Its primary mandate and mission is “to provide, in synergy with other inter-services, the most efficient, assured and cost bgt russian woman 2018 aerial Defence of Pakistan. 106 Squadron entered Pakistani airspace on a photo reconnaissance mission. The PAF fleet at the time consisted of 12 F-104 Starfighters, some 120 F-86 Sabres and around 20 B-57 Canberra bombers.

The PAF claims to have had complete air superiority over the battle area from the second day of operations. Many publications have credited the PAF’s successes to U. IAF and giving the PAF a “qualitative advantage”. However some Pakistanis refute this argument. Sajjad Haider who flew with No. 19 squadron, the F-104 Starfighter did not deserve its reputation as “the pride of the PAF” because it “was unsuited to the tactical environment of the region. It was a high-level interceptor designed to neutralize Soviet strategic bombers in altitudes above 40,000 feet.