News Summary: Pakistani air force hurt by crashes
News Summary: Frequent crashes raise concerns about Pakistan's aging air force equipment
DEADLY FORCE: Over a dozen planes in Pakistan's air force have crashed in less than two years, raising concerns about the health of its aging fleet.
PLANES FOR HIRE: Nearly half the planes that crashed were decades-old Mirage fighters, which make up at least a quarter of the force's fleet of about 400 combat aircraft. Many were acquired from foreign militaries that had already retired them.
TOUGH CHOICES: Pakistan has turned to the U.S. and China for help in modernizing its air force, but economic woes have strained the government's ability to upgrade the fleet.
