Pakistan Defence Review: News Updates and Short Analysis

The Pakistan Navy Received Marine Assault Boats (MAB) From Poland

Through Q4 2019, the Pakistan Navy (PN) took delivery of two 12-ton Military Assault Boats (MAB) from the Polish shipbuilder Techno Marine under a transfer-of-technology (ToT) agreement signed in 2018.

According to open source export-import (EXIM) logs in Pakistan, the MAB deliveries (of the initial as well as potentially additional ships) were taking place since at least June 2019.

The PN is among Techno Marine’s leading customers. Prior to the MAB program, the PN also procured 30 of custom designed SOF Chaser TM-1226 rigid inflatable boats (RIB) from Techno Marine. Each TM-1226 can carry up to 16 personnel and is capable of reaching a top speed of 50 knots through two 250 hp engines. These RIBs are being used by the PN’s Special Service Group Navy (SSG-N) arm… [Continued in the full version — subscribe here].

Pakistan’s Air Chief Says Air Force Will Have Solution for India’s Rafale

Alan Warnes, an aviation journalist, recently spoke to the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Mujahid Anwar Khan about the PAF’s upcoming plans. The PAF CAS told Warnes that the PAF will match the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) forthcoming acquisitions, including the Dassault Rafale.

The statement is interesting because the CAS acknowledged that the Rafale will cause an imbalance, and the PAF will have to address it. Currently, the only new fighter in the PAF’s procurement roadmap for the 2020s is the JF-17 Block-III. However, observers will question whether it alone would be enough to repel a Rafale threat, even with the inclusion of a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and new longer-ranged beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM)…[Continued in the full version — subscribe here].

Pakistan Army’s Attack Helicopter Problem

Turkey’s President of Defense Industries (SSB), Dr. Ismail Demir, said the Pakistan Army is extending the delivery window of its T129 ATAK attack helicopter purchase by one year.

Demir stated that the US would either release the export permits for the ATAK’s CTS800 turboshaft engine by next year, or Pakistan will evaluate the progress of Turkey’s indigenous TS1400 turboshaft engine.

However, if the US does not release the permits, then Pakistan will likely cancel the current ATAK contract, and in turn, re-evaluate its remaining options, such as the Z-10ME… [Continued in the full version — subscribe here].

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