By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Tuesday received first Air borne early warning and control system (AEWACS), officials said.
The Saab-2000 system was formally inducted into PAF at a ceremony held at main air base in Kamra, some 40 kilometers northwest of Islamabad.
Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman speaking on the occasion said Pakistan will get three more AWACS and the second one will be made available in 2011.
He said the SAAB system has the capability to detect anything flying in the year and moving on ground beyond a certain speed.
Replying to a question the Air Chief said negotiations are in progress with China and Italy as well for early warning system.
To a question he said PAF would get eighteen more F-16 fighter jets by mid of next year besides other weapons which would add to our capabilities.
He said Pakistan would acquire more surface-to-air missiles by the end of next year to upgrade our missile capability.
Rao Qamar Suleman said the first squad of JF-17 thunder aircraft, jointed manufactured by Pakistan and China, will be operational by June next year.
He said Pakistan is facing numerous challenges but PAF has the capability to take care of them. He said the system will strengthen PAF to deter any threat to our sovereignty and will enhance its capabilities.
He said the air craft is capable to effectively defend the air space and the system will not destabilize security in the region as a number of our neighbouring countries have such a capability.
He said with the induction of this state of the art system, PAF has become one of the most modern Air Forces.
He said AEWACS are equipped with radar that can detect missile and aircraft at far greater range than the ground radar in all altitude regimes from ultra low to very high level.
The Air Chief said that eighteen more F-16 fighter planes will be inducted in the PAF by June next year.
Saab surveillance system will detect and identify all air craft well before they enter in Pakistan air space. The remaining three aircraft will be handed over to Pakistan next year. This aircraft is used during peace time as well as war at all altitudes.