Bilal Khan, Author at Quwa

Pakistan Defence Review: News/Procurement Updates

This is a review of ancillary Pakistani defence news topics with short-hand analysis to provide clarity and context. Pakistan announced that it will increase its defence budget by 19.6% – i.e. to PKR 1.1 trillion (i.e. $9.6 billion US); Pakistan Public Sector…

Pakistan Defence Review: News/Procurement Updates

by Bilal Khan 166Views 0Likes

This is a review of main and ancillary Pakistani defence news topics along with short-hand analysis to offer clarity and context: Pakistan announced its defence budget for 2018-2019; the Public Sector Development Program’s (PSDP) budget includes an increased budget for the Space…

Analysis: India’s Withdrawal from the FGFA Program

by Bilal Khan 894Views 0Likes

On 20 April 2018, reports emerged of the Indian Air Force (IAF) formally ending its participation in the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program it had started with Russia in 2007. This analysis piece offers a brief overview of the FGFA coupled…

Analysis: India’s Withdrawal from the FGFA Program

by Bilal Khan 171Views 0Likes

On 20 April 2018, IHS Jane’s reported that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had formally ended its involvement in the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) it had started with Russia in 2007.[1] Official confirmation has yet to come from New Delhi, but…

Overview: Babur 1B, Zarb and Harba Cruise Missiles

by Bilal Khan 1072Views 0Likes

Overview of Pakistan’s anti-ship cruising missiles (ASCM) – i.e. the Zarb, Harba and the Babur 1B. Collectively, it appears that these missiles will contribute to Pakistan’s anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) efforts within its littoral waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Steel Cutting Ceremony Held for Pakistan’s First Damen 1900 OPV

by Bilal Khan 1031Views 0Likes

Damen Shipyards held the steel-cutting ceremony of the first of two Damen 1800 offshore patrol vessels (OPV) ordered by the Pakistan Navy in 2017. The second OPV is to be built in Pakistan by Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW).

JF-17 Export Efforts: Negotiating Expectations

by Bilal Khan 174Views 0Likes

An analysis of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex’s (PAC) efforts to export the JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter, specifically in terms of potential calls for offsets, transfer-of-technology and partnerships. Is Pakistan able to offer such concessions?

PAF Bholari: The Pakistan Air Force’s New Main Operating Base

by Bilal Khan 165Views 0Likes

On April 20, a retired Indian Army officer – Col. Vinayak Bhat – provided a detailed insight of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) new main operating base (MOB), PAF Bholari. Available on The Print, Bhat’s analysis of PAF Bholari surmises that the…

Pakistan’s Interest in Russian Arms (Part 4): Armour

by Bilal Khan 163Views 0Likes

In his comments to the Russian News Agency RIA Novosti, Pakistan’s Minister of Defence (MoD) Khurram Dastgir Khan stated that Pakistan was both interested and in talks with Russia for big-ticket defence items. Quwa Premium discussed the MoD’s comments regarding the Su-35…

Pakistan’s Interest in Russian Arms (Part 3): Helicopters

by Bilal Khan 166Views 0Likes

Though it was not mentioned by the Pakistani Minister of Defence, Khurram Dastgir Khan, in his comments to the Russian News Agency RIA Novosti, helicopters are an issue of mutual interest between Russia and Pakistan. The Pakistan Army Aviation Corps (PAA) and…