The Pakistan Air Force currently has the Block 15S F-16A/B model in operation, which has an upgraded APG-66 radar that brings it close to the MLU (Mid-life Update) radar technology. The main advantage is the ability to use the AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles [if they were ever to be released to the PAF]. Furthermore, the radar is capable of sorting out tight formations of aircraft and has a 15%-20% range increase over previous models. Currently, Pakistani F-16's typically carry two all-aspect AIM-9L Sidewinders on the wing tip rails along with a pair of AIM-9P-4's on the outermost underwing racks, while the Matra Magic 2 (French counterpart of the Sidewinder) can be carried as well.
www.f-16.net
This information given above proves that the Pakistani F-16s are BVR capable. The Pakistani pilots are also capable of operating in a BVR scenario and as far as the Mirage 2000 is concerned, it is possible that PAF fighters fly or fight against the Mirage 2000 in DACT [since Mirage 2000 is operated by UAE and Egypt and PAF pilots go to these countries for training or as instructor pilots].
As far as the AiM-7M matter is concerned PAF has acquired 500 AiM-7M Sparrows [the model was not confirmed but since it came out later by a PAF official that PAF operates the AiM-7M] in 1988 from the military aid it was receiving from the US. The indians also published about the possibilty of PAF aquiring the sparrows, since it is published in a book "Fiza-ya, The Phsyche of PAF" written by indian authors Ravi Rakhyee & Pushpinder Singh. The PAF has AiM-7M missles and the Indian Mirage was downed by the PAF F-16s but since it fell down in the Indian side and that was against the rules of engagement of the PAF, the PAF pilot could not claim that kill. In the Afghan war PAF Mirages have downed a couple of Mig-21s but since the kills fell inside the Afghan border these kills could not be claimed by PAF.[This news of PAF Mirages downing the Migs can be verified by www.acig.org]
Indians have said in most of their news [even in Bharat Rakshak] that the Indian Mirages delivered their bombs from a very high altitude and later on have claimed that one of their Vajra [M-2000H] was lost to Mujahideen's Stinger. Stinger missle cannot be fired on aircraft flying at a high altitude. It is effective against only low flying helos and those aircraft which are pulling up after a low level attack. Then how come the stinger connected with the high flying Mirage. This prooves that the Vajra was downed by a BVR missle and that missle was none other than AiM-7M but since the wreckage fell inside India, PAF could not claim it openly but in reality both the airforces know that a PAF F-16 downed an IAF Mirage-2000.
To conclude i can say that PAF F-16s are better than IAF Mirage 2000s in dogfight and air-to-air combat. IAF Mirage may be a better ground attack platform but not in Air-to-Air combat. Even in one of the programs on the discovery channel they showed a Belgian F-16A against a DACT mission against a French Mirage-2000 and at the end the F-16 won the fight.
But Mirage 2000 lovers, exceptions are their 'cause in a modern air combat, only that pilot wins who rotates, aim and fire the missle at the correct time i.e.to be a successful fighter pilot it is essential to take timely decisions no matter you are flying in a F-16, MiG-29, F-7 or a Mirage-2000.
www.f-16.net
This information given above proves that the Pakistani F-16s are BVR capable. The Pakistani pilots are also capable of operating in a BVR scenario and as far as the Mirage 2000 is concerned, it is possible that PAF fighters fly or fight against the Mirage 2000 in DACT [since Mirage 2000 is operated by UAE and Egypt and PAF pilots go to these countries for training or as instructor pilots].
As far as the AiM-7M matter is concerned PAF has acquired 500 AiM-7M Sparrows [the model was not confirmed but since it came out later by a PAF official that PAF operates the AiM-7M] in 1988 from the military aid it was receiving from the US. The indians also published about the possibilty of PAF aquiring the sparrows, since it is published in a book "Fiza-ya, The Phsyche of PAF" written by indian authors Ravi Rakhyee & Pushpinder Singh. The PAF has AiM-7M missles and the Indian Mirage was downed by the PAF F-16s but since it fell down in the Indian side and that was against the rules of engagement of the PAF, the PAF pilot could not claim that kill. In the Afghan war PAF Mirages have downed a couple of Mig-21s but since the kills fell inside the Afghan border these kills could not be claimed by PAF.[This news of PAF Mirages downing the Migs can be verified by www.acig.org]
Indians have said in most of their news [even in Bharat Rakshak] that the Indian Mirages delivered their bombs from a very high altitude and later on have claimed that one of their Vajra [M-2000H] was lost to Mujahideen's Stinger. Stinger missle cannot be fired on aircraft flying at a high altitude. It is effective against only low flying helos and those aircraft which are pulling up after a low level attack. Then how come the stinger connected with the high flying Mirage. This prooves that the Vajra was downed by a BVR missle and that missle was none other than AiM-7M but since the wreckage fell inside India, PAF could not claim it openly but in reality both the airforces know that a PAF F-16 downed an IAF Mirage-2000.
To conclude i can say that PAF F-16s are better than IAF Mirage 2000s in dogfight and air-to-air combat. IAF Mirage may be a better ground attack platform but not in Air-to-Air combat. Even in one of the programs on the discovery channel they showed a Belgian F-16A against a DACT mission against a French Mirage-2000 and at the end the F-16 won the fight.
But Mirage 2000 lovers, exceptions are their 'cause in a modern air combat, only that pilot wins who rotates, aim and fire the missle at the correct time i.e.to be a successful fighter pilot it is essential to take timely decisions no matter you are flying in a F-16, MiG-29, F-7 or a Mirage-2000.