ISLAMABAD – According to a recently published report ‘Year Book 2017-18’ bythe Ministry of Defense Production, Pakistan military is focusing onimproving its prowess despite the slow economic activity in the country.
A defense analyst, Brian Cloughley told Defence News that despite nuclearcapabilities, Pakistan is focusing on strengthening its conventionalmilitary force.
Pakistan is prepared for a conventional war, and it seems that the riposteis alive and being refined in direct answer to India’s overwhelmingnumerical superiority.
Pakistan’s currently working on:
– Manufacturing auxiliary power units for the Al-Zarrar and T-80UD to development – Trials of a sabot FSDS-T round, – Driver’s thermal imaging/night vision periscope, – Upgradation of 160 Type-85IIAP main battle tanks, T-80UDs, M113-series armored personnel carriers, and Type-59 main battle tanks,
The armed forces are undertaking a number of steps for indigenousdevelopment, and substituting component imports.
In addition, engines for Al-Khalid and T-80UD tanks are being assembled,while the development of advanced Al-Khalid II tanks and low-rateproduction of 20 Al-Khalid I tanks are further strengthening the military’scapabilities.
Heavy Industries Taxila is also working on manufacturing a tracked infantryfighting vehicle ‘Viper’, based on the M113 series and armed with a SlovakTurra 30 unmanned turret.
Pakistan has also acquired Spanish Alcotán-100 shoulder-fired anti-tankrockets and Kornet-E anti-tank guided missiles to improve its infantryanti-tank capabilities.Air Defense
On the defense-from-above front, Pakistan is integrating newer air-to-airmissiles, acquiring Chinese CM-400AKG supersonic anti-ship missiles andmodifying air-to-air refueling for the JF-17 fighters. A new deal foradvanced Block III JF-17s has also been signed in May 2018.
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Former PAF pilot and defense analyst, Qaiser Tufail said:
Bombs like the GB-6 K/YBS500, REK Mark 82/83/84 and H-4 will, therefore, becommonplace weapons in any future conflict.
With a prospect of increased exports, the production of JF-17 has beenincreased from 16 to 24 per year with improvements like retrofit of AESAradars on existing Block I and II JF-17s are likely to follow after theBlock III orders.
The military is also working on manufacturing the components of a weaponnamed after Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) sword ‘Al-Rasub’.
The report also sheds light on Project AZM fifth-generation fighter anddevelopment of drones by the Aviation Design Institute. According to thereport, the first “conceptual design phase” cycle is complete and therewill be three more cycles in the first configuration phase.
It remains to be seen whether Pakistan partners with Turkey or China torealize its 5th-gen ambitions.——————————
*Via Defense Newslink*
