A Force Transformed

Nations are rarely a fair judge, as their memory is shaped less by substance and more by emotions. The architects who lay the groundwork for a nation’s glory often fade into obscurity in the collective memory of the nation. This excision is a disservice to future generations, as it silences the narrative that could have inspired them. This op-ed is an attempt to recover a neglected narrative, one that centres on a man who, despite severe resource constraints, redefined the art of war, thwarted the enemy’s malicious designs, and accomplished what many modern air forces still aspire to achieve. The application of multi-domain operations with such precision and vision left both allies and adversaries in awe. I felt compelled to bring to light what public discourse has overlooked.

In 2021, upon assuming the command of the Pakistan Air Force, the current Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu had an uphill task to achieve the salient supremacy of situational awareness: first look and first shoot capability. He inducted J-10C along with PL-15 missiles with ranges up to 300 km and operationalised them within the PAF in a record time of 8 months. To turn the platforms into a full operational capability with unmatched doctrinal clarity is the testament of Air Chef’s efforts to shift the air domain tempo in PAF’s favour. The gravity of this achievement could be understood if one compares it with the IAF, which remained in initial operational capability limbo for 3 years and failed to fully integrate the Rafales, which were known to be the best 4.5 generation aircraft.

Driven by a forward-looking mindset, ACM Baber Sidhu anticipated the evolving nature of warfare and capability requirements. As a visionary leader, he refused to settle for the bare minimum and, guided by a strategist’s eye, pursued a strategic reset to bridge the gap between emerging threats and institutional readiness. The phased plan comprises a short-term objective to restore ‘first look, first shoot’ capability. In the medium term, it includes the establishment of Cyber, Space, UAV, GBAD and Electronic Warfare (EW) commands to enable the seamless integration and fusion of sensors and shooters, allowing for effective Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). In the long term, the strategy encompasses the development of the aviation industry, supported by the NASTP project for indigenisation.

Transforming the PAF from a platform-centric to a network-centric air power was an undertaking of considerable magnitude. For context, Multi-Domain Operations in air power require seamless integration of air capabilities with land-based, cyber, and space-based assets. It was a testing task considering that the chief architect of this transition was a proponent of indigenous and home-grown technologies. Yet, through relentless effort, he transformed this vision into reality. Under his leadership, the PAF oversaw the establishment of the EW Command to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum, the Cyber Warfare Command to disrupt and degrade the enemy’s cyber ecosystem, and the Space Command for situational awareness while denying it to the enemy. Parallel development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) forces for modern air operations and Ground-Based Air Defence Systems (GBADs) to extend the kill chain to ensure dull spectrum MDO prowess.

To ensure that each command operated at an optimal level, the primary focus was on indigenisation and fusion of systems to develop the ultimate kill chain. Bearing the fruit of a long-term plan to establish an aviation industry, EW and cyber platforms were developed under the umbrella of NASTP. The PAF launched its own satellite to enhance its prowess in space-based assets. While state-of-the-art UAVs were manufactured at NASTP, several top-of-the-line systems were procured to develop a UAV force capable of conducting modern air operations. Ground-Based Air Defence systems such as the HQ- 19BE were also inducted. These inductions were seamlessly integrated through sensor fusion, allowing all commands to operate with a Common Operating Picture (COP) and the capability to degrade and disrupt enemy systems across all domains.

For effect-based operations, possessing capability is one thing, but operationalising it is a different ball game. This was reflected in the dilemma faced by the IAF, which, despite having state-of-the-art technology, failed to match it effectively to generate the desired effects. ACM Baber Sidhu’s timely initiative of embedding these home-grown technologies into the training cycles of the PAF was another critical dimension behind its success during Zarb-e-Karar. Multilateral and bilateral exercises such as Indus Shield and Shaheen Series were among the key initiatives undertaken by PAF’s current leadership.

The PAF downed seven IAF aircraft, including four Rafales, one Su-30, one MiG-29, and one Mirage 2000. GBAD systems successfully brought down the Heron drone. Yet, more significantly, what collapsed under the weight of strategic brilliance was India’s arrogance, as ACM Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu choreographed a campaign that targeted India’s centre of gravity in both the air and ground domains, successfully eliminating the Rafales and neutralising the S-400 system. The PAF’s multi-domain operations decisively dismantled the myth of BrahMos missiles, and with it, India’s self-proclaimed status as the “Net Security Provider” and the ambition of regional hegemon was demolished in the Indian Ocean Region.