The next few years are likely to see greater capability enhancements for the PAF. It must be kept in mind that PAF has never let finances stand in the way of its acquisitions to counter Indian Air Force.
By IndraStra Global Editorial Team
In an age of digital networks and advanced weapon systems, the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft is more important than ever. AEW&C is essentially a powerful radar and other sensors mounted in an aircraft so that, when flying at high altitudes, the airborne system possesses all the benefits of mobility and detection range.
For example, an aircraft flying at 9,000 m can typically offer
radar coverage of a 312,000 km² area. Able to distinguish hostile and friendly
aircraft hundreds of kilometers away, AEW&C platforms provide commanders
with an overall view of the battlefield to enhance airspace operations,
surveillance, command and control (C2) and battle management. When networked
with fighter aircraft, the AEW&C extend the sensors of the fighters and
give them increased stealth since they do not need to employ their own radar
systems. The AEW&C is certainly a true force-multiplier.
Pakistan's Aerial Early Warning Program
According to an analyst based out of IDSA New Delhi, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is more of speed
breaker than a major challenge. PAF, however, is in the process of undertaking
a major modernization programme. A few of PAF’s modernization programmes
initiated earlier are reaching realization with several more in the pipeline.
These appear aimed at closing the technology, quantitative, and capability gap
with the IAF while hoping to surpass the latter on these 3 parameter.
Several recent equipment
purchases undertaken by PAF appeared quite baffling at first glance. PAF has
ordered similar equipment from different sources. For instance, it ordered 6
(later reduced to 4, 1 destroyed in Kamra Terror Attack) SAAB 2000 aircraft mounted Erieye Airborne Early
Warning & Control (AEW&C) systems from Sweden and 4 ZDK- 03 AEW&Cs from China while also placing orders for 4 Hawkeye 2000 AEW&C systems mounted on P-3 aircraft from the U.S.
SAAB 2000 Erieye:
Image Attribute: PAF's Saab 2000 at Dubai International Airport / Source: Wikimedia Commons
The Saab 2000 is
a twin-engined high-speed turboprop airliner built
by Saab.
It was designed to carry 50–58 passengers and cruise at
a speed of 665 km/h (413 mph). Production took place in Linköping in
southern Sweden.
The Saab 2000 first flew in March 1992 and was certified in 1994. The last
aircraft was delivered in April 1999, a total of 63 aircraft being
built and 33 remaining in service as of July 2013.
In June 2006, Pakistan
completed the purchase of six Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft to be equipped with
the Saab-Ericsson ERIEYE Airborne Early Warning system. Revised in May 2007 due
to renegotiation with the Government of Pakistan, only five aircraft will be
delivered, four of which will be equipped with the Erieye system. In April
2008, the first Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C was rolled out and presented to
Pakistan Air Force officials during a ceremony in Sweden.
Image Attribute : ACM Tanvir Mahmood Ahmad, CAS PAF with Pakistan's Ambassador to
Sweden Shaheen Gillani and other PAF officials on the occasion of roll out
ceremony of first Saab-2000 - 3 Apr 2008./ Source: SAAB Press Release
The Erieye AEW&C mission
system radar is an active, phased-array, pulse-doppler sensor that can feed an
onboard operator architecture or downlink data (via an associated datalink
subsystem) to a ground-based air defence network. The system employs a large
aperture, dual-sided antenna array housed in a dorsal 'plank' fairing. The
antenna is fixed, and the beam is electronically scanned, which provides for
improved detection and significantly enhanced tracking performance compared
with radar-dome antenna systems. Erieye detects and tracks air and sea targets
out to the horizon, and sometimes beyond this due to anomalous propagation —
instrumented range has been measured at 450 kilometres (280 mi). Typical
detection range against fighter-sized targets is approximately 425 kilometres
(264 mi), in a 150° broadside sector, both sides of the aircraft. Outside these
sectors, performance is reduced in forward and aft directions.
Other system features include:
Adaptive waveform generation (including digital, phase-coded pulse
compression); Signal processing and target tracking; track while scan (TWS);
low side lobe values (throughout the system's angular coverage); low- and
medium-pulse repetition frequency operating modes; frequency agility;
Air-to-air and sea surveillance modes; and target radar cross-section display.
The radar operates as a medium-
to high-PRF pulse-Doppler, solid-state radar, in E/F-band (3 GHz),
incorporating 192 two-way transmit/receive modules that combine to produce a
pencil beam, steered as required within the operating 150° sector each side of
the aircraft (one side at a time). It is understood that Erieye has some
ability to detect aircraft in the 30° sectors fore and aft of the aircraft
heading, but has no track capability in this sector.
ZDK- 03 AEW&Cs
Image Attribute: Pakistan Air Force ZDK-03
inflight over Manora Cantonment (September 2013) / Source: Wikimedia Commons
The Y-8 AWACS prototype flew to
Pakistan and was evaluated by Pakistani AF in 2006. After some negotiations a
much improved design was developed based on PAF's specifications. The variant
is now named ZDK-03/Y-8P (ZDK means CETC) and is based on the new Y-8 Category
III Platform featuring WJ-6C turboprops with 6-blade high efficiency
propellers. It was reported in early 2009 that a total of 4 were ordered by PAF
in a $278m contract.
Chinese ZDK-03 AEW&C
system, dubbed the Karakorum Eagle have an unusual camouflage is modeled on
the USAF MC-2A proposal and is optimal for high altitude ISR aircraft (PAF).
The system consist of Chinese
AESA radar mounted on the Y-8F600 platform The radar is reported to have a
greater range than that of the PAF's Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C radar and the
aircraft incorporates open architecture electronics to make future upgrades
easier to implement. Delivery of the first aircraft to the Pakistan Air Force begins
at the end of 2010. The first aircraft was reported to have been delivered in
November 2011 by Pakistani media.
Unlike KJ-200, this variant
carries a traditional rotodome on top of its fuselage, with a mechanically
rotating antenna inside. The PESA radar is thought to scan electronically in
elevation but mechanically in azimuth. Therefore the Y-8 AWACS was speculated
to be developed for the export market only as it appears less advanced than
KJ-200 which features a fixed AESA radar. However this design does provide a
true 360° coverage and carry a cheaper price tag. The AEW radar is the product
of the 38th Institute/CETC, but no details are available.
The aircraft also features a
solid nose with Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) sensors on both sides, and small vertical stabilizers
attached to its tail planes. Another two MAWS sensors are mounted in the
tail cone as well. Additional fairings are seen at the wingtips and the tail
housing Electronic Support Measures (ESM) antennas.
Currently, all four systems has been inducted by the Pakistan Air Force and are being operated by the PAF’s No. 4 Squadron based at Masroor Air Force Base near Karachi.
Hawkeye 2000 AEW&C
Image Attribute: The Cutaway of P-3C Orion with E-2C Hawkeye 2000 Rotodome System
In 2006, The Government of Pakistan requested a possible sale for refurbishment and modification of three excess P-3 aircraft with the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) Suite, spare and repairs parts, simulators, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, system software development and installation, ground/flight testing of new systems and system modifications, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost was $855 million at that time.
The deal consisted of 7 upgraded ex-US Navy P-3C aircraft and 2 upgraded versions of Pakistan Navy's own. Out of all this, only 3 aircraft was to be upgraded to E-2C Hawkeye capabilities. The upgrade included Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar, Electronic Support Measures and communication systems. The first was delivered in January 2007. All Four P-3C were based in Naval aviation base Faisal, Karachi. (Upgraded P-3C MPA and P-3B AEW models equipped with Hawkeye 2000 AEW system). In June 2010, two more upgraded P-3Cs joined the Pakistan Navy with anti-ship and submarine warfare capabilities. Two of these aircraft were later destroyed in an attack (2011) by armed militants at the PNS Mehran Naval Airbase.
Image Attribute: Destroyed P-3C Orion at Mehran Air Base / Source: The Tribune
According to media reports just after the attack, U.S. promised to replace the 2 refurbished Pakistani P-3C Orion Sea Control Aircrafts destroyed at PNS Mehran. A number of these reports cite the admonitions of a mixed opinion-news column by the Washington Post's David Ignatius. One the other hand, some newspapers like Pakistan's Dawn were found citing "Diplomatic Sources" as backing for the news about the Orions. But, the backing for these reports remains murky, depending on what they mean by "Diplomatic Sources".
Conclusion:
As of today, the PAF is holding an inventory of 7 AEW Systems (3 Saab 2000s and 4 ZDK-03). And, if we especially look at the ZDK-03s, which are expected to
serve as the airborne command & control center for the JF-17 fighter fleet
currently in service with PAF. However it does not have the secure NATO
data link installed to effectively command western fighter aircraft such as
American F-16. Therefore ZDK-03 operates together with Saab-2000 in a
"high-low" combination in order to coordinate various Chinese and
western made combat aircraft effectively. The latest rumor (June 2015)
suggested that the AWACS might be upgraded in the future with a fixed AESA
radar similar to the one on board KJ-500.
The next few years are likely to see greater capability enhancements for the PAF. It must be kept in mind that PAF has never let finances stand in the way of its acquisitions to counter Indian Air Force (IAF), even during periods of martial law, indicating that even the Pakistan Army is fully on board regarding need for a powerful Air Force and is willing to part with funds for the same despite its own needs.