Pak Air Force now faces both internal and external threats: Air Chief

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) must prepare for a two-front situation in view of its combat role in the anti-terrorism campaign and as being India's neighbour, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshall Tahir Rafiq Butt has said.

In an interview, he said that airpower can achieve much more in a short span of time if it has a clear understanding of its capabilities.

Butt said that while it always had to be prepared for the external threat, it now had to also prepare itself to deal with an internal threat too, the Express Tribune reports.

According to the report, the PAF is seeking to enhance its latest multi-role fighter, trying to enable the JF-17 aircraft to refuel in mid-air, even though it remains open to procuring the more established and technologically advanced F-16 fighter jets.

He added that the PAF was enhancing the JF-17 Thunder, jointly produced by Pakistan and China.