Joint drill with PAF kick starts

[sonicboom]

Joint drill with PAF kick starts

BEIJING -- Chinese and Pakistani air forces Saturday kicked off a joint drill in Pakistan, according to the Information Office of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense.

The drill, code-named "Shaheen-1", will continue through March 30, sources with the ministry said.

The joint military drill, aiming at learning from each other and promoting friendly cooperation, does not target any third party, the sources noted.

"Shaheen" means eagle in Urdu, Pakistan's native language. Chinese and Pakistani leaders agreed during meetings in Beijing Thursday to consolidate their "all-weather" friendship and deepen pragmatic cooperation.

Xi Jinping, Chinese Vice President and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, met Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chairman of Pakistan's Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

China had conducted fruitful cooperation with Pakistan in a wide range of areas in recent years, and would continue to support Pakistan in important projects concerning the national economy and people's livelihood, and promote the common prosperity of both countries, Xi said.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan and is China-Pakistan Friendship Year.

The two nations would hold events covering politics, trade and economy, the military, culture and sports and education to further people-to-people exchanges, promote friendship and deepen pragmatic cooperation, Xi said.

Wynne said Pakistan was proud to have a great friend such as China and was willing to support China in issues concerning China's core interests. Xi Jinping, Chinese Vice President and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, met Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chairman of Pakistan's Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. – Xinhua


Joint drill with PAF kick starts

[keysersoze]

China-Pakistan co-operate in first joint exercise
China and Pakistan conducted their first-ever joint air exercise in March 2011 in the first overseas deployment of a People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) contingent. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said in a brief announcement: "A contingent of Chinese PLA Air Force comprising combat aircraft, pilots and technicians arrived at an operational base of the Pakistan Air Force"

[first posted to Jane's Defence Weekly - Your first line of defence - 15 April 2011]

[keysersoze]

DATE:11/04/11

SOURCE:Flight International

China sends fighters to Pakistan for exercise

By Greg Waldron

China and Pakistan have conducted a joint-air exercise called Shaheen-1, which saw the first ever deployment of a Chinese air force contingent to Pakistan.

"A contingent of Chinese PLA air force comprising combat aircraft, pilots and technicians arrived at an operational base of the Pakistan air force," the latter service says. "The exercise has been designed to share mutual experiences, hone professional skills, and accrue maximum benefits from the expertise of the two air forces."

Pakistan has not disclosed details about the types of aircraft involved, the missions performed, the location of the exercise, or the total number of personnel involved. The only official image shows 24 officers, 12 Pakistani and 12 Chinese.

The exercise took place over two weeks in March.

China and Pakistan have a long history of defence collaboration. Most recently the two countries co-developed the Chengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter. The Pakistan air force also had a prominent presence at 2010's Air Show China in Zhuhai, with a large chalet and several aircraft on display.

At the November show Zeng Wen, vice-president of the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation, said Pakistan had 50 firm orders for the JF-17, but could end up buying 200. The nation's first two full-strength JF-17 squadrons are in the process of becoming fully operational.

[keysersoze]

ASIA PACIFIC
Date Posted: 15-Apr-2011


Defence Weekly


China-Pakistan co-operate in first joint exercise

Farhan Bokhari Correspondent - Islamabad



China and Pakistan conducted their first-ever joint air exercise in March 2011 in the first overseas deployment of a People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) contingent.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said in a brief announcement: "A contingent of Chinese PLA Air Force comprising combat aircraft, pilots and technicians arrived at an operational base of the Pakistan Air Force". The exercise 'Shaheen-1' was not open to the media and the location and type of aircraft participating was not released. It is believed that PLAAF J-10 aircraft flew alongside Pakistan's JF-17 'Thunder' fighters, built with Chinese co-operation.

A senior Pakistani government official told that "this exercise is an important stepping stone for our two air forces to co-operate more closely than in the past. The PLA Air Force-PAF relationship has been mainly built on China supplying aircraft to Pakistan, but now we want to get closer on operational matters".

"A deployment to gain from each other's operational and professional experience is in fact a big step forward between China and Pakistan", a Western defence official based in Islamabad said on condition of anonymity.

In addition to the JF-17, the PAF has confirmed its interest in buying up to two squadrons of China's J-10 fighter, but these hopes have been constrained by its financial situation. Pakistan is also in the process of receiving four Chinese ZDK-03 airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Pakistan JF-17s are believed to have conducted an exercise with PLAAF J-10 fighters in March 2011. (IHS /Patrick Allen)

[Araz]

A tasty tidbit courtesy of Pshamim of Pakdef.info. It is rumoured that PLAAF brought j20 to Pakistan for these exercises. This was the reason fighter types were not advertised. Take it or leave it!!!!
Araz

[keysersoze]

Originally Posted by Araz

A tasty tidbit courtesy of Pshamim of Pakdef.info. It is rumoured that PLAAF brought j20 to Pakistan for these exercises. This was the reason fighter types were not advertised. Take it or leave it!!!!
Araz

Hmmm thats interesting. Have the Chinese run many other joint drills with other AF's?

[Araz]

To the best of my knowledge No.
Araz