New Delhi: In the wake of the nasty surprise that was Balakot, when Indian Air Force fighters went deep into Pakistan, blew up a Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp and returned without even being challenged, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is looking at increasing its manpower, improving its infrastructure and buying new weapons.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is looking at a huge increase in personnel, of about 6,400, including civilians. This includes about 400 officers and 4,000 men. And this comes despite a gradual increase of 5,000 personnel between 2014 and February 2019, when the IAF struck Balakot. The increase from 2014 figures in a hefty ten per cent. From less than a lakh, the PAF will go up to over 110,000 personnel.

The biggest purchase planned by the PAF is more Airborne Warning and Control Systems or AWACS, or planes with radars on them to ensure the air-defence system is on the alert when planes enter Pakistan air space. These very expensive eyes in the sky should ensure that there's at least knowledge of an intrusion. In two cases-- the US operation in Abbottabad to kill terrorist leader Osama bin Laden in 2011 and the Balakot strike, Pakistan got to know and acted too late.

The PAF also wants 19 multi-role radars and some mobile observation units. Once again, this is an effort to increase the ability to detect intruders.

An airbase in Skardu will be upgraded from a forward operating base to a main operating base. This comes after the PAF established a new base in Bholari, near Karachi, in 2017. A centre of excellence is likely to be built as well.

The increase in strength will be in operational and air-defence capabilities, clearly weak areas, considering what happened in Abbottabad and Balakot.