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Monthly Defense News Recap: March 2022

This week’s Quwa Premium article is a recap of some defence news items from around the world. Besides a basic overview of the news, this article also offers short-form analysis of each issue.

Pakistan Showcases its New Military Equipment

On 23 March 2022, Pakistan showcased its newly inducted hardware from China as part of its national day parade. The most notable of these new additions included the J-10CE ‘Dragon’ fighter aircraft, VT4 main battle tank (MBT), HQ-9/P long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, SH-15 self-propelled howitzer (SPH), and YLC-18A multi-mission radar. This is on top of previously acquired systems, such as the JF-17.

Overall, while the event reaffirmed Pakistan’s traditional reliance on Chinese equipment for its workhorse or mainstay equipment, it also established a new shift. Pakistan is now looking to China for new, cutting-edge systems too. The induction of the J-10CE clearly spoke to this shift when Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan, drew a parallel between this new jet and the induction of the F-16 in 1983…

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India Starts Thinking of Replacements for Su-30MKI and MiG-29

In an interview, the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Chief of Air Staff (CAS), V.R. Chaudhari, said that the IAF is ‘processing’ replacements for its ‘deficient’ Su-30MKI and MiG-29 fighters. Today, the Su-30MKI and MiG-29 form the workhorse of the IAF fighter fleet. However, they are also aging, and it is no surprise that the IAF has a replacement program on its roadmap for both systems…

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Baykar Makina Starts Manufacturing MIUS UCAV

Baykar Makina, a privately-owned Turkish defence contractor, announced that it is manufacturing its first MIUS unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV). The MIUS’ official name is now the Bayraktar Kizilelma.

The Bayraktar Kizilelma is one of Turkey’s marque drone program. Baykar Makina designed the Kizilelma as a larger strike-capable platform. It will offer a payload of up to 1,500 kg, which can support both air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions, including ALCMs and other stand-off range weapons (SOW)…

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