Pakistan has been a leading contender to supply the UAE Air Force with much needed trainer aircraft, but the threat of conflict could cancel the deal.
The UAE Air Force is undergoing modernization and enlargement on an unprecedented scale. Under the guidance of General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and UAE Minister of Defense, the modernization program will greatly increase the operational capabilities and the strategic importance of the UAE Air Force. A key component of the Air Force’s transformation is the expansion of its fighter jet fleet, and some two hundred Mirage 2000 and F-16C/D Block 60 combat aircraft will enter service in the coming years.
In order to train new pilots for these advanced aircraft, a capable training aircraft is required. One such aircraft is Pakistan’s Super Mushshak, a new development of the Pakistani Mushshak aircraft (MFI-17), built by the Aircraft Manufacturing Factory [AMF] PAC [Pakistan Aeronautical Complex] at Kamara. The Super Mushshak has been displayed in the Gulf over the past two years, and was recently exhibited in the Dubai 2001 Air Show.
The trainer aircraft has garnered interest from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other regional air forces, and Pakistani officials reported that negotiations were already underway. However, Wing Commander Ejaz Hanif, AMF's test pilot and director of sales and marketing, said at the air show that the deals with Saudi Arabia and a few other countries were delayed due to the Sept. 11 attacks on the US. Wing Commander Hanif commented at the time that he hoped things would be back on track quickly. However, Pakistan’s current troubles seem set to further put in doubt the potential deal.
The mounting tension between Pakistan and India, together with threat of spillover from the ongoing conflict in neighboring Afghanistan, will cause great difficulties for Pakistan’s aeronautical industry. It would be difficult to sign a long-term contract for supply of such a vital piece of the defense pyramid with a partner who may at any time find itself embroiled in an all-out war. As the tension continues, time slips away, and the UAE may have to look elsewhere for the trainer that will educate the next generation of aerial warriors for the Emirate. (www.albawaba.com)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
