Pakistan Defence News & Analysis Archives

Why the JF-17 Block 3 Matters to the Pakistan Air Force

The JF-17 Block-III is the first major iterative upgrade to the JF-17: it will introduce an active-electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, an integrated electronic warfare (EW) and electronic countermeasures (ECM) suite, updated avionics suite, three-axis/all-digital fly-by-wire (FBW) flight-control system, a single-panel multi-function…

South Africa’s Atlas Carver | Lessons for Pakistan?

by Bilal Khan 932Views 0Likes

In the 1980s South Africa tasked its prime defence contractor Atlas to design, develop and manufacture an indigenous fourth-generation multi-role fighter. Designated “Carver,” the program was an ambitious play at replacing the South African Air Force’s legacy Mirage III/F-1s with a state-of-the-art…

A Look at Pakistan’s Sonmiani Weapon Test Range

by Bilal Khan 985Views 0Likes

On 02 February 2018, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) announced that it established an instrumented Weapon Test Range (WTR) at the Sonmiani Firing Range.

How Pakistan Might Pursue its Future Strike Aircraft Needs

by Bilal Khan 885Views 0Likes

For the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), dedicated long-range attack aircraft have neither been available nor affordable. However, it has sought to build conventional deep-strike capabilities for decades, and with the market not responding, the PAF is looking in-house to find a solution.

Hürjet: A Look at Turkey’s Next Generation Trainer Aircraft

by Bilal Khan 862Views 0Likes

On 22 July 2017, the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) announced that the Turkish Air Force and Turkish Aerospace Industries signed onto the Hürjet program. With a target flight date of 2022 (or 2023), the Hürjet will serve as a lead-in-fighter-trainer…

Pakistan Will Need Submarine Rescue Capabilities

by Bilal Khan 887Views 0Likes

In its 2015-2016 disclosure, Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) listed the construction of a submarine rescue and salvage vessel for the Pakistan Navy (PN) at KSEW.[1] The MoDP did not provide a specific timeline, but it would likely coincide with the induction…

Indian Army Undertakes Massive Combat Exercise in Thar

by Bilal Khan 879Views 0Likes

On 13 November 2019, the Indian Army initiated a large-scale combat exercise in Rajasthan. Involving 40,000 troops alongside tanks, artillery and helicopters, the exercise – dubbed “Sindhu Sudarshan” – tests India’s offensive capabilities.

Pakistan’s Defence Industry: Constructing a Domestic Marketplace & Examining Offsets

by Bilal Khan 883Views 0Likes

Constructing a Domestic Marketplace of Products One of the drawbacks of nascent private sector activity in the defence industry, especially in new product development, is that Pakistan lacks a domestic marketplace to consult for its requirements. Thus, each of the service arms…

India’s Air Defence Efforts are Eroding Pakistan’s Offensive Ability

by Bilal Khan 880Views 0Likes

The growing capability – and scale – of India’s air defence ground environment plus its access to some sensitive US technology will require Pakistan to re-think the credibility of its deterrence assets.

A Look into the ‘Loyal Wingman’ Drone Concept

by Bilal Khan 910Views 0Likes

A cursory look at the development of ‘loyal wingman’ unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) throughout the world, but with particular attention paid to what a country requires to successfully develop one.