First-ever in the history, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Super Mushak aircrafts attended Bucharest International Air Show (BIAS 2015) in Romania.
Air Marshal Javaid Ahmed headed contingent of PAF Mushak aircrafts in the international air show where Pakistani Mushak jets stunned thousands of audiences through breath taking flying skills, PAF spokesperson said.
It is noteworhty to mention here Super Mushak planes are being used by various foreign countries primarily for training purposes.
Aircraft belonging to the Romanian, US and Portuguese Air Forces will also participate on Saturday in the Bucharest International Airshow 2015 – BIAS 2015, on the Aurel Vlaicu International Airport, foreign media reported.
On Saturday, the military aviators will perform demonstrative flights, individually or in lineup, with MiG-21 LanceR, IAR-99 Hawk, IAR-99, IAK-52, IAR-316B, IAR-330 Puma, C-27 J Spartan, AN-30 and C-130 Hercules aircraft.
They will also participate in an air police tactical exercise, performed jointly with a detachment of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) and in a tactical exercise of airborne support, together with US A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft, Portuguese F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, paratroopers and military equipment of the Romanian Land Forces.
Earlier, PAF JF-17 Thunder generated with collaboration of Pakistan and China also secured first export deal post 51st Paris Air Show 2015.
“A contract has been signed with an Asian country,” said Air Commodore Khalid Mahmood, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer who leads the sales and marketing efforts for the type.
However the number of the plane and the customer is kept in serrate while the deliveries will start in 2017. He says 11 countries are looking at the type, which mirrors previous comments made by Chinese defence export agency Catic, which also markets the aircraft, and Pakistan Air Force officials.
Khalid also provided an update of Pakistan’s induction of the type. So far, 54 examples have been delivered. The first 50 were originally delivered in a Block I configuration, and these are in the process of being updated to a Block II standard.
The Block II configuration features improved avionics and better software, and adds a fixed air-to-air refueling probe.
An additional 46 aircraft will be delivered in the Block II configuration. A subsequent 50 aircraft, which will push Pakistan’s fleet to 150 examples, will have a Block III configuration. These will all be delivered by the end of 2018.
The aircraft’s developers are still working out the specifications of the Block III aircraft, but upgrades could include an active electronically scanned array (AESA) or passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, says Khalid.
