Pakistan Acquires Chinese Made PG99 (CS/SA1) wheeled Anti-Aircraft Guns
Pakistan purchased a batch of Type PG99 (CS/SA1) anti-aircraft guns from China’s POLY Group in 2011.
This type of anti-aircraft gun, which is also used by the PLA Army, was upgraded from GDF-02 that China imported from Switzerland in the earlier years.
Mounted on a 6 x 6 truck, the PG99 CS/SA1 is a self-propelled variant of the Type 90 35 mm AA system, previously available only as a towed AA piece. The system is based on a licensed Oerlikon GDF-002, and is credited with a 1175 m/s muzzle velocity, 3200 metre effective range, and 2 x 500 rounds/min rate of fire, with 360° traverse and +92° to -5° elevation.
The CS/SA-1 is suitable for point and coastal air defence. It is usually deployed near military bases, airfields, tunnels, islands, and along the coast to defend Sea Land of Communication (SLOC), ports, bridges and other important assets.
Kanwa Asian Defence (December 2012)
Air Power Australia ; Jane's Internation Defence Review
Turkey Pushes T-129 Gunships for Pakistan, but US Could Scupper Deal
ISLAMABAD AND ANKARA — Turkey is aggressively lobbying to give T-129 attack helicopters to Pakistan to replace
its aging AH-1F fleet and is prepared to agree to generous terms with cash-strapped Pakistan to do so, according to sources.
However, the US could sink the deal and make a counteroffer of helicopter gunships to Pakistan that could be too good to refuse.
Pakistani media reports state a deal with Turkey could lead to local production of the T-129 at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC),
but speculation that preparations are already underway to build a new helicopter production facility there could not be confirmed.
Turkey made its latest push during Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Sept. 16-18 visit to Turkey for the Third High Level
Cooperation Council meeting. Sharif was given a demonstration of the T-129’s capabilities and a potential deal was discussed.
Turkish officials confirmed talks have “ matured to a certain extent, ” and Turkey remains committed to any possible deal,
not only for financial benefits but also potential strategic gains.
“ We see that both countries are keen to cooperate, ” said one senior procurement official in Ankara. “ We have a longer-term
vision over any deal. We do not aim to win just one foreign contract but also view spillover benefits for the local industry.
The Pakistani market may win international recognition for the T-129 and pave the way for future contracts. ”
The official declined to comment on the modality of any deal.
However, a Pakistani source familiar with the negotiations said Turkey had offered to gift three T-129 helicopters to Pakistan with 2,300 items of spares. The T-129 variant in question was not clarified. The initial T-129A is being used for flight testing while the full specification T-129B is still under development.
Turkey followed the same approach in securing a deal for MKEK 155mm Panter howitzers with Pakistan in 2009. It is now produced in Pakistan by Heavy Industries Taxila.
However, a Turkish procurement official dealing with international agreements and financing voiced doubt over Pakistan’s ability to afford a deal.
“ We know that Pakistan is not in the best financial shape. But this could be overcome with political will, ” he said.
Salma Malik, assistant professor at the Department of Defence & Strategic Studies at Islamabad’s Quaid-i-Azam University, is uncertain, but not dismissive, saying this “depends on how and what kind of budgetary allocation the concerned offices have, and how they have outlaid it. ”
A more serious potential obstacle, however, is obtaining US permission to export the LHTEC CTS800-4N engine powering the T-129.
A US industry source in Ankara said a US export license for the T-129’s engine would be critical. “This may require complex deliberations in Washington, involving many industrial and political parameters, ” he said.
Brian Cloughley, former Australian defense attache to Islamabad, said Congress holds the key to the deal.
“ It is most unlikely that either the White House or the Pentagon would attempt to deny an export license to Turkey for T-129 power plants and ancillaries, but the Defense Security Cooperation [Agency] is required to notify Congress of most proposed sales and obtain approval,” he said.
“ Given the mood of Congress, it is extremely difficult to predict what they might or might not do. It takes only a couple of members or senators to demur, and the whole process could be halted. Everything depends on the political mood of the moment. ”
Nevertheless, Turkey hopes the T-129 will be an export success.
In remarks carried by Turkish daily Today’s Zaman, Turkey’s procurement chief, Murad Bayar, said Sept. 23 that the T-129 attack helicopter “had strong export potential.”
The T-129 has been going through acceptance tests before deliveries for the Turkish military. Officials expect the first delivery to be made within the next few weeks.
“ We may complete the delivery of the first nine helicopters by the end of the year, ” Bayar said. “ After these helicopters make their way into the Turkish inventory, I believe they will have strong chances for export. ”
Azerbaijan is reportedly looking to buy 60 T-129 helicopters. Jordan’s King Abdullah, who was in Turkey in March, visited Turkish Aerospace Industries, co-maker of the T-129, and examined both the helicopter gunship and Turkey’s first locally-developed drone, the Anka.
Despite Turkey’s hopes, however, the US might try to tempt Pakistan with a deal for the AH-1Z Viper helicopter.
No one at the defense section in the US Embassy would comment on the matter, but details were confirmed by sources in Pakistan familiar with the deal.
Pakistan has been awarded US $300 million in foreign military financing for FY2013-2014, which could be used to procure the Viper attack helicopters, made by Bell.
This is part of a wider deal discussed during US Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s trip to Islamabad on Sept. 17.
Cloughley, however, does not believe Pakistan will be tempted.
“ I do not think that Pakistan would be tempted to ditch the T-129 deal if there were an offer of Vipers. There might be a good deal proposed by the US, but operating costs are high and would [argue] against acceptance. Further, and probably more significant, there is decided and most strong opposition in Pakistan to further deals with the US. ”
Pakistan Ready To Start Sale of JF-17 Thunder Planes From Next Year
Pakistan has decided to start sale of state of the art JF-17, Thunder combat planes developed by the collaboration of China to other countries from next year. According to sources, a sum of 100 million dollars has also been released to the Pakistan Ordinance Factories Wah in connection with the up-gradation of its machinery.
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra has accomplished the up-gradation of Cobra Helicopters presently under use of the army besides installing high tech system therein. Pakistan will also import the modern helicopters from Turkey. Ministry of Defence Production sources said as many as 42 JF-17 Thunder planes have been developed so far under joint venture with China.
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has been assigned a target of exporting 5 to 7 JF-17 Thunder planes next year, and the discussions in this regard are under the way to Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Qatar and other friendly countries. Ministry of Defense Production officials have expressed optimism that Pakistan would succeed in exporting these modern planes in the next year.
Sources said Heavy Industries Taxila has manufactured prototype of Buraq vehicle to defuse the land mines and remote control explosive material. It has also been learnt that Pakistan is continuing the talk’s process with Turkey to acquire T 120 high techs helicopters from the latter. Pakistan is also endeavouring to launch a joint venture with Turkey with reference to the manufacturing of these helicopters.
If both the countries don’t agree over it then Pakistan will execute an agreement with Turkey to purchase these helicopters. Sources said that PAC Kamra has refurbished several helicopters being used by Army Aviation. Pakistan has acquired these helicopters from US and they have now been upgraded. Modern technology has been installed therein while US voiced its concern over it. On the other hand finance ministry has released 100 million dollars out of 200 million dollars to POF Wah for replacement and up-gradation of machinery.
Pakistan fires ' first submarine-launched nuclear-capable missile '
Jan 9, 2017 | 8:05am EST
Pakistan fired its first submarine-launched cruise missile on Monday, the military said, a show of force for a country that sees its missile development as a deterrent against arch-foe India.
The launch of the nuclear-capable Babur-3 missile, which has a range of 450 km (280 miles) and was fired from an undisclosed location in the Indian Ocean, is likely to heighten long-running tension between India and Pakistan.
The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947. Both nations have been developing missiles of varying ranges since they conducted nuclear tests in May 1998.
"Pakistan eyes this hallmark development as a step toward reinforcing the policy of credible minimum deterrence," the military's media wing said in a statement.
A spokesman at the Indian defense ministry was not immediately available to comment on the Pakistani missile test.
India successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable, submarine-launched missile in 2008 and tested a submarine-launched cruise missile in 2013.
The Pakistani military said the Babur-3 missile was "capable of delivering various types of payloads and will provide Pakistan with a Credible Second Strike Capability, augmenting deterrence".
An army spokesman later confirmed the language meant the missile was equipped to carry nuclear warheads.
The Babur-3 is a sea-based variant of the ground-launched Babur-2 missile, which was tested in December. The military said the missile had features such as "underwater controlled propulsion and advanced guidance and navigation".
Last year, Pakistan said it was "seriously concerned" by India's test of anti-ballistic missiles which media reports said could intercept incoming nuclear weapons.
According to media reports, on May 15 India tested a locally designed Anti-Ballistic Missile system which could in theory intercept a nuclear-carrying ballistic missile.
The training aircraft crashed in a firing zone of the Air Force in Rasulpur
An Air Force training aircraft crashed in Tangail, killing its pilot Wing Commander Arif Hossain. The plane crashed in the Air Force’s Telki Firing Zone in Rasulpur on Friday around 3:30pm.
Madhupur Fire Service Station Officer Delwar Hossain confirmed the incident to the Dhaka Tribune. Local fire Service, police and Air Force officials went to the scene to conduct salvage operations shortly after the crash.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Madhupur Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Ramendra Nath Biswas said: “Bangladesh Air Force was conducting an exercise in Arankhola union from November 22 to 27.
“Around 3:40pm, an F7-PG aircraft crashed in the Madhupur forest and caught fire, leaving the pilot Wing Commander Arif Hossain Dipu dead on the spot.”
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Post time 12-5-2013 06:37 PM
