Strike Aircraft Match-ups: India vs. Pakistan

Although dogfighting jet pilots capture most of the glory when it comes to air combat, their job is merely to secure the skies for the real purpose of air warfare: dropping bombs on enemy ground targets. In past conflicts, air warfare between India and Pakistan has been a bitterly contested contest with numerous twists and turns. In the 1965 war, Pakistan was able to get the drop on its Indian rivals and destroy numerous planes on the ground, inflicting a loss ratio of 19 to 73 and gaining a measure of revenge for past poor performances, and then held their own in the 1971 War. Pakistani pilots fought against Israeli in the Six Day War, shooting down three Israeli planes. Strike missions will be an area where pilots can expect to see a lot of action in any future conflict.

The aircraft that follow are those that are likely to be employed in the strike or ground support role. However, both air forces have other aircraft that could be used in this way, yet are assigned to duties like air superiority or interception.

Pakistan

The principle strike aircraft of the Pakistani Air Force is the multi-role F-16 A/B model fighter, with a new consignment of C/D models expected in the near future. Arguably the most popular single-engined fighter aircraft in the Western world, the F-16 is a nimble, capable platform When outfitted with a heavy bomb load of four 2,000-lb bombs,plus 2 AIM-9 sidewinders and small drop tanks, the plane has a combat radius of 340 miles. With a top speed of 1,500 miles per hour and electronics that are still competitive, the A/B model can more than take care of itself in a fight as well as carry out strike missions.

The dedicated ground bomber of the Pakistani Air Force is the French-made Mirage 5. A 1960s era delta-winged fighter, the Pakistanis are extending the lifespan of their fleet with an upgrade program, giving them digital cockpits and infrared bombing capability. The plane can carry a mix of 8,800 lbs of bombs, missiles, rockets, and drop tanks on five external hard-points, and has a maximum speed of 1,460 mph.

The Pakistanis could also press their JF-17s into service as strike aircraft. These planes are jointly made with the Chinese. They are single-engined with a maximum speed of Mach 1.8, have a modern electronics suite, and can carry 8,000 lbs of external ordinance or fuel on 7 hard-points, with a combat radius of 840 miles.

India

The Indian Air Force has two dedicated bombing aircraft. One is the SEPECAT Jaguar, a venerable British and French-designed strike bomber introduced in 1973. Most of India's planes were built in India. The two-engined plane has a maximum combat radius of 335 miles, with a top speed of 1,055 mph. The five external hard-points can carry 10,000 lbs of bombs, rockets, missiles, or drop tanks.

They also fly the Soviet-made MiG-27, a variable-wing single-engined plane also dating to 1970. These planes have a maximum speed of 1,170 mph with a combat radius of 430 miles, and can haul 8,800 lbs of external ordinance on seven hard-points.

The Indians could also push their MiG-29s into the strike role. It was first introduced by the Soviets in 1983. This two-engined, thoroughly modern multi-role jet was the Russian answer to the F-16, and is in some ways superior. It has a maximum speed of 1,518 mph with a combat radius of 430 miles. It can carry up to 7,720 lbs of missiles, bombs, pods, and drop tanks on its six hard-points.

Winner: PAKISTAN!

India has some important advantages in its strike aircraft. Generally speaking, they can carry as many or more bombs and carry them further. However, there is no denying that Pakistan's strike fighters are much more modern. The Pakistani F-16s and Indian MiG-29s are roughly comparable, but the real comparison is between the Jaguars and MiG-27s of India and the Mirages of Pakistan. Both the MiG-27 and the Mirage 5 have infrared targeting capability, for example, but the cockpit of the Mirage is digitized and easier to manage in a battle. Overall, Pakistan's strike aircraft have all the things that will make them more survivable and more able to deliver bombs, and if more airplanes come home intact, they can fly more sorties that day or the next.

Sources: http://www.paf.gov.pk/; globalsecurity.org; http://indianairforce.nic.in/