Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 cannot fire its missiles without NATO clearance, Pilots prefer JF-17s

Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 cannot fire its missiles without NATO clearance, Pilots prefer JF-17s

The F-16 has, up until recently, been the jet fighter of choice for the majority of the brave pilots who serve in Pakistan’s Air Force. However, there are a number of restrictions that come with every flight the Falcon has to take and one of which is that
the pilots and the nation’s air force do not have complete freedom and control over their aircraft.

The F-16s flight plans are strictly monitored by NATO, as are the jet fighter’s weapon system. Any missile launch from the aircraft is first cleared by NATO.

If the missile is locked on to a target and the pilot fires the missile, a chip in the missile first identifies its target and sees whether or not it is a NATO or NATO friendly target. If it is then the missile does not leave the aircraft and the pilot can
do nothing.

Also, as for the flight plans, they are strictly controlled and monitored and pilots are not allowed much freedom.

It seems rather odd that such restrictions have been put in place on the F-16s of the country, especially when the nation is not on any hostile terms with NATO.

On the other hand, the latest addition to the Pakistan Air Force is the JF-17, which have been brought in from China.

A majority of the pilots seem to agree that the JF-17 is in a class of its own and prefer it to the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The former does not have any of the F-16’s restrictions imposed on it and one of the pilots even claimed that when they take off the Pakistan Air Force has the option to fly it left or right, without worrying about NATO restrictions or the like.

There are no restrictions on the weapon capabilities imposed and in general, the plane is at the complete disposal of the Pakistan Air Force as opposed to its restriction laden American counterpart, the F-16.

It seems that it will not be long before one starts seeing the JF-17 as the ‘banner jet’ of Pakistan’s Air Force instead of the once iconic F-16.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=4459

Posted by Musa Afridi on Nov 23 2011. Filed under National. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry