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 The
Air Defence Matrix: Options for Pakistan
The various configurations
that the PAF can opt for
[Air Commodore (Retd)
JAMAL HUSSAIN]
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Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, according
to Newton’s third law of motion. A similar logic
is applicable to the theory of warfare with a slight
difference in that the reaction is opposite but may
not necessarily be equal – it may be more or less
than the action. According to this rule, any fresh offensive
strategy immediately triggers a defensive response.
The sword and the shield, the tank and the anti-tank
weapons and aircraft and anti-aircraft systems are examples
of this phenomenon at work.
The role and impact of air power rose exponentially
since its introduction during World War I. Within a
century of man’s first heavier than air flight,
the use of the third dimension (that includes space)
has assumed a dominant role in modern warfare. The emergence
of air power was based on it being used specifically
in the offensive role, notwithstanding its initial utility
as only an observation platform. The modern combat aircraft
is a potent offensive weapon having the ability to reach
out and strike at tremendous distances with surgical
precision and devastating effect. In any present day
conflict, the side enjoying the freedom to exercise
its air power in the offensive role would have a commanding
advantage over its adversary. For the defenders, however,
defence against the enemy’s air potential therefore,
is equally critical. Without a provision for adequate
defensive measures against the opponent’s air
power potential, any war strategy, be it offensive or
defensive is doomed. Air defence acts as the shield
to the sword of air offensive and success in modern
combat, will to a large extent depend as much on the
air defence capability of a nation as on its air offensive
potential. The two are opposite sides of the same coin
– air power...more
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POF
Wah – Revisited
The Pakistan Ordnance
Factories and discovers the many changes that have taken
place
[EAS BOKHARI ]
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A visit to Wah Ordnance Factories is
education as the outfit is not just a public sector
defence hardware churning machine – it is much
more than a mundane ordnance factory. POFs is a multifaceted
institution, where besides the interaction between explosives
and fabrication of guns one comes across a score of
other more humane activities. Of late there has been
an extensive face-lifting of the cantonment, and a number
of human development and welfare projects have come
up which are running in a most satisfactory manner.
In fact the very look of the place is more human than
militaristic.
I had visited POFs sporadically, and the first time
I went there was many years ago due to a sponsorship
of ISPR (Late Gen Riaz Ullah) with a team of journalists,
though I don’t claim myself to this clan and I
suppose I can just churn out some rough-hewn writing.
We were then conducted round the place by the POFs PRO,
Mr Saeed, a bulky or I should say an unwieldy pan-chewing
Urdu speaking literary figure. I thought he was more
at home with poetry than pyrotechnics, gunpowder and
the art of gun foundry. But I suppose he liked it at
that way. This was way back in 1986...more
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