page_title: Anwar Shamim
section_title: F-16 Fighting Falcon program
hierarchical_section_title: Anwar Shamim / Chief of Air Staff / F-16 Fighting Falcon program
caption_attribution_description: A Pakistan Air Force F-16A approaching the runway at Lahore.
context_page_description: Air Chief Marshal Mohammad Anwar Shamim LOM, NI, HI, SI, SJ, OI, was a senior air officer of the Pakistan Air Force and was the Chief of Air Staff, appointed to the post in 1978 until retiring in 1985.
  Born in Haripur, British India in 1931, he was a career fighter pilot who participated in conflict with India in 1965 and in 1971, before playing a crucial role as a military adviser to Jordan against the Palestinian insurgent groups in 1970.
  As an air chief, Shamim is notable for taking initiatives to modernize the air force by successfully acquiring the F-16 Fighting Falcon from the United States under the Project Falcon in 1983, and acquiring the radar technology from the United States to strengthened his country's aerial defense. During his tenureship, he played an influential role in the Zia administration, advising President Zia on policy matters involving the national security.
  In addition, Shamim is also holds the distinction of being the second longest serving chief of air staff of the Pakistan Air Force.
context_section_description: In 1979, ACM Shamim had notified President General Zia that Kahuta's ERL was an indefensible site because it was at three minutes flying time for the Indian IAF from the border, with reaction time for the Pakistan Air Force's fighter jets would be about eight minutes, resulting the enemy completing the job and reporting to their base safely. ACM Shamim explored the idea of defending the nuclear deterrence by suggesting to acquire the American F-16s, allowing the PAF to have a second strike capability to destroying the Indian nuclear facility at Trombay, India. ACM Shamim refused to acquire the F-5E aircraft from the United States, and provided a strong advocacy for acquiring the F-16s. In 1980, ACM Shamim led successful talks with China, and acquired the F-6s to be inducted in the air force to protect the facilities.
  The Pakistan MoD and the U.S. DoD entered in negotiations to acquire the F-16s, with Air Chief Marshal Shamim later launching the Project Falcon, appointing Air Vice Marshal H. Durrani as its Project-Director.
  On 15 January 1983, the three F-16As in a single squadron flown under the leadership of then-Air Vice Marshal Jamal Khan reached the country. When the F-16As were arrived, ACM Shamim directed a secret memo to confirm that the Indian attack on the nuclear facilities in the country will be met with retaliatory attack by the PAF, using the F-16s as their primary weapons. During this time, he maintained close relations with Lieutenant General Arnold Braswell of the United States Air Force on mutual security issues.
  After Israel successfully launched a surprise airstrike on an Iraqi nuclear power plant, the fears in Pakistan increased with intelligence community asserting that India reciprocating the following the similar suit to destroy the nuclear infrastructure in Pakistan. Upon learning the development between Iraq and Israel, ACM Shamim tightened the security of the nuclear facilities by establishing the strategic air command.
  In 1980, Air Chief Marshal Shamim also witnessed the commissioning and induction of the A-5 Fantan in the air force, acquiring the first squadron in 1981.
  In 1982, ACM Shamim acquired the additional batch of Dassault Mirage 5 that would provide support on aerial defence for the Pakistan Navy.
caption: F-16A in flight: ACM Shamim's tenure acquire the F-16As from the United States in 1981.:18[22]
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