How The U.S. Rewired Pakistan's Air Force; Why That Legacy Still Matters Against India
Defence portal Quwa highlighted how the foundations of Pakistan's air force still rest on operational practices and doctrine handed down by the United States as far back as the 1950s. The report claims that what many today call 'software', mindset, structure and operational culture, was installed in the early days of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) by American advisors.
That legacy has shaped PAF's command philosophy to this day. It even influenced the decision to move the Air Force Headquarters from Rawalpindi to Peshawar, giving the force its own command ecosystem, distinct from the army's shadow.
How America Gave PAF Its Operational 'Software'
According to Quwa, in the early 1950s, Pakistan's air force lacked both equipment and a professional framework. The turning point came with the 1950 Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement with the United States. Under this, Washington not only provided F-86 Sabre aircraft to Pakistan but also embedded an entire operational doctrine into the PAF.
Considered the architect of a modern PAF, then Air Marshal Asghar Khan recognised that the United States was sending jets as well as exporting a full system. This included depot-level aircraft maintenance, rather than the traditional squadron-level model; strict safety regulations, based on U.S. Air Force protocols; and clearly separated departments for operations, maintenance and administration.
This model replaced the older British system and gave Pakistan's air force an American-style command structure that is still in use today.
According to Quwa, this is the backbone that allows the PAF to integrate foreign fighter jets, including the Chinese J-10CE, into its arsenal smoothly.
The report argues that this inherited mindset enables faster pilot adaptation and more coherent training cycles, which translates into better performance during real combat situations.
A Quiet Nod to the U.S., Not China
While Pakistani media has hyped up the role of Chinese-origin J-10CE fighter jets in countering India's Rafales, Quwa takes a more nuanced position. It suggests that the real enabler was not Chinese technology, but American methodology.
The systems laid down decades ago by the United States, it claims, allow the PAF to function as a streamlined and adaptable air force, something its regional rivals have had to build from scratch.
This legacy also explains the PAF's ability to quickly operationalise new platforms. Pilots transitioning to newer aircraft often show higher mission-readiness because the doctrine standardises procedures across the force. And it was this very consistency, Quwa argues, that allowed Pakistan to mount any kind of coordinated air response during India's strikes.
What Really Happened in the Skies?
Despite Pakistan's claims, the outcomes of the recent aerial confrontations tell a more complex story. Islamabad managed to shoot down one Indian aircraft, but failed to intercept or prevent Indian strikes on nine strategic sites in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Indian Rafales inflicted heavy damage. In military terms, Quwa concedes, these results raise questions.
One of the contributing factors was a misjudgement by Indian forces regarding the range of China's PL-15 missiles, a gap in calculation that Pakistan used to its advantage.
Even then, say Indian analysts, PAF's performance could only be counted as successful if it had prevented India's deep-penetration airstrikes, not merely retaliated after the fact.
A Legacy That Still Shapes Air Battles
Pakistan's narrative of victory, critics say, may not hold up under scrutiny. But the story that emerges from Quwa's reporting is not about flashy dogfights or headline-grabbing missile launches. It is about how a 70-year-old framework continues to define one of South Asia's most professionalised air forces.
In the end, as Quwa puts it, it was not Chinese, but American 'software' (a system of discipline, structure and long-term strategic thinking) that made the real difference.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
20 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Company advised by Trump sons said it hoped to benefit from fed money, then took it back
A public document filed by a company that just hired President Donald Trump's two oldest sons as advisers included a sentence early Monday that said it hoped to benefit from grants and other incentives from the federal government, which their father happens to lead. But when The Associated Press asked the Trump family business about the apparent conflict of interest, the document was revised and the line taken out. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are getting 'founder shares' worth millions of dollars in New America Acquisition 1 Corp., a company with no operating business that hopes to fill that hole by purchasing an American company that can play 'a meaningful role in revitalizing domestic manufacturing,' according to the filing. The president has geared his trade policy toward boosting manufacturing in the U.S. The original version of the securities filing said the target company should be 'well positioned' to tap federal or state government incentives. That reference was taken out of the revised version. The Trump Organization didn't reply to a question about whether New America still planned to benefit from government programs or why the line was cut. But the outside law firm Paul Hastings that helped prepare the document sent an email to AP saying it was 'mistake' made by 'scriveners,' an old term for transcribers of legal papers. Kathleen Clark, an expert in government ethics, said any excuses are too late because the Trumps had already tipped their hand. 'They just deleted the language. They haven't committed not to do what they said earlier today they were planning to do,' said the Washington University law professor and Trump critic. 'It's an attempt to exploit public office for private profit.' New America is what's know as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. It's a publicly traded company that exists solely to use its funds to acquire another company and take the target public. New America plans to raise money by selling new stock on the New York Stock Exchange at $10 a share. That will hand the two Trump sons a potential total of $50 million in paper wealth the moment the stock begins trading on the first day. The company hopes to sell enough shares to raise $300 million, which it then plans to use buying a yet unidentified manufacturer. A press release issued by New America saying it was focused on 'American values and priorities.' It made no mention of the aim to get government incentives. The filing to New America's potential new investors to the Securities and Exchange Commission was explicit about what it was looking for in a target company. It said, among other things, it wanted a company that can ride 'public policy tailwinds' by benefiting from federal or state 'grants, tax credits, government contracts or preferential procurement programs.'
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
20 minutes ago
- First Post
Ukraine raises alarm over Indian-made components found in Russian drones, flags issue with MEA: Report
Ukraine has formally raised concerns with India and the European Union after Indian-made or assembled electronic parts were reportedly found in Iranian drones used by Russia in the Ukraine war, report says. read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting, at Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine in August 2024. File image/PTI Ukraine has formally raised concerns with the Indian government and the European Union over electronic components manufactured or assembled in India that were found in Iranian-designed drones used by Russian forces in the Ukraine war, Hindustan Times reported, citing sources. According to officials familiar with the matter, Ukraine approached India's Ministry of External Affairs through diplomatic channels on at least two occasions since last year, after Indian-origin components were discovered in Shahed-136 combat drones used by Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The issue was also brought up with EU sanctions envoy David O'Sullivan during his visit to New Delhi in July. O'Sullivan was in India to brief officials on the EU's latest sanctions package, which included action against Russian-linked entities, including the Vadinar refinery. Ukrainian investigations reportedly identified components from two firms, Vishay Intertechnology and Aura Semiconductor, in the drones. A bridge rectifier made by Vishay, assembled in India, was found in the voltage regulation system, while a chip produced by Bengaluru-based Aura Semiconductor was used in the satellite navigation antenna. Officials clarified that the companies have not violated any Indian laws, as the components are classified as dual-use items, technologies that can serve both civilian and military purposes. Responding to the development, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India's export of dual-use items adheres to international non-proliferation norms and is governed by a robust domestic legal framework. 'Due diligence is conducted to ensure such exports do not violate any of our laws,' he said. While the Ukrainian embassy in New Delhi has not issued an official statement, Ukraine's Defence Intelligence Directorate (HUR) has publicly reported the presence of Indian-origin parts in Shahed drones on its official Facebook and Telegram channels. Vishay Intertechnology, a US-based electronics manufacturer, did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, Kishore Ganti, co-founder of Aura Semiconductor, said the company fully complies with all national and international export control laws and strongly opposes any unauthorised use of its products. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We are deeply disturbed by the possibility that any of our components may have reached defence manufacturers through unauthorised third-party channels, in violation of our compliance policies and distribution agreements. We are committed to investigating and addressing any compliance gaps,' Aura said in a statement.
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Mahadev to Shamsheer, Indian Army names to inspire
Unlike Pakistan which largely sticks to Islamic symbolism, our military relies on myth, morale and maps to christen operations A recent public debate triggered by the naming of 'Operation Mahadev' – launched by Indian army special forces in coordination with Jammu & Kashmir police – has raised questions about the symbolism and perceived religiosity in the naming of military operations. The operation, executed with precision over 12 days, led to the elimination of three terrorists now confirmed to be involved in the heinous Pahalgam massacre. Yet, many chose to focus less on the operation's success and more on its naming, raising concerns about communal undertones and ideological symbolism. As someone who has observed, lived, and led within the ethos of Indian army for over six decades, I find the controversy misplaced. It is a symptom of how little is understood about the military's traditions, its internal cohesion, and the layered symbolism it deploys – not to divide, but to inspire. Read full story on TOI+ Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
