Not surprisingly, its aircraft are the PAF's most treasured material asset. They are at once its lifeblood and its foremost means of expression. Not only are they central to hatthe air force is all about, militarily speaking; it is the fascination with these machines that acts as a magnet upon all those young men who flock to the PAF as fliers, engineers, weapons controllers, logisticians or other experts, to spend a lifetime of involvement with these complex, lethal marvels of the twentyfirst century.
The selection of right types of aircraft in this age of the burgeoning technology can be an exciting and frustrating, preoccupation; their acquisition can pose vexing problems because of political, commercial or budgetary complexities. But whatever the obstacles, the PAF must preserve to the utmost with acquiring the best possible machines. Anything less would be an insult to the calibre of its fliers, and a betrayal of its commitment to excellence. |
