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Inter Squadron Armament Competition

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Inter Squadron Armament Competition
انٹر سکواڈرن ہتھیاری مقابلہ
Mirage-IIIEP drops M117 dumb bombs over Thal firing ranges during ISAC-1974.
NicknameISAC
GenreMilitary sport
Live fire exercise
FrequencyRandom
VenueSonmiani Flight Test Range
Jamrud Firing Ranges (formerly)
Thal desert
Country Pakistan
Inaugurated1949
Most recent2019
Previous event2015
Next eventUnknown
Organised by Pakistan Air Force
Websitewww.paf.gov.pk

The Inter-Squadron Armament Competition (ISAC) is a military sports event hosted by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). It is an event designed to assess and celebrate the skill and operational readiness of its squadrons. This competition evaluates the training of aircrews and ground teams, focusing on their ability to perform under warlike conditions>[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

History

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Main article: History of the Pakistan Air Force

Following the independence of Pakistan and establishment of the Royal Pakistan Air Force, the RPAF had two primary combat squadrons, namely the 5 Squadron "Falcons" and 9 Squadron "Griffins". There was a sense of rivalry between these two pioneering units. Airmen and officers would face each other during military exercises trying to gain the advantage over the other.[8]

Eventually, this rivalry led to the first ever inter-squadron drill in May 1949 being organized under the leadership of RPAF's then British commander AVM Allan Perry-Keene. 9 Squadron later won the competition and bagged the Perry-Keene trophy for themselves.[9]

Evolution into ISAC

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By the early 1960s, significant changes were introduced to the operational structure and traditions under Air Marshal Asghar Khan's major modernization program. As part of this revamping project he introduced the concept of a large-scale gunnery competition involving all of the PAF's combat aircraft squadrons.[9]

Competition

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Whenever ISAC takes place (normally every four years), a team composed of the four best pilots along with maintenance staff from every PAF combat aircraft squadron is selected to compete against other squadrons in live weapons firing involving strafing runs, precision bombing and dropping dumb bombs via CCIP. [10]

Awards

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Name Introduced Awarded to Notes
Sher Afgan Trophy 1949 Top-performing pilot of the competition Formerly known as Perry-Keene Trophy.
Armament Competition Trophy Unknown Squadron with highest score in the

competition

[10]
Maintenance Trophy Unknown Squadron with the most well maintained equipment. [11]
Best Armament Trophy 2019 Shared by 2 & 8 Squadrons in ISAC-2019. [11][12]

Known events

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Inter Squadron Armament Competition
Year Venue Champion Notes
1949 Unknown 9 Squadron First competition between RPAF's sole two fighter squadrons. [8]
1952 Unknown 5 Squadron [9]
1960 Unknown 16 Squadron [8]
1966 Mauripur 19 Squadron [9]
1974 Thal desert Unknown
1997 Unknown 9 Squadron
2007 Sonmiani 9 Squadron [13][14][15]
2015 Karachi 11 Squadron [16][17]
2019 Sonmiani 11 Squadron

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "PAF Demonstrates Firepower Capability at Sonmiani Firing Range". Hilal English. 2019-12-01.
  2. ^ "PAF stands ever ready for aerial defence: Air Chief". Radio Pakistan. 2019-10-30.
  3. ^ "PAF pilots demonstrate fighting prowess in the sky". Arab News. 2019-11-06.
  4. ^ "PAF conducts live-fire demo at Sonmiani". ETribune. 2019-11-06.
  5. ^ "Regional environment demands vigilant PAF role: Air Chief". Dawn. 2015-12-01.
  6. ^ "PAF's No 11 Multirole Squadron wins Inter Squadron Armament Competition". The News. 2019-10-30.
  7. ^ "JF-17 retains PAF's top fighter slot at armament competition". Etribune. 2019-10-30.
  8. ^ a b c Ali, Muhammad (2023-10-02). "Battle For Sher Afgan Continues". Second To None Magazine.
  9. ^ a b c d Qadri, Azam; Ali, Muhammad (2014). Sentinels in the Sky (A Sage of PAF's Gallant Air Warriors) (published 2014-01-01).
  10. ^ a b "PAF INTER SQUADRON ARMAMENT COMPETITION KICKS OFF" (PDF) (Press release). Karachi: DGPR Pakistan Air Force. 16 November 2015.
  11. ^ a b "No 11 Multirole Squadron wins PAF Inter Squadron Armament Competition". Geo News. 2019-10-30.
  12. ^ "PAF's JF – 17 Thunder Jet achieves yet another milestone in air warfare". Daily Times. 2019-10-31.
  13. ^ "F-16 sqn wins PAF Inter-Squadron Armament competition yet again". F-16.net.
  14. ^ "KARACHI: PAF competition ends". Dawn. 2007-11-08.
  15. ^ "Prime Minister witnesses PAF firepower demonstration at Sonmiani range". Business Recorder. 2007-11-10.
  16. ^ "NO-11 MULTIROLE SQUADRON WINS PAF INTER SQUADRON ARMAMENT COMPETITION" (PDF) (Press release). DGPR Pakistan Air Force. 30 November 2015.
  17. ^ "30 Inter Squadron Armament Compititon". PAF Official Website.
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