IDEF 2021: Pakistan Defence News Updates

During the 15^th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2021) in Istanbul, Turkey’s top defence industry vendors showcased an impressive lineup of projects. Its known ‘staples’ – i.e., the MILGEM corvette, Altay main battle tank (MBT), T129 ATAK attack helicopter, and Anka drone – were both present and showing growth in terms of technical improvements, new variants, and overseas market interest. However, Turkey also showed off an array of new projects that are putting the country at the forefront of emerging military technologies, such as unmanned surface vessels (USV) and miniature air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM). It is also working to end the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) dependency on specific imported systems, such as the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) and 76 mm main naval guns.

In the backdrop of IDEF 2021, the Turkish industry also engaged with Pakistan, its leading export market, across a number of fronts. The most notable development was ASFAT A.Ş. (Military Factor and Shipyard Management Inc.) unveiling the design of the Jinnah-class frigate. In 2018, Pakistan signed a contract with ASFAT A.Ş. for four customized MILGEM corvettes. Under the deal, ASFAT A.Ş. agreed to transfer both the know-how and intellectual property (IP) of the newly christened Babur-class corvettes and assist Pakistan design its own warship. In addition, Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret AŞ (STM) confirmed that it will work on upgrading the Pakistan Navy’s (PN) Agosta 90B submarine, thus rounding off the platform’s modernization roadmap.[1] Finally, there are reports that Pakistan is in talks with Turkey about the purchase of a miniature submarine.[2][3] Interestingly, Turkey has multiple miniature submarine programs – a shallow-water attack (SWAT) submarine known as the STM500 by STM and another platform (potentially more of a special forces boat) by Dearsan. It is unclear which of these the PN is interested in as it is looking for new SWAT boats and a replacement for its Cosmos MG110 miniature submarines for special operations.

Pakistan’s growing cooperation with Turkey is not limited to naval platforms. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) announced that it signed a deal with National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) that will see NESCOM undertake some production work for TAI’s Anka unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).[4][5] TAI’s general manager, Temel Kotil, said that TAI and NESCOM will collaborate to further develop the Anka. In turn, NESCOM will also market the Anka to other markets.[6] Interestingly, the Anka will be the third major UAV program in Pakistan, joining the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) 1.5-ton UAV and Air Weapon Complex’s (AWC) Shahpar II (which is similar in size to the Bayraktar TB2).

Jinnah-Class Frigate

ASFAT A.Ş. revealed a scale model of the Jinnah-class frigate at IDEF 2021. According to ASFAT A.Ş.’s own product brochure, the Jinnah-class will have a displacement of 3,300 tons, maximum speed of 26 knots, a cruise speed of 17 knots, and a range of 4,000 nautical miles. The design has an overall length of 119.45 m and an overall beam of 15.40 m. In comparison to the Babur-class corvette, the Jinnah-class is about 11 m longer and a little over 300 tons heavier in terms of displacement. Interestingly, the Jinnah-class seems to be in a similar size and weight category as Turkey’s I-Class frigate, but with key internal differences.

Jinnah class frigate #IDEF2021 pic.twitter.com/dxS0c1O7Or

— Arda Mevlutoglu (@orko_8) August 18, 2021

Unlike the Babur-class corvette (and other MILGEM variants such as the I-Class), the Jinnah-class will use a combined diesel-and-diesel (CODAD) propulsion system. Moreover, it will rely on a relatively large crew of 200 personnel, i.e., 40 officers and 160 ratings. In contrast, the I-Class frigate will have a crew of 125 or less. It is unclear why the PN is opting for significant crew capacity. However, the Jinnah-class design will be able to support a 10-ton helicopter (e.g., Sea King) and a UAV in its hangar.

In terms of armament, the Jinnah-class will have a 16-cell vertical launch system (VLS) behind the 76 mm main gun. The current VLS is the same GWS onboard the Babur-class corvette, which could indicate that the PN is intending to use the MBDA Albatros-NG. The Albatros-NG utilizes the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile Extended Range (CAMM-ER) surface-to-air missile (SAM), which offers a range of over 40 km. The Jinnah-class frigate’s VLS capacity is a relatively small increase over the Babur-class corvette (i.e., increase of four VLS cells between the two ships). However, the PN has shown a willingness to change its weapon configurations as late the ship construction phase. With the Jinnah-class frigate being in the design stage, it is possible that the PN could change the VLS to another platform (e.g., SYLVER or Turkey’s MDAS).

ASFAT A.Ş.’s brochure also mentions that the Jinnah-class frigate will use the P-282 in a 2×4 configuration as the ship’s surface-to-surface missile (SSM). This is the first official mention of the P-282 since its reveal by the previous PN Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Zafar Mahmoud Abbasi, in a speech. Adm. Abbasi said that the P-282 is a ship-based, long-range anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM).[7] Adm. Abbasi also stated that the P-282 belongs to the PN’s “hypersonic domain,” suggesting that the ASBM is a hypersonic system (potentially analogous to the CM-401, which China media outlets claim can ‘maneuver’ at hypersonic speed)[8]. However, the use of the P-282 could explain why the Jinnah-class frigate is equipped with eight SSMs instead of 16 SSMs, even though it is slightly longer than the I-Class, which carries 16 anti-ship cruising missiles (ASCM). ASBMs would generally be larger than ASCMs, so the Jinnah-class may be using the extra space to accommodate the larger missile type.

ASFAT A.Ş. did not outline the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities of the Jinnah-class frigate. But it will likely use the standard-fare dual triple launcher for lightweight ASW torpedoes. The PN could possibly use a European or Turkish ASW solution. The latter is likely as the PN is comfortable with configuring the Babur-class corvette with Turkey’s various electronic subsystems, such as radar, sonar, electronic support measures (ESM) and combat management system (CMS). However, because the Jinnah-class is supposed to be an original program, the PN may take more liberty with designing its own configuration using both commercially off-the-shelf (COTS) inputs and domestically developed solutions.

Based on the current design and configuration, it seems that the PN is focusing on controlling cost. This is likely an indicator of the PN planning to induct a sizable number of these ships. The PN is planning to have 20 “major surface vessels.” It is unclear what the PN means by “major surface vessel,” but a 2,000-plus ton platform with anti-ship warfare (AShW), ASW, and anti-air warfare (AAW) capabilities is plausible. By this definition, the PN has 12-14 such vessels in its pipeline (including its four F-22P). The remaining six-to-eight ships could comprise of Jinnah-class frigates.

Seeing how the PN is investing in original design work and, ultimately, will train and equip its shipyards to construct this ship, building a large number of Jinnah-class frigates would make economical sense. But the PN may change or improve the configuration of its ships across batches.

Pakistan Anka UAV Agreement

TAI and NESCOM’s agreement to collaborate on the Anka UAV is likely a move to link NESCOM into TAI’s supply chain. In other words, the main focus is for NESCOM to manufacture Anka parts and, potentially, help develop aspects of the UAV in the future. NESCOM may supply Anka parts to Turkey and other users.

However, it is worth noting that in 2018, the PN was interested in the TAI Anka-S. The PN seemingly chose the CH-4 for its UAV requirement, but it may be open to acquiring the Anka for its follow-on requirements. In this scenario, NESCOM could be marketing the Anka to the PN and, in turn, support the project for the PN should an order come to fruition. In any case, with a major Pakistani vendor now involved in the Anka, a domestic order from one or multiple Pakistani armed forces branches is a likelier scenario.

Anadolu Agency’s report about the agreement suggests that TAI and NESCOM may undertake additional development on the Anka.[9] It would be interesting if TAI and NESCOM jointly build upon the Anka to build a new family of UAVs in parallel to TAI’s Aksungur twin-engine drone. For example, TAI and NESCOM could look at developing a MQ-9 Reaper or CH-5-sized evolution of the Anka.

[1] Goksel Yildirim. “Continuing to export with Ukraine and Pakistan in military maritime.” Anadolu Agency. 19 August 2021. URL: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ekonomi/askeri-denizcilikte-ukrayna-ve-pakistanla-ihracata-devam/2339791

[2] Sertac Aksan. “Domestic and national mini submarines will be ‘game changer’.” TRT Haber. 17 August 2021. URL: https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/yerli-ve-milli-mini-denizaltilar-oyun-degistirici-olacak-602469.html

[3] Ridzwan Rahmat. “Turkey launches Pakistan Navy’s first Milgem corvette.” Jane’s Defence Weekly. 16 August 2021. URL: https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/turkey-launches-pakistan-navys-first-milgem-corvette

[4] Turkish Aerospace Industries via Twitter. 21 August 2021. URL: https://twitter.com/TUSAS_TR/status/1428995323737907202

[5] Goksel Yildrim. “Unmanned aerial vehicle Anka will be strengthened in cooperation with Pakistan.” Anadolu Agency. 21 August 2021. URL: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/bilim-teknoloji/insansiz-hava-araci-anka-pakistan-is-birligiyle-guclendirilecek/2341970

[6] Ibid.

[7] Speech of Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Pakistan Navy, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi. YouTube. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4veP2J6aDTY&ab_channel=24NewsHD

[8] Liu Xuanzun. “CASIC unveils new anti-ship ballistic missile, providing greater deterrence against aircraft carrier attacks.” Global Times. 06 November 2018. URL: https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1126120.shtml

[9] Goksel Yildirim. “Unmanned aerial vehicle Anka will be strengthened in cooperation with Pakistan.” Anadolu Agency. 21 August 2021. URL: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/bilim-teknoloji/insansiz-hava-araci-anka-pakistan-is-birligiyle-guclendirilecek/2341970