PAF successfully employs air-to-air refuelling skill

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Sunday employed air-to-air refuelling skill successfully thus attaining another milestone to prove itself 'second to none' as envisioned by Father of the Nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The attainment of the capability was a part of the ongoing High-Mark-10 exercises kicked off a week ago.
The first Air-to-Air Re-Fuller aircraft of Pakistan Air Force which had joined in the mid of December-2009, took active part in the exercises and ably refuelled two fighter aircraft in the PAF's inventory, a senior officer of PAF said, while talking to APP here.
The PAF is expecting delivery of three similar refuelling aircraft by June this year. By virtue of its ability to refuel Air Defence aircraft in air, PAF's overall capability in terms of its effectiveness to defend the airspace of the motherland has significantly enhanced, he said. The area of exercise High Mark-10 is spread over the entire country from Skardu in the North up to the Arabian Sea in the South. The exercise has been tailored to include joint operations with extensive participation from Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy that would further enhance might to conduct joint operations amongst the three most essential services.
High Mark-10 is aimed at conducting operations in near-realistic tactical environment, while integrating new inductions and providing role-oriented training to combat and support elements of PAF and other services.
"It is designed to achieve stipulated objectives with special emphasis on exposing PAF combat crew to simulated air battles based on contemporary concepts," he said. He said, all the Main Operating Bases (Peace Time) and Forward Operating Bases (War Time) are operative during the on going exercise.
New inductions like JF-17 Thunder aircraft and force multipliers such as Saab-2000 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and Air-to-Air Re-Fueler aircraft are participating in the exercise for the first time.
Exercise High Mark is PAF's biggest operational event that is being conducted after a pause of five years. The ever-changing geo-political environment in the region demands change in the employment concepts and doctrinal changes in the application of air power with emphasis on joint operations, he said.