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PAF acquires Mirage planes, spare parts
By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has purchased fifty Mirage, 150 sealed pack engines of the Mirage planes and huge quantity of its spare parts on cash payment for Pakistan Air Force (PAF) from Libya that will cater needs of spares for the planes already Pakistan has, for another seven to ten years.
Highly governmental sources told The News on condition of anonymity that the supply of the planes’ engines and spare parts has begun and wide body transport planes are unloading the material arriving from Tripoli on the PAF bases. The supply is supposed to continue till some time and some supply will be reaching the destination through ships.
Mirage-three and five are already flying with the PAF while the Mirages purchased from Libya are also in both the variations. The Mirages and other stuff purchased from Libya are in excellent condition but the Libyan Air Force was dormant for quiet some time due to sanctions imposed on that country the Air Force was not flying the planes regularly.
It grounded most of its planes and now the United States and other Western countries are lifting the sanctions. It is expected that Libyan Air Force would be reinvigorated through new type of most sophisticated multi-role planes very soon. The PAF will examine the used planes purchased by Libya in first place and decide about their use.
The sources said that most of the planes would be scrapped to use their spare parts for the planes already flying for the PAF. The PAF badly needs the spares for its planes including the Mirages since they are very expensive.
Pakistan has planned to upgrade and refurbish its old Mirages and new radars, avionics and weapon systems are being acquired for the fleet. This will be done in phases, the sources added.
With the induction of Mirages obtained from Libya Pakistan would become the country that will be having the highest number of the Mirage planes with its Air Force even larger than the manufacturer of this type of planes, France, the sources said.
Pakistan first purchased the Mirages in 70s from France and then 40 old Mirages were purchased from Australia in 90s. These planes were upgraded by SAGEM and converted their utility in many fold. The fresh deal will help enabling the PAF to bring a numerical balance in South Asian airs, the sources opined.
By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has purchased fifty Mirage, 150 sealed pack engines of the Mirage planes and huge quantity of its spare parts on cash payment for Pakistan Air Force (PAF) from Libya that will cater needs of spares for the planes already Pakistan has, for another seven to ten years.
Highly governmental sources told The News on condition of anonymity that the supply of the planes’ engines and spare parts has begun and wide body transport planes are unloading the material arriving from Tripoli on the PAF bases. The supply is supposed to continue till some time and some supply will be reaching the destination through ships.
Mirage-three and five are already flying with the PAF while the Mirages purchased from Libya are also in both the variations. The Mirages and other stuff purchased from Libya are in excellent condition but the Libyan Air Force was dormant for quiet some time due to sanctions imposed on that country the Air Force was not flying the planes regularly.
It grounded most of its planes and now the United States and other Western countries are lifting the sanctions. It is expected that Libyan Air Force would be reinvigorated through new type of most sophisticated multi-role planes very soon. The PAF will examine the used planes purchased by Libya in first place and decide about their use.
The sources said that most of the planes would be scrapped to use their spare parts for the planes already flying for the PAF. The PAF badly needs the spares for its planes including the Mirages since they are very expensive.
Pakistan has planned to upgrade and refurbish its old Mirages and new radars, avionics and weapon systems are being acquired for the fleet. This will be done in phases, the sources added.
With the induction of Mirages obtained from Libya Pakistan would become the country that will be having the highest number of the Mirage planes with its Air Force even larger than the manufacturer of this type of planes, France, the sources said.
Pakistan first purchased the Mirages in 70s from France and then 40 old Mirages were purchased from Australia in 90s. These planes were upgraded by SAGEM and converted their utility in many fold. The fresh deal will help enabling the PAF to bring a numerical balance in South Asian airs, the sources opined.