KHAIRPUR: Prime Minister NawazSharif and Chief of Army Staff gen Raheel Sharif on Wednesday witnessed ‘RaadulBarq’– Thunderof Lightening – militaryexercise in KhairpurTamewali firing range of Cholistandesert.
The comprehensive joint exercise conducted by Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force showcased the combat-readiness of Pakistan’s defence line with live firepower demonstration using heavy artillery, fighter jets and air defence weapons.
Ex RaadUlBarq:Comprehensive,integ Exercise encompassing all weapons,calibers,at our best combat readiness against our enemy-live on TV now
— Gen AsimBajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 16, 2016
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The prime minister along with Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Rashad Mahmoud and three services chiefs witnessed the movement of artillery corp’s Khalid tanks successfully engaging targets in the firing range, some 70 kilometers from Bahawalpur.
The PAF’s fighter aircraft including JF-17 Thunder, F-7PG and Mirage hit the targets with agility and precision avoiding the radars. The manoeuvering Mirage aircraft flew close to ground striking weapons at the designated targets.
The Firing Falcon – formationof four F-16 aircraft, each capable of carrying 24,000 pounds high explosive bombs enough to target 2 x 2 kilometres of land, successfully hit enemy’s targets. The Cobra Gunship and Z10 helicopters fired missiles having six kilometres range and successfully engaged the targets.
The helicopters of Army Aviation Combat Group that participated in the Operation Zarb-e-Azb also demonstrated their combat potential. The exercise also demonstrated indigenously developed surface-to-air missiles, multi-barrel rocket launchers, sky radars for target detection and rocket-propelled target system.
The demonstration concluded with a flypast by F-16 aircraft receiving thunderous applause by the audience. Army Chief Army chief General Raheel Sharif presented a souviner to Prime Minister Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Defence Minister KhwajaAsif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, AirChief Air Marshal SohailAman and Naval chief Admiral Zakaullah, National Assembly Speaker SardarAyazSadiq, National Security Adviser LtGen Nasser Janjua and ambassadors attended the event.
Deputy chief of staff of Saudi armed forces especially arrived in on behalf of the Saudi Crown Prince to witness the military exercise.
