Posted on 04/24/2011 7:49:29 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
'Pak F-16 fighter jets capable of shooting down CIA drones'
Agencies Posted online: Sat Apr 23 2011, 12:16 hrs
Islamabad : Pakistan has the capability to shoot down CIA-operated drones, former Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) head Dr Samar Mubarak Mand has said. Talking to media persons, the nuclear scientist said that Pakistan had F-16 fighter jets, which were capable of shooting down any kind of drone predators.
Dr Samar also observed that it was a strategic issue, therefore the final decision in this regard rested with the government.
It is noteworthy that similar statements had been issued time and again by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman that Pakistan is capable of shooting down the US predator aircraft.
But such claims are in direct contrast with Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement that the Pakistan Air Force cannot shoot down unmanned US drones.
Malik said recently that the altitude of the drones is much higher than that of Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets.
“Our effort remains focused on finding a diplomatic solution to halt drone attacks. We feel they are counter-productive. Drone missiles cause collateral damage. A few militants are killed, but the majority of victims are innocent citizens,” the Interior Minister added.
Be more interested in actually controlling the “tribal” areas, getting rid of islamic schools by actually having their own education, and wiping out the Taliban and other pests, and there will no reason for drones, will there?
I 'spose it is high considering the lack of pressurization requirements.
I would think just about any aircraft that is armed could shoot down a drone. No big surprise here.
Next headline should read “ U.S. F-22 capable of shooting down Pak F-16’s.”
“But such claims are in direct contrast with Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement that the Pakistan Air Force cannot shoot down unmanned US drones. “
The jets are capable, the pilots. . .not so much.
“ U.S. F-22 capable of shooting down Pak F-16’s.”
Winston Churchill said, “Nations don’t have friends. Nations have common interests.” On the surface we’re best buds with Pakistan. Underneath, they want us all dead and are actively working with the terrorists we’re trying to eliminate. What stops them from taking action, like shooting down drones, is that we’re pumping billions in bribe money to people who could give the order. The Pakistanis are trading the lives of their allies for a life of luxury. The fact that a few low level people die due to their duplicity is not relevant.
As long as this faux dance goes on, we won’t take any offensive actions. If it stops, they still have nukes and our “war” over there will be over.
“Pak F-16 fighter jets capable of shooting down CIA drones”
Let’s find out what jihadist, TBP, has to say about this nonsense.
Wikipedia gives the service ceiling of the Predator as 25,000 ft and the Reaper as 50,000. The F-16 has service ceiling of 60,000 ft. I’m calling BS.
The Pakis are perfectly content to have the U.S. kill and supress trouble makers in remote tribal areas.
This story is BS. The Global Hawk may operate in a high altitude mode,
But the Predator’s have to operate lower for their mission, and their operational ceiling is only 25 k. The Paki’s could shoot em down if they really wanted to.
I really don’t think you need a whole F-16 to do that. My guess is that very powerful slingshot would be capable of shooting down one of those drones.
Of course they “can” shoot them down, just like anyone with a gun “can” shoot cops. Just because you can doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. In fact, it might well end up being a very bad idea (depending on who is in charge).
Do drones exist that are capable of shooting down Pakistani F-16? If so do these drones fly in a protective mode like shepherds taking care of the flock? Maybe that is why Pak F-16s don’t challenge the other drones
Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel UAV
Though not completely stealthy, the RQ-170 uses a lot of the stealth techniques Lockheed Martin pioneered, and has such a small radar signature cruising at 50,000 feet it may be impossible to detect by ground-based radars.
This generation of drones is built on the premise of air superiority and degraded (i.e., no) defense already established by more capable aircraft.
The next generation won’t.
The next generations BE air supremacy.
The day of the fighter pilot is coming to a close.
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