PAF using Drones in War Exercises

Pakistan Air Force have begun the annual war exercises, named ‘Saffron Bandit 2009-10’ to train the aviation force against extremism. 

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman inspected the exercises.

Giving briefing about the PAF exercises at the Air Headquarters, Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Hasan said these drills are aimed at training the PAF for operation against terrorists.

The army and air chiefs were informed in the briefing that a special counter-insurgency training program was included in the exercise in wake of the current security threats to the country.

Hasan told that PAF is employing for the first time in the recent drills pilotless UAV drone planes to target the enemies, adding it was due to the precision of PAF planning that common people were not among the casualties.

They were informed that the PAF have acquired the capability to keep itself aware of any aerial movement inside the country’s airspace and can respond within three-minute time in any such case.

The top military brass was informed that a joint Pak Army-Air Force war game named as Exercise High Mark 2010 would be held next year.