Pakistan’s Anti-Tank Guided Missile Requirements

Based on its purchase for 52 Kornet-E units in 2017-2018, it appears that the Pakistan Army is moving to modernize its anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) inventory.

The current mainstays of the Army’s anti-tank missile stocks are the Bakhtar-Shikan (based on the Chinese HJ-8) and BGM-71 TOW. Both of these are optically tracked, wire-guided anti-tank missiles that can launch from land (via infantry and vehicles) and air (using the AH-1F/S Cobra attack helicopter).

However, for the future, the Army is evidently moving towards wireless ATGMs that use semi-active laser homing (SALH) and, potentially, other types of seekers for greater deployment flexibility.

In addition, the ATGMs the Army evaluated – or is in the process of evaluating – generally offer more range than the TOW or Bakhtar-Shikan, potentially by a factor of more than 2X.

Besides an extensive induction run, it will be worth seeing if Pakistan standardizes on a specific ATGM so that it could domestically manufacture it through the long-term (and supplant its older ATGM stocks). Or as an alternative, pursue an ATGM project of its own in parallel to the imports.

Infantry

In 2014-2015, the Pakistan Army ordered 1,413 Alcotán-100 100 mm anti-tank rockets with 158 VOSEL (M2) firing control unit for $24.76 million US from the Spanish company Instalaza. In 2017-2018, the Army ordered an additional 369 VOSEL (M2s) in 2017-2018 for $9.04 million US…

Aviation

Under the $1.5 billion US contract with Turkish Aerospace for 30 T129 ATAK attack helicopters, Pakistan will acquire the Roketsan L-UMTAS and UMTAS.[1]…

Armoured Vehicles

At the 2018 International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS), Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) displayed a prototype of its Viper ‘multipurpose infantry fighting vehicle’ (MIFV). The Viper MIFV was equipped with AT-6 Sprandrel ATGMs.[2]..

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[1] “IDEAS 2018 Special – ROKETSAN Ready to Deliver Striking Force for Pakistan’s ATAK Helicopters.” MSI Turkish Defence Review. 11 February 2019. URL: http://www.milscint.com/tr/ideas-2018-ozel-roketsan-pakistanin-atak-helikopterlerinin-vurucu-gucunu-saglamaya-hazir/

[2] Dmitry Fediushko. “Pakistan’s HIT unveils Viper IFV.” Jane’s Defence Weekly. 29 November 2018. URL: https://www.janes.com/article/84904/pakistan-s-hit-unveils-viper-ifv