Pakistan Adds to JF-17 Value Proposition with Taimoor ALCM

It seems that Pakistan is preparing to offer its new ‘Taimoor’ air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) for export.

https://twitter.com/OSPSF/status/1627308973920763905

According to promotional material reportedly released by Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS), the sales and marketing arm of Pakistan’s state-owned defence producers, the Taimoor ALCM provides a range of 1,200 km. It has a total mass of less than 1,200 kg.

Pakistan revealed the Taimoor ALCM at the 2022 International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) as both an ALCM and, reportedly, as a next-generation anti-ship cruising missile (ASCM).

Background: GIDS Taimoor ALCM

With the Taimoor ALCM, GIDS is now marketing two cruise missiles to the world market. The other cruise missile in GIDS’ catalog is the Harbah-NG ASCM. Both are subsonic cruising missile designs.

The Harbah-NG is deployable from surface warships and land-based vehicles. It would not be surprising if the Taimoor and Harbah-NG are closely related, especially in terms of their critical inputs, like propulsion, guidance systems and, potentially, terminal-stage seekers.

According to GIDS, the Harbah-NG leverages on a Digital Scene-Mapping Area Correlator (DSMAC) system alongside a terminal-stage seeker. The terminal-stage seeker can be an imaging infrared (IIR) or an active-radar homing (ARH) system. The Taimoor could be using the same DSMAC and IIR combination.

Weighing up to 1,200 kg, the Taimoor is comparable in size to the MBDA SCALP and KEPD-350. By capping the range at 290 km, Pakistan is staying under the limits of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

This was certainly an intentional move as Pakistan has an ALCM with a range of 600 km, i.e., the Ra’ad-2.

Being short-ranged and, potentially, lower in cost than the Ra’ad-2, the Taimoor could potentially also fill out a spot in the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) inventory. The Ra’ad-series had traditionally been showcased as a ‘strategic’ weapon (i.e., for nuclear warheads). The Taimoor may be the conventional option.

Can’t Export a Missile Without a Platform

There is no actual rule stating that a cruise missile without a platform cannot be sold, but there is no doubt that having one available is critical for commercial success.

With a launch platform at hand, Pakistan can showcase the Taimoor’s performance and demonstrate that the missile’s been tested and matured in real-world environments.

However, there are few platforms on the market where Pakistan can realistically offer the Taimoor to as a stand-alone product. For example, current-generation American-built fighters are a non-starter. It is also unlikely that countries using modern European fighters would be the Taimoor’s target market.

Basically, as a standalone ALCM, the addressable market for the Taimoor is limited to countries operating either Chinese or Russian aircraft, or, potentially, older generation European and American fighters.

In the end, many of those countries would likely need new fighter aircraft anyways, and most of them lack options outside of Chinese or Russian solutions. Thus, Pakistan has the opportunity to provide these states with both a modern munition (i.e., Taimoor) and a fully compatible launch platform (i.e., JF-17).

In other words, the Taimoor could be a play to add to the JF-17’s value proposition, especially the Block-III, which is at the cusp of being inducted by the PAF.

Taimoor Adds to the JF-17 Package

Both Pakistan and China have steadily been working to add contemporary subsystems and munitions to the JF-17. Interestingly, even the launch variant – i.e., Block-I – provided the PAF with a stand-off weapon (SOW) capability via the C-802A ASCM. The Block-II built on this with the integration of precision-guided bombs (PGB), notably the Range Extension Kit (REK) and Indigenous REK for MK-8X-series bombs.

But when the Block-I entered service, it did not carry the cutting-edge technologies found on Western jets at the time. Thus, potential buyers would readily see what they were not getting with the JF-17 when they pressed it against the F-16, Gripen, Rafale, Typhoon, and others.

However, the story of the JF-17 Block-III is clearly different.

With the emphasis on adding an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, helmet-mounted display and sight (HMD/S) system, and electronic countermeasures (ECM) suite, Pakistan is closing feature gaps.

Granted, when compared against the likes of the F-16, Rafale, Typhoon, or even Gripen E/F, the JF-17 will not be seen as the more sophisticated platform. However, from a capability standpoint, the Block-III could offer the air warfare technologies many price-conscious countries would want.

The Taimoor factors in as a subsonic, dual-ALCM/ASCM option akin to the KEPD-350 or SCALP. If Pakistan packages the Taimoor alongside the Block-III (and it likely will), then the JF-17 becomes a long-range strike asset. In some regions, like Sub-Saharan Africa or Latin America, this can force an imposing presence.

Remember, it is not only about the Taimoor, but the entire JF-17 package. It will also leverage the PL-15E long-range air-to-air missile (LRAAM), which has a stated range of 145 km. The Thunder will also combine its HMD/S with the PL-10E high off-boresight air-to-air missile (HOBS AAM). Finally, the JF-17 will provide a multi-layered air-to-ground capability consisting of 60-100 km REK/IREK PGBs to a 290 km ALCM.

This, on paper at least, is a compelling combination of air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities. Moreover, the package is not tied by U.S. or Western compliance instruments, like ITAR. If Nigeria, for example, were to induct the Block-3, it would be the only country in all of Sub-Saharan Africa with these capabilities.

The next point of interest is the availability of a supersonic-cruising ASCM. Currently, it seems that China is working towards providing a solution in the form of the HD-1A.

https://twitter.com/LiaWong__/status/1500781251602567169

The integration of a supersonic cruise missile into the JF-17 is a matter of time. In fact, China has a growing catalog of different types of munitions available for export. Thus, if the customer is willing to pay for it, it can practically acquire any type of munition capability with the JF-17.

With time, the JF-17 could also improve in terms of its electronics. In the coming years, there is no doubt that China will produce and offer better AESA radars, avionics, electronic warfare (EW) and ECM solutions.

Now, the question is whether the JF-17 can break into another technological jump by acquiring a manned-unmanned teaming or loyal wingman capability. China is working on various loyal wingman drones, and it is possible that one of those could one day emerge as an option for the JF-17.

Finally, at a broader level, the Taimoor could also be a sign that Pakistan is still eager to export platforms or complete weapon systems. Understandably, the munitions would play a role in driving interest in the core platforms. Returning to the Harbah-NG, for example, Pakistan could be looking to package the missile one day with a domestically designed missile boat or, potentially, the Jinnah-class frigate.

Of course, creating a catalog is much easier than real-world execution.