NASTP spearheading PAF's vision of nation building during IDEAS-2022.

By Air Commodore LiAquAt Ullah Iqbal SI(M) 1. The 11th Edition of International Defence Exhibition and Seminar, IDEAS 2022 is scheduled from 15th-18th November, 2022 at Karachi Expo Centre. The mega event is significantly being commemorated through enhanced participation of Pakistan Armed Forces, national and international defence industry, OEMs, entrepreneurs, and high level national and international defence delegations. The new features are aimed to make IDEAS an effective platform for defence Buyers and Sellers. Pakistan Air Force is the air warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces who is tasked with providing, in synergy with other services, the most efficient, assured and cost-effective aerial Defence of Pakistan. Furthermore, Pakistan Air Force provides air logistic support capability and strategic air transport to the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and various government departments on requirement basis. Pakistan Air Force also actively contributes in nation building efforts and thus poised on the threshold of tomorrow, PAF remains, 'Second to None'; fully abreast with the indispensable mechanisms to live by its standards in the coming millennium and beyond. 2. PAF has been operating various types of aircraft since national independence including British, American, French and Chinese origin. While on one hand these aircraft and weapon systems have been providing the PAF with much needed war fighting capability, there have also been serious obsolescence and interoperability challenges apart from restrictions, embargos and export controls. 3. In order to mitigate these challenges, PAF leadership has been responding proactively by establishing MRO Depots as well as several R and D centres for core capabilities in data automation, sensor fusion, systems and weapons integration etc across Pakistan. (a) Five AEDs are located in Karachi with 75-100 years of excellence in Aerospace, Engines, Avionics, Aerostructure, MRO, Systems integration, testing, qualification, munitions manufacturing, simulators and AR/VR Systems etc. (b) Three AEDs are located in Rawalpindi, specialising in ground handling equipment, special vehicles, radar MRO/Upgrades, C-130 Mods/Upgrades, and multi-domain support including Robotics, EODs and MRO of Payloads. (c) R and D Units undertake design, research and development in the fields of EW, EO/IR, ISR and Drone Systems. 4. Initially, most of PAF aircraft and systems were sent to their countries of origin for major...