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The first test flight of a Rafale fighter powered by the Snecma (Safran group) M88-4E engine (formerly designated the “TCO Pack”, for total cost of ownership) took place on March 22 at the Istres air base in southern France.

Lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes, the flight was a total success, and was used to expand the flight envelope. The complete test campaign for the M88-4E engine comprises some 70 flights in 2010, with different engine configurations. Ten test flights have been carried out to date.

“We are satisfied with the successful initial flights of the M88-4E, the third major engine upgrade, reflecting our continuing focus on research & development. The latest evolution of the engine enables us to better meet the expectations of our customer, by helping decrease the Rafale’s maintenance costs,” said Didier Desnoyer, Snecma’s Vice President Military Engines.

The development of the M88-4E is proceeding very satisfactorily. The first ground test of the engine was performed in September 2009. Development engines are now undergoing ground performance and endurance tests, and a series of altitude chamber tests was completed in late February. Qualification and delivery of the first production-standard M88-4E is now slated for the end of 2011.

In January 2008, French defense procurement agency DGA awarded Snecma the “TCO Pack” contract for the M88-2 engine. The aim of this contract was to extend the service life and time between inspections for several parts of the engine. Modifications mainly concern the high-pressure compressor and turbine.

Designed for the Rafale multirole fighter, the M88 is the first member of a family of new-generation engines intended for 21st century combat and advanced training aircraft. The M88-2 now powers all air force and naval versions of the Rafale. It is particularly well suited to low-altitude penetration and high-altitude interception missions.

Snecma, a Safran group company, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of aircraft and space engines, with a wide range of propulsion systems on offer. The company designs and builds commercial aircraft engines – including the CFM56* world’s leader - that are powerful, reliable, economical and environmentally friendly, along with military aircraft engines that have always delivered world-class performance. Snecma also develops and produces propulsion systems and equipment for launch vehicles and satellites. Snecma also offers a complete range of engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services to airlines, armed forces and operators.

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan – The Pakistani military says commandos have freed 22 hostages held by militants inside army headquarters. It said three captives and four militants died in the dawn raid.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas says "mopping operations" inside the building were continuing early Sunday.

Abbas said those freed included soldiers and civilians.

The army had previously said between 10 and 15 soldiers were being held hostage.

About five heavily armed militants took the hostages after they and other assailants attacked the main gate of the headquarters on Saturday, killing six soldiers. The hostages were held for about 18 hours

General Tariq Majid, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) who is on an official visit to Sultanate of Oman, spent a busy day here at Muscat, meeting with top brass of Royal Omani Armed Forces.

　 　 　 　CJCSC called on Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (COSSAF), Lieutenant General Ahmad Bin Harith Al Nabhani at COSSAF Headquarters where on arrival he was presented guard of honour by a smartly turned out Royal Omani Air Force contingent. Both the senior military leaders discussed the recent developments affecting in South Asia and Arabian Peninsula and the ways and means to enhance bilateral cooperation between the armed forces to serve defence and security needs of the two countries. Highlighting the deletarious impact and social, economic and political fallouts of the conflictual situation existing in some of the neighbouring countries, threats of terrorism and violent extremism, and increasing incidences of international crimes especially sea piracy, drug trafficking and human smuggling etc, CJCSC emphasized the need for mutually reinforcing collaborative efforts and enhanced cooperation to effectively deal with such security dilemmas.

Dilating upon the scope and potential to upgrade defense and security ties between the two countries, CJCSC General Tariq Majid underscored the importance of regular operational coordination and instituting a mechanism for real time intelligence sharing. In addition to offering enhanced assistance to meet training, technical manpower, logistics and maintenance support and military hardware needs of Royal Omani Armed Forces, CJCSC also proposed partnership for joint ventures with the defense industry of Pakistan.

Later in a separate meeting with Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis bin Abdullah Al Raisi. Commander Royal Navy of Oman (CRNO), Chairman JCSC explored the avenues of Naval cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

General Tariq Majid also held separate meetings with HE Mohammed Bin Nassar Al Rasabi, Under Secretary of Ministry of Defence and Lieutenant General Malik Bin Suleman Al-Mamamri, General Inspector of Police and Customs to discuss specific matters for making bilateral cooperation robust and multi dimensional.

Later in the evening an official dinner was hosted by Lieutenant General Ahmad Bin Harith Al Nabhani in the honour of Chairman JCSC and his delegation which was attended by top military hierarchy of Omani Armed Forces and Mr Sohail Amin, the Ambassador of Pakistan to Oman.


General Tariq Majid, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee meeting with Lieutenant General Malik Al Mamari, Inspector Gen Police and Customs in the centre (with red barret) is Chief of Staff Sultan's Armed Forces (COSSAF).



General Tariq Majid, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee called on Rear Admiral Abdullah Khamis Al Raisi, Commander Royal Navy of Oman (24-1-2010) - Photo ISPR

TUCSON, Ariz: Eight Pakistani air force pilots, each experienced in the F-16 Fighting Falcon's A and B models, recently learned to fly the newer C- and D-model aircraft at the 162nd Fighter Wing, the international F-16 training unit, and were honored at a graduation ceremony May 4 here.

Pakistan's air force officials soon will upgrade their 30-year-old fleet of F-16s and the pilots, charged with flying more capable fighters, are ready to handle the new technology after training with the Arizona Air National Guard.

The pilots are the first from their country to train in the United States since 1983, when the last class of Pakistani pilots trained at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

"This graduation is historic for U.S.-Pakistan relations," said Pakistani air force Wing Commander Ghazanfar Latif, a 12-year F-16A pilot. "For Pakistan, our air force is gaining capabilities that it has needed for the last decade; capabilities that are critical to ongoing operations in Pakistan's war on terror."

The new planes purchased by Pakistani government officials, Block 52 versions of the multirole fighter, are far more advanced than the older A-model versions and will allow pilots to conduct operations at night and greatly enhance their use of precision munitions.

The first four of the 18 planes purchased are scheduled for delivery June 26 to Shahbaz Air Base in Pakistan. The rest will be delivered on a staggered schedule throughout this year. In addition, Pakistan's existing F-16 fleet will undergo a mid-life update in 2011 designed to upgrade cockpits and avionics to match the F-16C/D.

In preparation for the June delivery, the eight pilots and their families will have spent 10 months in the United States navigating the upgrade-training pipeline. They spent two and half months reviewing military aviation terminology at the Defense Language Institute at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and seven months in flight training at Tucson International Airport. Since the C/D-models used for training in Tucson are Block 25 F-16s, they will next undergo two weeks of additional Block 52 instruction before returning to Pakistan.

"Even though they're flying Block 25s here, they will still be able to operate their block 52s back home," said Lt. Col. Kelly Parkinson, the 195th Fighter Squadron commander. "When they leave here they will get training from Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, on the differences. The two blocks fly the same; it's essentially the employment of weapons that makes the difference."

The bulk of the flight training in Tucson included a transition course from the F-16A/B to the F-16C/D, flight lead upgrade training and instructor pilot certification.

"We're training these eight pilots so they can return home and be instructors themselves and teach others to fly the new F-16s," Colonel Parkinson said.

"I think the training here is very well organized and tailored to our needs," Commander Latif said. "Also, the standards here are very high. This is going to make a big difference because we do not have the capability to make precision engagements at night with A models. Everybody understands that collateral damage is a big factor and the sensors on the C-model will help us carry out precision engagement and close-air support."

With so much to learn, the students flew a schedule of five flights per week. The average student tempo is closer to three per week.

"The radar, data link and other avionics help create the big picture of what is going on around you," Squadron Leader Yasir Malik said. "There's lots of information to process in the C model, so you have to prioritize all of the input you are getting. But these instructors know what they are doing, and they are good teachers."

Air Force Maj. Windy Hendrick, a flight commander and 13-year F-16 pilot, has instructed students from all over the world. She said she and her fellow instructors learned a great deal about their Pakistani counterparts.

"They are all experienced pilots with 500 to 1,800 fighter hours in the F-16 and the majority of that time is combat hours in the fight against extremists," she said. "They are very humble and don't talk about their experience, but the more we learn about them and all they've done, it makes us proud to be their instructors. They are very dedicated (and) hard-working, and they have great attitudes. Their presence in the squadron has been a real pleasure."

It's unclear if more student pilots from Pakistan will train in Tucson; however, Colonel Parkinson said, the 162nd stands ready.

"Training capable fighter pilots for our partner-nation air forces and fostering relationships in the worldwide F-16 community is what we do," he said. "We will continue to help train Pakistan's pilots whenever we're needed."

US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said he has raised the issue of interference into Balochistan with the Indian leadership. Talking to a private TV channel, Mullen said he talked to his Indian counterparts, both former and current, and the Indian political leadership about Pakistan’s reservations.

He said he had also discussed the issue with Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was involved in the killings of US citizens, Mullen said adding that Al Qaeda-Taliban collaboration in the Pak-Afghan border area had spurred violence in both countries. The US Army chief said Pak Army has taken up vital measures to cope with the extremists and clinched successes, adding the relations between Pakistan and the US are based on mutual interests.

He also said if Indo-Pak tension is terminated and headway towards the resolution of Kashmir issue is achieved, then the issue regarding the regional stability to a large extent would be resolved. Mullen ruled out putting any US troops on Pakistani soil for anti-militant operations along the Afghan border and said a stable and supportive Kabul would help Islamabad in formulating its future strategy. “No, no. There’s no – absolutely no provision, nor – or no discussion of putting any US troops in Pakistan,” he told the PBS channel when asked if the US troops could target terrorists on the Pakistani side of the Afghan border. – Daily Times

Pakistan Air Force has inducted the first of the four Saab-2000 Erieye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWAC) aircraft in its fleet.

With this acquisition from Sweden, Pakistan on Tuesday became the second country in the region after India to have inducted the sophisticated surveillance aircraft in its air force.

The aircraft is fitted with the latest technology to detect aircraft flying at high and medium altitudes. With state-of-the-art system, it is also capable of detecting objects flying at lower levels over land and sea at extended ranges. The system is also capable of detecting surface targets over sea.

The Erieye system provides 300 degree coverage and has an effective detection range of only 300 km to 350 km. It uses a pulse Doppler radar with a fixed, wedge-shaped antenna.

“By virtue of these features, Pakistan Air Force would be able to boost its operational capability manifold by achieving requisite early warning for efficient and meaningful air defence of its airspace,” an official statement said.

As compared to Pakistan’s AWAC system, the Indian Phalcon system provides tactical surveillance of airborne and surface targets and helps gather signal intelligence. It is also capable of tracking fighter planes, missiles and ground forces from a distance of 400 kilometres and in all weather conditions.

The military of Pakistan will hold the Azm-e-Nau-3 military exercise on Saturday to test its new tactics near its eastern border with India.

The exercise will prepare the military of its readiness, allowing thousands of troops to get the real feel of the combat missions along the eastern border.

“The exercise is aimed at validating and refining newly evolved doctrines,” the head of the army’s military training directorate, Muzammil Hussain, told foreign media in the garrison town of Rawalpindi.

The “Azm-e-Nau-3” or New Resolve exercise will mobilize 20,000 troops in the beginning, rising to 40,000 to 50,000 towards the end, he said.

The exercises will involve all branches of the military, including the air force, and will focus on the possibility of “conventional war on the country’s eastern border,” Hussain said.

“We cannot remain oblivious to what happens on our eastern borders,” Hussain told reporters.

“Pakistan desires peace and security both within and beyond,” he said, adding that maintaining peace and security is the army’s “key strategic policy”.

Azm-e-Nau-3 military exercise is really an operational exercise behalf of the Pakistan Army to test its doctrine and military capability. Indian Military also has such war games now and then along the border with Pakistan