas to the Central plains and in the South touching the Arabian sea.

He said High Mark-2005 is designed to validate some of PAF's operational concepts and will therefore bring out useful analysis for steering future force employment concepts as well as shaping training contours of future air combatants.

Blueland and Foxland

The scenario of the exercise simulates two opposing forces Blueland and Foxland, each employed in both offensive and defensive operations.

The PAF's aircraft; the American F-16 would fly in a air-superiority role in both offensive and defensive roles, the French Mirages in an a ground support role, the Chinese A-5's would support the army, while the mainstay would be the Chinese F-7P/PG type of aircraft would be in air defence role.

The JF-17 Thunder

To a question, the DCAS said the prototype of the Sino-Pak jointly produced JF-17 Thunder would not be participating in the exercise as it was still in test and trial phases. He said the aircraft would be inducted in the PAF by 2007.

He said the transport and helicopter fleets would fully participate throughout the exercise, while units of Army and Navy will join to provide realistic operational scenarios.

The DCAS said the exercise took around a year of planning and all operational concepts were discussed threadbare at the highest level.

President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were fully involved and would also visit to see the progress, he said by adding; the political and military leadership have reposed their full confidence in the PAF's ability to undertake this momentous task with complete professionalism.●