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Old thread ‘Defence Cooperation & Sales 2004: July – August’ is in Archives: http://www.pakdef.info/forum/showthread.php?t=5774
Delivery of 20 Mashak to S. Arabia by year-end
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Sept 9: Delivery of 20 Super Mashak aircraft to Saudi Arabia will commence towards the end of this year. This was stated by Maj-Gen Syed Ali Hamid, director-general of the Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) , at a news conference held to announce the programme and objectives of the four-day extravaganza of military hardware, Ideas 2004.
Gen Hamid did not give the total amount of the deal with Saudi Arabia which also includes maintenance clause, but said it would go a long way in boosting export of the aircraft manufactured by the PAC Kamra.
The PAC Kamra has already sold 10 of these aircraft to Oman and five to Iran. A deal for the sale of five such aircraft to a South African firm will be signed during the Ideas 2004 exhibition.
Gen Hamid pointed out that being a new player in the rapidly expanding defence market, Pakistan exported anti-tank guided missiles to Malaysia, and Mashak trainer aircraft to many other Muslim states.
Ideas 2004, the third biannual display of military hardware in the city, would commence with an international seminar on the "Changing global security environment" on Sept 13. It will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rao Sikander Iqbal. Prominent scholars from the UK, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sweden and Pakistan will participate.
The same day, the exhibition will be inaugurated at the Expo Centre and for the next three days 45 official delegations from 35 countries would visit the exhibition which has been described as a 'shop window'.
He said that it would provide a big display opportunity to the country's indigenous defence technology and foreign arms manufacturers. Gen Hamid said that since the introduction of Pakistan's defence industry at Ideas 2002 in the metropolis, defence exports of the country had doubled from $40 million to $100 million - mostly from public sector. He said that the local private sector was also producing some quality products and was strong in downstream industries.
Pakistan, he said, would like to find buyer for its "big ticket" items like Al Khalid tanks which was handed over to Pakistan army this year, Baktarshikan anti-tank missiles and Al Zarrar tanks, etc.
During the exhibition, Special Services Group of the Pakistan army would give a demonstration of anti-terrorist training while on the concluding day a flying display of Super Mashak and Karakoram-8 trainer aircraft would be held together with firepower demo of some of the new Pakistani products.
Maj-Gen Hamid said that elaborate security measures had been taken for the protection of the large number of foreign visitors. When asked why had Karachi been selected for the exhibition when there were concerns about law and order problem, the DEPO director-general said the first reason was that Karachi was the heart of commercial activity.
Logistically also, he added, it was the first choice because there was no place in Pakistan which had so much of airconditioned halls and space. All the three services are well represented here. Nowhere else in the country one can find such a broad-based five star hotels and facilities to cater for five or six thousand people.
http://www.dawn.com/2004/09/10/top6.htm
Pakistan’s defence exports touch $100m
Staff Report
KARACHI: Major-General Syed Ali Hamid, director general of the Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), said here on Thursday that for the last two to three years Pakistan had a sustained export of $100 million of armaments whereas prior to the IDEAS it was not more than $40 million per annum.
He was replying to questions from journalists. Briefing journalists here at the Karachi Expo Centre where the IDEAS 2004, counted among the largest defence exhibitions in the region, is being held, he said Pakistan was relatively a “new player” in armaments export with 95 percent share of the public sector.
He said the IDEAS 2004 would attract 45 delegations from 35 countries. He said 100 exhibitors and 12 senior government/ military officials would attend it and lots of logistics were involved in organising the event. He said the IDEAS was not a “trade show” since it took five to six years to mature a deal.
He said Pakistan’s main competitors in this area were India and the People’s Republic of China whose products were in “medium-technology range” whereas the United States was in “high-technology range” and Pakistan did not match that country. He said the market Pakistan was targeting was “low-technology and high-demand” products because that sold. He said sale of Super Mushhak to Saudi Arabia was the first defence sale in the wake of the IDEAS 2004. He said globally the defence market was shrinking and that was why arms manufacturers were targeting Asia. He said Pakistan would be signing a contract with a private company of South African. He said previously Pakistan exhibited “pre-production model” of Al-Khalid tanks, but now its “full production model” would be exhibited.
He gave an overview of the various ongoing events that would take place in addition to the exhibition. These included the seminar on “The Changing Global Security Environment” at a local hotel on Sept 13. Prominent scholars from the United Kingdom, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Sweden and Pakistan would be participating in the international defence seminar. Larger participation by domestic public and private sector defence manufacturing companies would add further to Pakistan’s efforts for exploring the export potential for indigenously manufactured arms and related products, he said.
The receptions that were to be hosted by the Sindh governor and the organisers of IDEAS from Sept 14-16 being part of the ongoing events also provide a rare opportunity for interaction between delegates from all corners of the globe and participants of the exhibition.
He said the exhibition would culminate with a robust firing demonstration at the PAF range Sonmiani, which would include aerial display of K-8 and Super Mushhak trainer aircraft, ground weapons firing of tanks and anti-tank weapons as well as aerial firing of the fighter aircraft.
Daily Times
KARACHI (September 14 2004): A four member delegation from China led by Deputy Secretary General Castind Hu Ya Feng, currently visiting Pakistan in connection with IDEAS 2004, called on President General Pervez Musharraf here at the Governor House on Monday.
The delegation while talking to the President appreciated excellent arrangements made for the IDEAS 2004 and the hospitality and close co-operation extended by the organisers and government of Pakistan.
The President lauded the Chinese delegation at the IDEAS 2004 and hoped that would add another feather in the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2004
KARACHI (September 16 2004): Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) was the largest and premier Defence Production Complex in the country. POF stall at IDEAS 2004 remained the centre of attraction on its first day, said a statement here on Wednesday.
The exhibition was largely attended by including delegations from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, France, Italy, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Egypt which visited the POF stall and inspected entire range of POF products, the release said.
It further stated delegates evinced keen interest in defence products and raised inquiries to their satisfaction, it added.
A seven members delegation from Ukraine led by Deputy Defence Minister met the POF Board Chairman Major General Muhammad Javed and discussed matters of mutual interest. The Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister discussed possibilities to enhancing bilateral co-operation to meet the requirement of international market.
The Ukrainian dignity supported the view point of Chairman POF Board and assured a technical team from Ukraine would soon visit POF for identifying areas of mutual co-operation, the release said.
It further said after inauguration of IDEAS 2004, President General Pervez Musharraf also had a visit of POF Stall where Major General Muhammad Javed welcomed the President and briefed him about the production capabilities of POF.
It is worth mentioning here POF had participated in IDEAS 2000 & 2002 and received good response from international market of arms & ammunition, the release concluded.-PR
Copyright Business Recorder, 2004
Beating the sanctions
Beating US sanctions slapped more than a decade ago on new arms sales to Pakistan could easily be the theme of this week’s IDEAS-2004 conference in Karachi, showcasing the country’s success in moving towards indigenous production of a variety of defence equipment.
While still nowhere near becoming self sufficient in the production of sophisticated arms and ammunition across the board, Pakistan’s defence industry is beginning to show signs of recovering from the long years of complete dependence on primarily US arms supplies.
The president, General Pervez Musharraf, who presided over the opening ceremony of the IDEAS conference was keen to remind the audience of the ‘positive effect’ of sanctions in putting Pakistan on the road to achieving relative self sufficiency.
From tanks to armoured personnel carriers, not to forget the Pak-Sino under production F-17 ‘thunder’ fighter jet and new naval frigates planned to be bought from China, Pakistan’s arsenal contains what policy makers often describe as a mix of products from different sources.
In the words of Major General Ali Hamid, the head of the Defence Exports Promotion Organisation [DEPO], a unique feature of Pakistan as a user of defence equipment is indeed that it has become both a customer of and emerging supplier to other states. General Hamid’s outfit has over seen the third such IDEAS exhibition - a once every two year event since 2000 - as a regular forum which brings together some of the world’s leading manufacturers of military hardware.
No event is without its own set of sceptics and it’s certain there are many who would question the logic of building up Pakistan’s defence industry in this way. Much can be said about the gaps in Pakistan’s scientific, educational and technical capabilities, which often becomes the basis for a critique over its fundamental inadequacies. But the writing on the wall for Pakistan is equally compelling.
More than three years after the New York terrorist attacks propelled Pakistan in to a close alliance with the United States, the Pakistani public widely laments Washington’s failure to begin delivering the much sought out F-16 fighter aircrafts.
As yet, there’s no move from the US to even consider making up for its break of contract when it signed up for the second batch of 60 F-16 fighter planes in the late 1990s and later unilaterally held back the delivery on the grounds that Pakistan was striving to become a nuclear capable state. In the end, many Pakistanis consider it their country’s good fortune that it indeed became a state armed with nuclear weapons - able to work as a deterrence, as its conventional capability eroded with the passage of time and under the weight of sanctions.
In this background, its not surprising that last week’s notification by the Bush administration of its intention to sell new communication equipment to Pakistan worth U$78 million, in addition to the refurbishment of seven C-130E transport planes for the Pakistan Air Force, have large gone unnoticed for Pakistanis. Such deals may be acclaimed by experts as an important contribution for Pakistani troops in the tribal areas, but for the Pakistani public, they account for no more than the proverbial small potatoes.
It’s not surprising that the F-16 issue continues to be seen across Pakistan as an example of the United States being a potentially unreliable partner. Consequently, many have reason to argue for the expeditious journey towards the indigenous production of military hardware, no matter how unsophisticated. Such a resolve is likely to gather further strength with Pakistan’s experiences from recent years, where despite the sharp rise in liquid foreign currency reserves, Pakistan has failed to overcome the political opposition to the purchase of a state of the art western fighter aircraft that could become a backbone of its defence inventory.
By contrast, some of the major hardware publicised through the IDEAS exhibition, lays the foundations for greater self-sufficiency and laying the basis for the promotion of exports to friendly countries. Despite the optimism shared by many policy makers, the road ahead is not necessarily going to be without obstacles. As members of the scientific and technological development community strive to further develop hardware, there are bound to be setbacks and failures, which is the inevitable part of any development process.
Pakistan’s eventual success in the long term must depend on its ability to embrace three significant policies as the cornerstones of its journey towards a more credible defence.
First, in addition to the successes reached in moving increasingly towards indigenous production of military hardware, the long-term future must simultaneously depend on the future of the quality of Pakistan’s higher education across the board. Those involved in the development of home built hardware must be credited for their success. But keeping the success story going in order to catch up with the world must be all about increasing the size of the community of Pakistanis involved in research and development, with the objective of creating high class institutions. Ultimately, sustaining and further developing the success may well be more vital than the first important steps taken so far.
Second, while technological success is important, so is the ability of tackling any diplomatic challenges to Pakistan’s emerging defence industry. In a year when Pakistan has seen the fallout from the controversy surrounding the work of Dr A Q Khan, the proverbial father of Pakistan’s nuclear bomb project, there’s just no room for complacency. The idea that arms are essential for peace is a concept that needs to be followed through far more aggressively. New controversies linking Pakistan with militant trends could easily mount the kind of global diplomatic pressure, which may force the country to eventually backtrack on the indigenous development of military hardware.
Finally, the kind of effort showcased this week, needs the full scale backing of the Pakistani public and that too in a consensual non-partisan way, to keep this effort above controversy. As a follow up to the IDEAS exhibition, there are bound to be a large number of Pakistanis who would be interested in receiving a first hand insight to the kinds of arms and equipment developed indigenously.
Concepts such as organising roving exhibitions across the country with events planned for a large city every couple of months, may give the kind of mileage to this effort that is yet to be seen. For the Pakistani public, especially its youth, names such as ‘Al Zarrar’ or ‘Al Khalid’ remain distant in that they are visible only through newspaper photograph or television images.
But going a step further, the public could best be inspired to appreciate the move towards indigenous production of hardware by receiving a first hand view of equipment on display, preferably with accompanying briefings.
In the long run, the success to this endeavour would depend primarily on the extent of the public’s enthusiasm in backing such a homegrown effort. More than seeing and believing arms on display, Pakistanis have to feel their ownership to be convinced that the country is emerging successfully from its vulnerable dependence of the past decade.
http://www.pakobserver.net/200409/17/view/?page=1&id=5
Aroosa Alam
Newyork—According to defence officials, French firm SAGEM is keen to enter into a joint venture with National Development Complex (now part of NESCOM) and Air Weapons Complex (AWC) for joint development and manufacturing of advance Battlefield and Strategic Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
According to well placed sources, Pakistan has agreed to import at least two “Sperwer” UAVs from France with complete transfer of technology. Sperwer is currently used by Holland, Sweden, Denmark, France, Greece and Canada. Sources said that deal is almost finalised and Pakistan will soon get the delivery of Sperwer. The French UAV has an impressive system integrator, with 45-80 kg of payload, FAR33 65HP engine, six to twelve endurance hours, 200 km of real time mission radious and automatic parachute recovery. Highly stealth Sperwer is all weather UAV having airworthiness certification of JAR and VLA. It has the alternative payload position of SAR, ELINT, jamming airborne relay weapons.
Pakistan already has considerable experience in the development and production of various types of Battlefield UAV’s some of which are already with Pakistan Army and Air Force service. Pakistani firms have also been able to clinch orders from foreign customers, the biggest of which involves the supply of unspecified number of Jasoos Battlefield UAV’s and associated equipment to Saudi Arabia by Pakistani company SATUMA. Another Pakistani company Integrated Dynamics also won a contract to supply mini-UAV system ‘Border Eagle’ to US Homeland Border Control.
It is believed that NDC is now developing a long-range strategic UAV with a range of 600 km, though currently there is an ongoing debate in defence circles if some foreign UAV system should be imported to fulfil the strategic UAV role or if Pakistan should solely rely on its own private and public defence firms to deliver a solution.
Which helicopter are they talking about? Boeing makes CH-46, CH-47 and AH-64
US to provide copters to Pakistan
From our correspondent
ISLAMABAD - The United States will provide helicopters and other hi-tech equipment to Pakistan for monitoring, surveillance and security needs.
According to a Press release, this was stated by Boeing Middle East Ltd President Marcus Hurley during his meeting with Minister for Defence Rao Sikandar Iqbal here on Thursday. The minister told the visiting dignitary that Pakistan had been the strongest ally of USA and apprised him about the steps taken by Pakistan in fighting the war against terrorism.
The Minister also briefed Hurley about the defence requirements of Pakistan and also sought his indulgence in materialising this. Hurley told the Minister that they were working very hard to assist Pakistan in the provision of defence equipment.
According to the release, Marcus Hurley is the President for Boeing Middle East Ltd located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is responsible for management of the company’s corporate affairs in Saudi capital as well as coordinating all military programmes in the region.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/sep-2004/17/index9.php
Any specs about this UAV
About the helicopters;
I believe it was reported by Flight International that the Pakistan Army or was it the Pakistan Air Force had required high-altitude attack helicopters from the U.S, I could only come up with AH-64. It could be acquired by PAF. However, it could be CH-46 or CH-47, as the Pakistan Army was reported to have given interested in the Mi-26 from Russia.
Edited;
I'll take a slightly optimistic stand, but any news that hasn't been disclosed properly, I will always use the "wait and see" theory. No point getting overjoyed over nothing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FaisalK
This is a very serious accusation against Ms. Aroosa Alam. The burden of proof is on you to bring forward and substantiate them, if not, than you have to take your words back!
H Khan
It was my personal opinion not to take her news seriously, I'm not influencing anyone into taking my words or not. ANY news without being properly disclosed, I'll take a neutral stand on. If you knew, I was the one who kept defending PakDef when Haroon was trolling around for a perfect excuse to take PakDef's reputation down.
Well, Ms. Alam has very good and solid contacts in Pakistan's military establishment, therefore, whenever she writes most of the times Pakdef can confirm to what her source of news is. What is she supposed to tell you about her source: their name, ID number, where she talked to them.....................Quote:
Originally Posted by FaisalK
Thank you for defending Pakdef but Pakdef has been able to defend itself against bharati hindu attacks everywhere on line and offline and mites likes Haroon (who have plagiarized, stolen, and cocket up news right-left-front-back), and still going strong, Alhamidillah!
Ms Alam is currently another person to me, I always like to stay optimistic, but I won't take too many things too seriously. However, as you say, you can confirm that her news is correct, and I will believe you because I've been a reader of PakDef for a LONG time.
I'm Faisal, a Super Mod from PakMil Analytical Centre, or the PMA Centre.
Quote:
Originally Posted by H Khan
So what does this mean regarding Pakistan's interest in the Predator? Do we not want it anymore, or do we want it in addition to all the other UAVs being discussed here (or was the US dragging its feet on the issue?).
These are news items reporting Pakistan's intentions or possibly negotiations considering the political barriers involved as always with any military dealings with Pakistan. I take them as news items, it might materialize, it might not. Aroosa Alam is a journalist, thats all she is, she reports things which circulate around. Things happen, things don't. Thats all there is to it.
Can we stop turning every topic into degrading others? Thanks. About the Sperwer. I haveinterviewed the Dutch Sperwer group a few years ago. I have been able to see how it works. There are three ground stations. The launcher, the communication truck and the command and control unit. The Sperwer is continously in contact with the base station. That was one of the not very handy parts. If contact was lost then they end up with crashed Sperwer. For the rest that Sperwer was made of titanium tube construction. The scanning devices are from South Africa. The engine was a bit underpowered. I have many pics here with fully open Sperwer so do provide me links so I can mail them to Pakdef.
Thanks.
H Khan
This is the Sprewer UAV we are talking about. Interesting.....it has a South Korean Air force marking on it. I also got its brochure from IDEAS 2004, but except for a picture it was silent about its specs and capabilities
I don't think this has been posted previously -
From Janes (this was the only free part of the story) - But the full story and many others are on AFM forum under Ideas 2004 News.
Chinese missile may be for Pakistan's F-16s
- 23 April 2004
China is about to bring a second beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile (AAM) to the export market. The new weapon, to be known as the FD-60, is already in service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force as the PL-11.
Aziz
Sperwer had problems under Canadian service, I do hope that Pakistan (if its getting this UAV with ToT) sees, finds, and fixes the problems, so they aren't seen in our service. The PAF was interested in Preditor, but the U.S hasn't given a choice or hasn't agreed to sell it.
I think Pakistan should get into a joint venture with France with a UAV, and eventually a UCAV.
JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - SEPTEMBER 22, 2004
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IDEAS exhibition: US offers to sell F-16s to Pakistan
JOSHUA KUCERA JDW Staff Reporter
Karachi, Pakistan
Additional reporting by Michael Sirak JDW Staff Reporter
Washington, DC
The US is offering to sell 18 F-16 fighter aircraft to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pending Congressional approval: one of several such deals in the works after years of US-led defence sanctions against Pakistan, the PAF Chief of Staff has disclosed.
"[The Americans] have indicated that they are ready to give us F-16s," said Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Kaleem Saadat. "This is not a rumour; it is from the American government."
Pakistan said it hopes the deal is the beginning of greater US co-operation. "Eighteen I consider to be the first instalment of what would follow," ACM Saadat told JDW. Approval from Congress, however, is not likely to come until after the US elections in November, he said.
Pakistan is asking that the F-16s be equipped with Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs). Along with additional fighter aircraft, Pakistan has also outlined a requirement for a beyond-visual-range missile, which the AMRAAM would meet.
Sanctions
In 1988-89, Pakistan arranged to supplement its stock of 40 F-16A/Bs - about 32 of which remained in service as of 2003 - by ordering an additional 71 aircraft. Lockheed Martin began producing them, but then the US Congress imposed sanctions in 1995 that barred military sales to the country unless the US President could certify that Pakistan was not pursuing nuclear weapons.
As a result, only 28 of the 71 were ever built and none of them were delivered to Pakistan. Instead they were kept in storage in the US until the Bush administration reimbursed the Pakistanis financially and assigned 14 aircraft each to the US Air Force and Navy in June 2002 for training and testing purposes.
The episode still rankles in Pakistan and the renewed possibility of acquiring F-16s is seen partly as making amends in thanks for Pakistan's efforts as an ally of the US in the wake of 9/11.
"Right from day one, we have been impressing upon the US government what symbolic value the F-16 has for the Pakistani people and the Pakistani nation," ACM Saadat said. "So it's not as if 10, 15, 20 aircraft would make a world of difference in our operational capability, but it's a symbol in the sense that the people of Pakistan think that if they give us this then they are really sincere in helping us."
In addition, the US thinks that the F-16s could help Pakistan in its fight against Islamist insurgents in the country's northwest, ACM Saadat said. "So I guess the US government and [US] Central Command believes it would be helpful to their cause also," he said. The AMRAAMs, however, would be more useful against India than against ground targets in the northwest.
Lockheed Martin officials also said Pakistan's key role as a US ally appeared to be paying dividends. "If you read what you see in the papers in the last two or three weeks, I would say there's probably more opportunity than there was [for the F-16 deal]," said James Jamerson, Lockheed's president for the Middle East and Africa. "The 9/11 commission singled out Pakistan and said it was an important ally and that we need to do it right. Secretary [Colin] Powell made some comments, Senator [John] Kerry made some comments that were positive."
Jamerson said it was not yet decided what type of F-16s they would be, but said Pakistan has requested new aircraft, which would most likely be Block 50 variants. ACM Sadaat said he was also "open to excess defence articles".
Lockheed Martin is currently producing only advanced Block 50/52 aircraft and the newer Block 60 configuration. However, the US Air Force has several hundred F-16A/B aircraft remaining in 'mothballs'. The US government has already sold approximately 150 F-16A/Bs to six nations and modified them via the Mid-Life Update programme that brings their avionics and weapons capabilities near to that of earlier model Block50/52 aircraft.
Pakistan has also sought second-hand F-16A/Bs from countries like Belgium. Such transactions would require US government approval.
Arrangement
If approved, the Pakistani F-16s, would still not fill Pakistan's requirement for a high-tech fighter, ACM Saadat said, adding that the country is still looking at the Gripen, J-10, Mirage 2000 and additional F-16s. Sweden had been under pressure from the US not to allow the sale of the Gripen, but if the F-16 deal goes through, that may be resolved, ACM Saadat said. "What I am told is that they have an arrangement with Saab that whatever they supply to any country, they can't prevent Sweden from doing it. That is to say, if the F-16 and AMRAAM was to come to Pakistan, the Americans will not be able to object to Sweden doing the same thing," he said.
Pakistan is now waiting for Sweden to decide whether it will allow the sale and is also conducting testing of the J-10.
That high-tech aircraft will supplement the larger numbers of more modest JF-17 fighters that Pakistan is developing with China. The first prototype flew last September and since then two new ones have been built and are being flown in China, ACM Saadat said. After the fourth prototype is produced, development will be frozen for the first small-batch production, starting in 2006. The Pakistan Air Force and the the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force will each get eight of those. Then full production should go on for 10-15 years.
In early September, the US also concluded a deal to sell six C-130Es to Pakistan. Two will be delivered by the end of 2004 and all will get wing, engine and avionics upgrades. One avionics kit will be installed in the US and then Lockheed Martin will send a team to Pakistan to help local industry install the rest.
The US has also agreed to help the Pakistan Navy refurbish its two P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, said Chief of Navy Staff Adm Shahid Karimullah. The work will start in November, he said, and will restore them to an operational state.
Pakistan is also negotiating with the US for eight additional Orions to replace its Breguet Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft: a deal that would also require Congressional approval. "The number has not been finalised - certainly enough to replace our ageing Atlantics," said Adm Karimullah. Those would probablybe used aircraft, Lockheed Martin officials said.
'Pakistan to receive US assistance' (JDW 5 May 2004)
'Pakistan seeks additional F-16s' (JDW 27 August 2003)
'Washington promises $3bn in aid to Pakistan' (JDW 2 July 2003)
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Date Posted: 17-Sep-2004
JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - SEPTEMBER 22, 2004
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IDEAS: Pakistan plans to buy more ships and boats
JOSHUA KUCERA JDW Staff Reporter
Washington, DC
Additional reporting by Farhan Bokhari JDW Special Correspondent
Islamabad, Pakistan
The Pakistan Navy is seeking to acquire four frigates and four submarines in addition to the four Type F-22P frigates (Jaingwei-II class), currently being negotiated with China, and the three Agosta 90-B submarines being built by France.
"The four ships from the Chinese and the three submarines are not enough to maintain a minimum deterrence," Chief of Navy Staff Adm Shahid Karimullah said. "We need more. The money is being arranged for us to acquire more submarines and more ships."
While acquisition plans are still in the early stages, they depend on uncertain funding sources, the Commander, Pakistan Fleet, Vice Adm Mohammad Faroon, told JDW. However, for now the navy is looking at "roughly four" additional new submarines, he said. "More or fewer are possible, if more or less money becomes available," he said. "You have to look in your pocket and then decide what you can buy."
The navy is still considering a variety of options for the submarines, but is primarily focusing on a single-hull design and air independent propulsion. "These will be the primary things that guide us," Adm Faroon said. The design should be finalised by 2005, with work starting in late 2005 or early 2006 allowing the four boats to be completed by 2011-12, he added.
After production of the F-22Ps is started, Pakistan will again evaluate its needs with an eye to acquiring an additional four frigates, Adm Faroon said. "If our experience with the F-22Ps is good, we may go in for another four, with better sensors, better machinery," he added. The navy is now considering a larger ship - more than 3,000 tons as compared to the 2,400-ton ships under consideration now - with greater endurance, he noted.
Pakistan and China are close to signing a deal for the four F-22P frigates for which they have already been negotiating and only need to work out the details of a loan that China is offering Pakistan, Adm Karimullah said.
"We hope that this loan will be finalised and soon after that we'll be able to sign a contract," he said. China was offering a commercial loan and Pakistan was looking for "friendship" terms, he added.
The ships will be equipped with "at least one" each of the naval version of the Hafei Aviation Industry Z-9C helicopter, Adm Faroon said. However, the rest of the weapons and systems were still under negotiation, he said.
The Pakistan Navy also took delivery earlier this month of two additional Jalalal-class fast attack craft-missile boats. "These are the improved version of the ones we had made about four to five years ago. These are faster, with a more attractive weapon load," Adm Karimullah said.
The procurement plans come amid increasing US-Pakistani naval co-operation (see page 4). Adm Karimullah said one Pakistan Navy destroyer will be patrolling international waters near Pakistan trying to interdict potential insurgent operations. Senior Pakistani government officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Pakistan is offering to support the US naval presence in the northern Arabian Sea, close to the Persian Gulf.
Pakistan has offered to extend unspecified support services to the US Navy if Washington gives consideration to supplying Pakistan with new equipment, such as maritime reconnaissance aircraft, the officials said. "The Pakistan Navy is in the ideal position of being able to be of assistance to the US Navy in such a crucial part of the world," said one government official.
"Our navy can perform a range of functions from assistance in patrolling the waters of the northern Arabian Sea to providing logistical support wherever possible."
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Date Posted: 17-Sep-2004
JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - SEPTEMBER 22, 2004
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IDEAS: HIT negotiating Khalid deal with Saudi Arabia
Joshua Kucera JDW Staff Reporter, Karachi
Pakistan Additional reporting Christopher F Foss JDW Land Forces Editor
Pakistan is negotiating with Saudi Arabia a deal to export "hundreds" of its Al Khalid main battle tanks (MBTs) for the Royal Saudi Army, according to officials from Al Khalid manufacturer Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT).
HIT has carried out tests of the Khalid, also known as the MBT 2000, in Pakistan and within a year will test it in Sharurah in southern Saudi Arabia, said HIT chairman Maj Gen Israr Ahmad Ghumman. "The Saudis buy in the hundreds," Gen Ghumman said. "We are not interested in selling in the dozens."
HIT has modified the Al Khalid - a joint development between Pakistan and China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) - to be able to carry an extra 10 rounds inside the hull. "It cuts down the logistical tail," Gen Ghumman said. All new Al Khalids are manufactured with these modifications and older ones will be retrofitted as they come in for refurbishing, he noted.
The current Saudi MBT fleet consists of 315 General Dynamics Land Systems M1A2 Abrams, 450 M60A3s and 290 older Giat Industries AMX-30Ds. However, due to shortages of personnel, many of these MBTs are in storage and not used on a regular basis, defence sources have told JDW.
In recent years a number of countries have proposed the sale of new MBTs to Saudi Arabia, including Giat industries of France which has offered its Leclerc. However, given the much-reduced external threat to Saudi Arabia, some observers believe that the country will place greater emphasis on the procurement of internal security-type vehicles and equipment rather than MBTs.
POF sees 50pc rise in exports
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) is eyeing a 50 per cent increase in its export orders currently being received from Asian, European, African, North American and Latin American countries.
In this regard, the year 2005 would be very significant when a number of export orders are likely to materialise, Chairman POF Board Major General Muhammad Javed said during IDEAS 2004.
The chairman POF pointed out that POF and its 14 allied factories were engaged in manufacturing quality weapons, which were being purchased by a number of developed countries including the US, France and Germany.
He said that a separate understanding has also been reached with France, China and Spain to start joint ventures in the military and non-military fields. Recently, vice president of NORINCO and French diplomats have held meaningful talks on various issues of mutual benefit, he added.
GIAT Company of France, he pointed out, has expressed its inclination to get different kinds of weapons manufactured in Pakistan to be sold in Africa.
"We expect a good business in France," he said and added that Paris was looking at exporting its arms to its former colonies in Africa. In this regard, he also referred to his recent visit to France where he held useful discussions with senior defence authorities.
Pakistan was also looking at transfer of technology from France by manufacturing arms for it, he said.
Similarly, fresh understanding has been reached with China to enter into new joint ventures for developing small arms. He expressed hopes that France and China would share defence technologies with Pakistan for manufacturing new arms and ammunition. Developed states generally endorse Pakistan’s small arms and ammunition for their international standards and specifications, he said.
"We find good promise in expanding our defence sales through world peacekeeping efforts."
Responding to a question, he said that commercialisation would help increase knowledge base and value addition. "It is aimed at earning enough to offset budget deficit by increasing POF intrinsic financial capacity," he added.
He said that metallurgical laboratories have been upgraded and opened to the manufacturing sector and added it could initiate a new culture and awareness about quality products.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html
once again ust to show the credibility of pakdef's news, I reported about Al-khlaid's being dispatched to Saudi Arabia for testing after my visit to HIT and Janes just reported it as well.:cool:
How about the Belgian F-16, J-10, Z-9C, F-22P, SA-16, etc..............Quote:
Originally Posted by SyedA
More to come in coming months, Inshallah, WS-1, new SAM system for PAF, cte
We can surely regard sept 2004 as the 'Month of good News', man F-16, F-22 ships and all that positive gestures around IDEAS 2004, its great.
I just wanna ask a question. What will happen to the JF-17's prototypes for static evaluation, will they see the air ?