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Pakistan Reportedly Seeking FD-2000 Long Range Anti-Air Missiles
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Pakistan Reportedly Seeking FD-2000 Long Range Anti-Air Missiles
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Movement in Pakistan Army Aviation’s Procurement Efforts
Armoured Vehicles (Part 1): How Pakistan is Not Pushing the Manufacturing Needle Far Enough
Examining the Case for Conventional Deterrence in Pakistan
Quwa Premium
Movement in Pakistan Army Aviation’s Procurement Efforts
Armoured Vehicles (Part 1): How Pakistan is Not Pushing the Manufacturing Needle Far Enough
Examining the Case for Conventional Deterrence in Pakistan
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February 23, 2019
Quwa Premium
Movement in Pakistan Army Aviation’s Procurement Efforts
by
Bilal Khan
-
Feb 18, 2019
Following a spate of major contract signings, the Pakistan Army and its vendors have begun engaging on implementation – attack helicopters, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), and training are on the table....
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Armoured Vehicles (Part 1): How Pakistan is Not Pushing the Manufacturing Needle Far Enough
by
Bilal Khan
-
Feb 10, 2019
Though local vendors have showcased various wheeled armoured vehicle designs, little focus is being paid to localizing key inputs (e.g., engine, transmission, etc) when proposing solutions to major needs....
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Examining the Case for Conventional Deterrence in Pakistan
by
Bilal Khan
-
Feb 3, 2019
While the Nasr SRBM is lauded for its value in mitigating attempts at stopping Pakistan from leaning on its nuclear deterrence factor, it does not necessarily compensate for conventional deterrence....
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IDEAS 2018: Is Pakistan Prioritizing New Munitions Development? (Part 3)
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jan 24, 2019
In part-three, we examine the potential scope of collaboration between Pakistan and Ukraine, Turkey, South Africa and others on munitions development....
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IDEAS 2018: Is Pakistan Prioritizing New Munitions Development? (Part 2)
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jan 21, 2019
In part-two, we examine the countries that Pakistan could collaborate with to develop new air-to-air, air-to-surface, surface-to-air, and surface-to-surface munitions....
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The Pakistan Navy Rises (Part 4): The Silent Service Will Grow
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jan 18, 2019
The Pakistan Navy is slated to have 11 air-independent propulsion (AIP)-equipped submarines by 2028. There are also tentative plans to add a miniature submarine, which – if procured – would, without doubt, give Pakistan one of...
The Pakistan Navy Rises (Part 3): The Support Fleet
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jan 15, 2019
The Pakistan Navy’s surface and sub-surface fleet expansion will see its support or auxiliary fleet not only grow, but evolve with new ships and capabilities....
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The Pakistan Navy Rises (Part 2): Naval Aviation
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jan 11, 2019
Confirming earlier reports, the CNS had stated that the PN wishes to procure a new long-range maritime patrol aircraft (LRMP). ...
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Loaded Procurement Pipeline in Tow, The Pakistan Navy Rises (Part 1)
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jan 8, 2019
With a relatively deep – and active – procurement roadmap of new submarines, frigates and other assets, the Pakistan Navy is aims to implement an ambitious modernization project in the next decade....
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IDEAS 2018: Is Pakistan Prioritizing New Munitions Development? (Part 1)
by
Bilal Khan
-
Dec 27, 2018
By agreeing to collaborate with Ukraine on the development of “high-precision missiles of various classes” and, reportedly, Roketsan on guided anti-tank, air-to-air, and air-to-surface missiles, it appears that Pakistan is prioritizing new munitions development....
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IDEAS 2018: Project Azm Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Dec 20, 2018
At IDEAS 2018, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) leadership had outlined its intentions for an indigenous, next-generation fighter. Little is known about the fighter program or how the PAF will implement it, but China will play...
IDEAS 2018: Pakistan Air Force Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Dec 17, 2018
Besides announcing a new lead-in fighter-trainer (LIFT) program, much of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) procurement activity centers on staying the course with a pre-existing, long-term modernization plan....
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IDEAS 2018: Pakistan Air Force is Seeking a Lead-in Fighter Trainer
by
Bilal Khan
-
Dec 12, 2018
In surprise news, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) unveiled plans for a new lead-in fighter-trainer (LIFT) with an afterburning engine. Leonardo and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) are working on their proposals, but it...
IDEAS 2018: Pakistan Navy Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Dec 10, 2018
Besides inducting many new surface, sub-surface and aerial platforms, the Pakistan Navy is focusing on improving its network-enabled warfare and threat-response capabilities against conventional and non-conventional threats. It is also focused on improving Pakistan’s maritime economy....
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IDEAS 2018: Pakistan Navy MILGEM Corvette (and Frigate?) Update
by
Bilal Khan
-
Dec 6, 2018
The Pakistan Navy announced that its MILGEM purchase from Turkey’s ASFAT A.S. comprises of two parts: three anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvettes and a lone, domestically designed, frigate. The final ship will start the ‘Jinnah-class’ line of...
IDEAS 2018: Updates to the Pakistan Army’s T129 ATAK Program
by
Bilal Khan
-
Dec 4, 2018
According to Turkish Aerospace, the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps (PAA) is slated to receive its first T129 ATAK attack helicopters in late 2020. Currently, Turkish Aerospace says that it does not expect problems with receiving third-party...
IDEAS 2018: Summary
by
Bilal Khan
-
Dec 1, 2018
Preliminary observations from the 2018 International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) held in Karachi, Pakistan on 27-30 November 2018. ...
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IDEAS 2018: Pakistan Navy is Negotiating for Anka-S UAV
by
Bilal Khan
-
Nov 29, 2018
The Pakistan Navy is interested in Turkish Aerospace’s Anka-S medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). According to Turkish Aerospace, negotiations are underway....
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China’s Z-10ME Promises Significant Capability Gains
by
Bilal Khan
-
Nov 29, 2018
Be it an improved sensor and avionics suite or the ability to deploy a miniature cruise missile and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) torpedo, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is promising large capability gains with the...
Pakistan Defence Review: Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Nov 24, 2018
Turkish Aerospace says T129 ATAK attack helicopter deliveries to Pakistan are still on-track; Pakistan is reportedly interested in the Anka UAV; the 12 Bell Helicopter AH-1Z built for Pakistan will be stored, but not re-routed....
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Pakistan Defence Review: News Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Nov 16, 2018
The US shipbuilder Swiftships says that talks are ongoing with Pakistan for an undisclosed platform to build at Karachi Shipyards & Engineering Works (KSEW); the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is now reportedly seeking a Lead-in-Fighter-Trainer (LIFT);...
Pakistan Defence Review: News Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Oct 21, 2018
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) orders CNC machines Usel Makina in Turkey; the Pakistan Navy (PN) commissions its new 17,000-ton tanker – PNS Moawin; the Pakistan Navy commences its marquee exercise – ‘Sea Spark 2018’; ...
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Details of the Pakistan Navy’s Agosta 90B Submarine Upgrade Program
by
Bilal Khan
-
Oct 17, 2018
This is a compilation of verifiable information regarding the subsystems, costs and timelines regarding the Pakistan Navy’s Agosta 90B submarine upgrade program....
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Pakistan Defence Review: Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Oct 12, 2018
This is a review of ancillary Pakistani defence news topics with short-hand analysis to provide clarity and context. Is Pakistan buying Wing Loong II UAVs from China? On 12 October, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) concluded...
India Inks Contract for S-400 Long-Range Air Defence System
by
Bilal Khan
-
Oct 8, 2018
On 05 October 2018, New Delhi inked a $5.5 billion US contract with Rosoboronexport for the purchase of Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. ...
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Pakistan’s Quest for a Domestic Fighter (Part 3): Project Azm
by
Bilal Khan
-
Oct 1, 2018
Having brought the JF-17 Thunder to fruition, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is now setting its sights on the future, i.e. a next-generation fighter (NGF) platform. Through Project Azm, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) will spearhead the...
Pakistan Navy Reportedly Seeking a New Maritime Patrol Aircraft
by
Bilal Khan
-
Sep 21, 2018
The Pakistan Navy’s (PN) Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi reportedly stated that the PN is seeking a new, jet-powered maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) to replace its aging P-3C Orion MPAs. As per Adm....
Pakistan’s Quest for a Domestic Fighter: The JF-17 Emerges as Pakistan’s Mainstay Fighter (Part 2)
by
Bilal Khan
-
Sep 16, 2018
The Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) search for a domestically built, sanction-free multi-role fighter ended through the induction of the JF-17 Thunder. However, it had been a long-term process with starts and stops that, arguably, date as...
Pakistan’s Quest for a Domestic Fighter (Part 1): On-and-Off Efforts to Build a Fighter Aircraft
by
Bilal Khan
-
Sep 16, 2018
The emergence of the JF-17 as the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) backbone fighter certainly prevented many adverse scenarios, not least continuing to rely on the F-7P as the workhorse into the 2020s. However, though a solution...
Russia Considers Trading in the Currencies of its Buyers
by
Bilal Khan
-
Sep 12, 2018
During the 2018 International Military-Technical Forum “Army 2018”, which took place in Moscow, Russia in August 2018, Russia’s commercial trade agency for defence Rosoboronexport announced that it would consider trading in the local currencies of its...
Pakistan Defence Review: Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Sep 10, 2018
AK-308: Kalashnikov’s New 7.62 NATO Rifle During the 2018 International Military-Technical Forum “Army 2018” in August 2018, Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern unveiled a new 7.62x51 mm NATO assault rifle intended for overseas users, the AK-308. According to...
For Pakistan the Denel Rooivalk Mk2 is a Credible Contingency Option
by
Bilal Khan
-
Sep 4, 2018
Turkey’s current tensions with the US have cast doubt on the viability of Turkish Aerospace’s sale of 30 T129 ATAK attack helicopters to Pakistan. Granted, this has largely emanated from observers who are uncertain if the...
Pakistan-US Defence Ties: Recalibration or Repudiation?
by
Bilal Khan
-
Sep 3, 2018
On the heels of cutting $300 m in intended funding to Pakistan under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF), the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will make an official visit to Pakistan to meet the new...
Pakistan Defence Review: Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Aug 27, 2018
Pakistan is reportedly planning to have Russia upgrade its T-80UD main battle tanks (MBT); the Pakistan Army is bolstering its self-propelled artillery with surplus M109L howitzers from Italy; the PRSS-O1 (i.e. Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite) is...
How ITAR Impacts Pakistan’s T129 ATAK Purchase from Turkey
by
Bilal Khan
-
Aug 19, 2018
In light of current tensions between Ankara and Washington – which escalated to Washington ordering a stay on the delivery of F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft to Turkey through its newly-signed 2019 National Defence Authorization Act...
White House and Senate Block the Transfer of F-35 fighters to Turkey
by
Bilal Khan
-
Aug 19, 2018
On 13 August 2018, US President Donald Trump signed into law the 2019 National Defence Authorization Act, a $716 billion bill outlining the US’ fiscal defence priorities for the next year. A marquee aspect of the...
Pakistan Defence Review: Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Aug 12, 2018
On 06 and 07 August, the respective defence ministries of Pakistan and Russia had conducted their first bilateral meeting under the Russian-Pakistan Military Advisory Committee on Defence and Security. In addition to discussing “prospects of bilateral...
Russia Debates on Expanding Defence Relations with Pakistan
by
Bilal Khan
-
Aug 6, 2018
On the heels of Russia and Pakistan signing a memorandum-of-understanding (MoU) to enhance naval cooperation, discussion surrounding the potential scope of bilateral defence ties between Pakistan and Russia has again emerged. Simply, New Delhi’s preference for...
Update: Pakistan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Program
by
Bilal Khan
-
Aug 3, 2018
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) signed a memorandum-of-understanding (MoU) with Havelsan, a Turkish defence electronics vendor, to co-develop subsystems for PAC’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program and to contribute towards the Kamra Aviation City initiative....
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Pakistan’s Opportunity to Develop Munitions with South Africa
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jul 29, 2018
Despite an overt push by Cape Town to court Pakistan’s defence market, the Pakistani armed forces are not pursuing the defence technology and development opportunities available in South Africa, notably through Denel Group and Paramount Group....
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Analysis: Pakistan’s T129 ATAK Purchase
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jul 24, 2018
An analysis of how Pakistan’s purchase of 30 Turkish Aerospace T129 ATAK attack helicopters will improve the air combat capabilities of the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps (PAA)....
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Turkey Books $3 billion in Pakistani Defence Deals
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jul 22, 2018
Between 2016 and 2018, Turkey booked nearly $3 billion US in big-ticket defence sales to Pakistan, with items ranging from 30 T129 ATAK attack helicopters, four MILGEM Ada corvettes, a subsystems upgrade for Pakistan’s three Agosta...
Pakistan inks contract for T129 ATAK attack helicopters
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jul 14, 2018
On 13 July, the Turkish Undersecretary of Defence Industries (SSM) Ismail Demir announced that Pakistan inked a contract for 30 T129 ATAK attack helicopters from Turkish Aerospace (TA), formerly known Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). Following the...
Nigeria Approves Budget with New Payments for JF-17 fighters
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jul 14, 2018
On 20 June 2018, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari signed the country’s next fiscal budget – i.e. the 2018 Appropriation Bill of the Federal Government of Nigeria – into law. Not only did the final budget retain...
Poland Looks to Pakistan’s Defence Market for Sales
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jul 7, 2018
In June 2018, the Pakistan Army’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa led a delegation to Poland with the aim of visiting the Polish Ministry of Defence and the Polish Armament Group (Polska...
Pakistan’s Anti-Access/Area-Denial Options (Part 3): ISR & Net-Warfare
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jul 1, 2018
The capacity to effectively undertake stand-off range targeting – especially by networking sensors to offboard munitions – along with building a comprehensive situational awareness capability is essential to Pakistan’s anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) efforts. Not only...
Is Azerbaijan’s SOM Cruise Missile a Factor for the JF-17?
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jul 1, 2018
On 26 June 2018, the Azerbaijani Military had showcased a Roketsan SOM air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) as part of its annual parade in the capital Baku. Although the Azerbaijani Air Force (AAF) has a number of...
Pakistan Plans to Get PRSS-01 Earth Observation Satellite Launched in July
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jun 27, 2018
Pakistan’s Foreign Office announced that the Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS-01) – and the accompanying PakTES-1A (Pakistan Technology Evaluation Satellite) – will be launched into orbit in July....
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Pakistan’s Erieye AEW&C Follow-On Order Now Proceeding?
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jun 25, 2018
Export-Import registries in April 2018 show the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) taking delivery of radar equipment from Saab AB in Sweden, potentially indicating that the PAF’s follow-on order of three Saab 2000-based Erieye airborne early warning...
Turkey’s STM Showcases New MILGEM Ada Corvette Variant
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jun 24, 2018
Responding to the Brazilian Navy’s bid for a new corvette, Turkey’s Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik A.Ş. (STM) partnered with a number of local defence suppliers to offer a modified variant of its MILGEM Ada corvette. In contrast...
Pakistan’s Anti-Access/Area-Denial Options (Part 2): Submarines
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jun 23, 2018
The Pakistan Navy is well on its way in terms of constructing a sizable conventional submarine fleet. Its three existing Agosta 90Bs are undergoing a mid-life upgrade ahead of the much-anticipated delivery of eight Hangor (II)-class...
Pakistan’s Anti-Access/Area-Denial Options (Part 1): Fast Attack Crafts
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jun 21, 2018
Building upon an earlier analysis of Pakistan’s limited ability to build sea-control capabilities, even with an expanded surface fleet, Quwa offers an analysis of an alternative method to maritime defence: anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD). The advancements...
Analysis: The Pakistan Navy’s Surface Fleet Plans
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jun 18, 2018
In June 2018, the Pakistan Navy announced that it ordered a total of four Type 054A multi-mission frigates through China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd. (CSTC). With induction of the four ships slotted by 2021, it is...
China is Pakistan’s Key Qualitative Driver
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jun 11, 2018
Today, the Armed Forces of Pakistan have at least three marquee and indispensable big-ticket weapon systems in the pipeline from China: in 2015, it inked a purchase of eight air-independent propulsion (AIP)-powered submarines; in 2017, the...
Turkey’s AKP Claims Export Win Amid Economic Pressures
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jun 10, 2018
On 24 May, Turkey’s ruling party – the Justice and Development Party (AKP) – claimed that Pakistan signed its contract for 30 Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) T129 ATAK attack helicopters. The AKP’s statement is as follows...
Analysis: Pakistan’s Type 054A Frigate Acquisition
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jun 3, 2018
On 01 June 2018, the Pakistan Navy officially announced that it ordered a total of four Type 054A multi-mission frigates from China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd. (CSTC). Pakistan ordered its Type 054As in two batches of...
Pakistan Signs Contract for Type 054A Frigates from China
by
Bilal Khan
-
Jun 2, 2018
Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) has signed a contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd. (CSTC) for two Type 054A multi-mission frigates. According to the MoDP, this is a follow-on order to an earlier order...
Turkey and Ukraine Proceed with An-188 Transport Aircraft Program
by
Bilal Khan
-
May 22, 2018
At Eurasia Airshow 2018 Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Ukroboronprom’s (UOP) Antonov announced that they will jointly proceed with the development and production of the Antonov An-188 military transport aircraft. The An-188 would add to TAI’s...
Monthly Report: Can Offsets Work in Pakistan?
by
Bilal Khan
-
May 21, 2018
This Quwa Premium report examines the viability of commercial offsets (tied to big-ticket defence purchases) in Pakistan. In this report, Quwa briefly reviews the checkered history of offset packages, especially in the developing world. ...
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Pakistan May Sign T129 ATAK Attack Helicopter Contract Soon
by
Bilal Khan
-
May 13, 2018
Speaking to TRT Haber, the head of Turkey’s Undersecretariat of Defence Industries (SSM) Dr. Ismail Demir stated that Pakistan could sign a contract for Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) T129 ATAK attack helicopters in the coming weeks....
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Pakistan’s Rationale for Nuclear Weapons
by
Bilal Khan
-
May 13, 2018
The starting-point for understanding Pakistan’s rationale for having nuclear weapons is to visit the history of its foreign relations and security efforts. Naturally, one might view India’s underground nuclear tests in 1974 – i.e. Smiling Buddha...
Pakistan’s Mirages: Specialists Enduring out of Necessity
by
Bilal Khan
-
May 7, 2018
In April 2018, the AFP News Agency published an article detailing its visit to the Mirage Rebuild Factory (MRF) at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). The complete AFP article is available on Dawn News, but it provides...
Primer: Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons Program
by
Bilal Khan
-
May 7, 2018
On 28 May 1998, Pakistan conducted five simultaneous underground nuclear tests in the Ras Koh Hills in Chagai District, Baluchistan. Though there had been rumblings of Pakistan already possessing – and even testing a live nuclear...
Pakistan Defence Review: News/Procurement Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Apr 30, 2018
This is a review of main and ancillary Pakistani defence news topics along with short-hand analysis to offer clarity and context: Pakistan announced its defence budget for 2018-2019; the Public Sector Development Program’s (PSDP) budget includes...
Analysis: India’s Withdrawal from the FGFA Program
by
Bilal Khan
-
Apr 30, 2018
On 20 April 2018, IHS Jane’s reported that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had formally ended its involvement in the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) it had started with Russia in 2007. Official confirmation has yet...
JF-17 Export Efforts: Negotiating Expectations
by
Bilal Khan
-
Apr 22, 2018
An analysis of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex’s (PAC) efforts to export the JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter, specifically in terms of potential calls for offsets, transfer-of-technology and partnerships. Is Pakistan able to offer such concessions? ...
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PAF Bholari: The Pakistan Air Force’s New Main Operating Base
by
Bilal Khan
-
Apr 22, 2018
On April 20, a retired Indian Army officer – Col. Vinayak Bhat – provided a detailed insight of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) new main operating base (MOB), PAF Bholari. Available on The Print, Bhat’s analysis...
Pakistan’s Interest in Russian Arms (Part 4): Armour
by
Bilal Khan
-
Apr 15, 2018
In his comments to the Russian News Agency RIA Novosti, Pakistan’s Minister of Defence (MoD) Khurram Dastgir Khan stated that Pakistan was both interested and in talks with Russia for big-ticket defence items. Quwa Premium discussed...
Pakistan’s Interest in Russian Arms (Part 3): Helicopters
by
Bilal Khan
-
Apr 15, 2018
Though it was not mentioned by the Pakistani Minister of Defence, Khurram Dastgir Khan, in his comments to the Russian News Agency RIA Novosti, helicopters are an issue of mutual interest between Russia and Pakistan. The...
Pakistan’s Interest in Russian Arms (Part 2): Air Defence Systems
by
Bilal Khan
-
Apr 9, 2018
Pakistan’s Minister of Defence (MoD) Khurram Dastgir Khan was quoted by the Russian News Agency RIA Novosti that Pakistan had begun negotiating with Russia for various big-ticket armaments, including T-90 main battle tanks (MBT), Su-35 fighters...
Pakistan’s Interest in Russian Arms (Part 1): Su-35 Flanker-E
by
Bilal Khan
-
Apr 8, 2018
On 05 April, Pakistan’s Minister of Defence (MoD) Khurram Dastgir Khan confirmed to the Russian News Agency RIA Novosti that Pakistan had begun talks with Russia for the purchase of Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E multi-role fighters, T-90...
Monthly Report: Why the MILGEM Ada?
by
Bilal Khan
-
Mar 31, 2018
Pakistan has been negotiating with Turkey’s Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) and its defence contractor - Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş. (STM) – for the purchase of four MILGEM Ada corvettes since June 2016. Pakistan...
NRIET to Integrate KLJ-7A AESA Radar to JF-17
by
Bilal Khan
-
Mar 31, 2018
The Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology (NRIET) is integrating its newly-revealed KLJ-7A active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar to the forthcoming JF-17 Block-III. NRIET says that the new AESA radar will provide improved range, target tracking/engagement...
Pakistan Defence Review: News/Procurement Updates
by
Bilal Khan
-
Mar 31, 2018
This is a review of ancillary Pakistani defence news topics with short-hand analysis to provide clarity and context. In March 2018: 3 Turkish T129 attack helicopters took part at the Pakistan Day Parade; ASELPOD spotted on...
Pakistan’s next – near-term – steps for bridging airpower gap
by
Bilal Khan
-
Mar 25, 2018
In his final address to Air Headquarters, the previous Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sohail Aman outlined the need to maintain quantitative parity with India in terms of...
Why the JF-17 Block-III Matters to the Pakistan Air Force
by
Bilal Khan
-
Mar 24, 2018
With the JF-17 Block-III’s design being ‘finalized’ following a two-and-a-half-year period, this article examines why the JF-17 Block-III matters to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). It is not simply an issue of it being a more...
Analyzing the SIPRI Report on Pakistani Defence Procurement
by
Bilal Khan
-
Mar 18, 2018
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its research on worldwide defence procurement activities from 2013 to 2017. Quwa analyzes SIPRI’s findings regarding the reduction in Pakistan’s defence imports, touching upon structural economic woes and...
AW139: The Pakistan Air Force’s New Mainstay SAR Helicopter
by
Bilal Khan
-
Mar 14, 2018
On 03 March 2018, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) formally equipped the No. 88 Search-and-Rescue (SAR) squadron with two Leonardo AW139 utility helicopters. The No. 88 “Combat Support Squadron and Advanced Helicopter Training School” operates from...
RIBAT-2018 (Part 2): Effecting Peacetime Maritime Security
by
Bilal Khan
-
Mar 9, 2018
Under RIBAT-2018, the Pakistan Navy sought to validate its interoperability with the Pakistan Air Force as well as its capacity to undertake peacetime maritime security tasks, particularly in terms of interdicting ‘sub-conventional warfare’ threats....
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RIBAT-2018 (Part 1): Improving PAF-PN Interoperability
by
Bilal Khan
-
Mar 6, 2018
Introduction: The Pakistan Navy (PN) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) conducted a joint exercise in the North Arabian Sea – RIBAT-2018 – from 24 February to 06 March 2018 to “validate … war fighting concepts under...
How a poor bilateral relations effort cost Pakistan at the FATF
by
Bilal Khan
-
Mar 3, 2018
Following a spate of conflicting and official statements and news reports, the Pakistani government plainly confirmed that the country will be placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) ‘grey list’ from June 2018. On 01...
Monthly Report: The JF-17 in 2017 and Outlook for 2018
by
Bilal Khan
-
Mar 1, 2018
Quwa Premium’s Monthly Report for February 2018 provides a detailed overview of the leading events affecting the development of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter program. It starts with discussing the factors that...
Pakistan will stick with the Erieye AEW&C; add different ISR aircraft for other roles
by
Bilal Khan
-
Feb 26, 2018
In light of Saab revealing the GlobalEye Swing Role Surveillance System (SRSS) platform, one might ask if the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which flies four Saab Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft with another...
The JF-17’s air-launched rocket option (CM-400AKG)
by
Bilal Khan
-
Feb 23, 2018
Marketed as a ‘supersonic anti-ship missile’, the CM-400AKG is among the proposed stand-off range weapon options for the JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role fighter co-produced by Pakistan and China. The CM-400AKG is marketed with a weight of...
Pakistan Army Aviation’s High-Altitude Capabilities
by
Bilal Khan
-
Feb 20, 2018
The Airbus Helicopters H125M Fennec forms the mainstay of the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps’ (PAA) high-altitude operations fleet. On 26 January 2018, two PAA H125Ms were deployed to execute the rescue of two European climbers on...
Pakistan-Russia Relations: Tempering Expectations
by
Bilal Khan
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Feb 16, 2018
This is an overview of the current state of Pakistan’s bilateral relations with Russia in terms of foreign relations, economic/trade relations and defence ties. It is too early to expect robust bilateral defence relations, but even...
Pakistan Defence Review: Procurement Updates
by
Bilal Khan
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Feb 12, 2018
Updates to ongoing Pakistani defence procurements – e.g. deliveries and contractual changes – with accompanying short-form analyses: (1) Aselsan ASELPOD targeting pod deliveries; (2) JF-17 in-flight refueling pods reaching squadrons; (3) ATR-72 MPAs nearing delivery; and...
China’s scale gives flexibility for high-tech arms development
by
Bilal Khan
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Feb 9, 2018
On 01 February, observers spotted a large cannon turret placed onboard a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 072III landing ship tank (LST) along with three shipping containers aft of the cannon. Analysts took the comparatively...
The Sonmiani WTR supports domestic munition development
by
Bilal Khan
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Feb 5, 2018
Introduction On 02 February, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) announced that it established an instrumented Weapon Test Range (WTR) at the Sonmiani Firing Range. This is an important induction for the PAF – and the Pakistani...
Can Pakistan capitalize upon Ukraine’s Defence Industry?
by
Bilal Khan
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Feb 2, 2018
Ukraine’s re-armament efforts – and in tandem, its defence industry development – present opportunities for countries requiring technology....
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Monthly Report: Review of Turkey’s efforts to sell the T129 ATAK to Pakistan
by
Bilal Khan
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Feb 1, 2018
Introduction/Summary On his official visit to Turkey in November 24-26, 2017, Pakistan’s Minister of Defence Production (MoDP) Rana Tanveer Hussain stated that a potential Pakistani purchase of T129 ATAK attack helicopters from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)...
Pakistan-Indonesian Ties: Why Pakistan ought to Push for Partnerships, not Sales
by
Bilal Khan
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Jan 30, 2018
Introduction On 26-27 January 2018, the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo paid an official state visit to Pakistan. The visit was earnestly received by Pakistan, which not only presented Mr. Widodo and Indonesia’s First Lady Mrs....
Pakistan’s submarine fleet expansion requires genuine submarine rescue capability
by
Bilal Khan
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Jan 26, 2018
Introduction The core element of the Pakistan Navy’s long-term development efforts is the expansion of its submarine fleet, which is slated to swell to as many as 13 ships equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) from the...
Project Azm: The expansion of Pakistan’s drone program
by
Bilal Khan
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Jan 22, 2018
Introduction Pakistan is expanding its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fleet through the procurement of new medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drones, most notably with Project Azm (resolve), under which a MALE UAV is being developed along with a...
China-Pakistan Relations: Difference between ‘Allies’ and ‘Partners’
by
Bilal Khan
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Jan 18, 2018
Introduction China is a marquee element in Pakistan’s foreign relations landscape since the 1960s, having resulted in a spate of big-ticket defence procurement and, since 2015, significant economic interaction via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However,...
Why Pakistan is unlikely to procure a lead-in-fighter-trainer (LIFT)
by
Bilal Khan
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Jan 15, 2018
Quwa Premium Sample: The following article is a free and complete Quwa Premium sample for all readers. At Quwa, we make a concerted effort to provide high-quality, detailed and timely research and analysis of current Pakistani defence and...
Why is Pakistan procuring an off-the-shelf tank?
by
Bilal Khan
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Jan 12, 2018
Introduction On January 06 photos emerged purporting that a NORINCO VT4 main battle tank (MBT) was in Pakistan, ostensibly for trials for an apparent Pakistan Army bid for an off-the-shelf MBT to augment its growing –...
The Impact of Pakistan’s Harba dual-AShM and LACM
by
Bilal Khan
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Jan 9, 2018
Introduction On January 03, the Pakistan Navy announced that it test-fired a new anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) with land-attack capabilities, the “Harba.” The dual-ASCM/land-attack cruise missile (LACM) was fired from an Azmat-class fast attack craft (FAC),...
Despite tension, US-Pakistan defence ties unlikely to end
by
Bilal Khan
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Jan 5, 2018
U.S. President Donald J. Trump began 2018 with a tweet accusing Pakistan of duplicity with regards to the ongoing – and over 16-year-long – U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan. Trump reiterated how the U.S. provided Pakistan...
The push to boost Pakistan’s space program
by
Bilal Khan
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Jan 1, 2018
Introduction In his speech during the AirTech ’17 conference in December 2017 at Air University Islamabad, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sohail Aman, stated that...
Monthly Report: Pakistan Defence Review 2017
by
Bilal Khan
-
Dec 31, 2017
Quwa Premium Sample: The following report is a free and complete Quwa Premium sample for all readers. At Quwa, we make a concerted effort to provide high-quality, detailed and timely research and analysis of current Pakistani defence and...
China-Pakistan Relations: Why it matters for Pakistan
by
Bilal Khan
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Dec 29, 2017
Prologue This article is part of a series Quwa will publish under Quwa Premium through 2018. For this week, we are broadly overviewing the key aspects of Pakistan’s relations with China, which – in some respects,...
Understanding India’s Entry into the Wassenaar Arrangement
by
Bilal Khan
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Dec 26, 2017
Introduction On December 07, the then 41-member Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) unanimously approved of India’s entry into the WA. Like the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which India joined in June 2016 as its 35th member, the...
Countering the BrahMos Threat
by
Bilal Khan
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Dec 21, 2017
Introduction Jointly developed, marketed and produced by Russia and India, the BrahMos is a supersonic anti-ship cruising missile (ASCM). Weighing 2,500 kg and with an engagement range of 450 km, the Brahmos is one of India’s...
Pakistan’s Defence Industry: High Risk and High Reward Partnerships
by
Bilal Khan
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Dec 19, 2017
Prologue: This is a continuation of the Quwa Premium articles discussing the Pakistani defence industry, specifically its inability to produce a domestic marketplace to which the Pakistani armed forces and foreign customers can consult, its nascent...
Analysis: The Case for Pakistan Procuring the FC-31 Gyrfalcon
by
Bilal Khan
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Dec 14, 2017
Officially, the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) fifth-generation fighter (FGF) program is being executed under ‘Project Azm’ (resolve). Under the PAF’s long-term plan, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra has been entrusted to manufacture a FGF as well as...
Pakistan’s Defence Industry: Constructing a Domestic Marketplace & Examining Offsets
by
Bilal Khan
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Dec 12, 2017
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....
Editor’s Note: Introducing Quwa Premium
by
Bilal Khan
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Dec 8, 2017
In 2015 I founded Quwa with the aim of discussing Pakistani defence issues. In the lead-up to releasing my first post, I had found that there was a dearth in accessible information on Pakistani defence programs....
DEPO’s Call for Coherent Export Policy & Pakistan’s Defence Product Development (FREE SAMPLE)
by
Bilal Khan
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Dec 8, 2017
The Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) called upon the Government of Pakistan to establish a coherent policy framework for exporting defence products. The statement was conveyed by the Director of Coordination Brig. Gen. Waheed Mumtaz in...
Pakistan’s Product Development Efforts and the Role of the Private Sector
by
Bilal Khan
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Dec 7, 2017
Sticking to time-tested designs that are proven to work is not inherently a problem. However, with Pakistan’s focus to boosting exports, then product catalogues will face scrutiny....
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Steve
2018-03-04 19:00:00
So it’s time to dump the LERX’s then. Visit to a wind tunnel anyon ...
Steve
2018-03-04 18:46:00
I fully agree. Time for Bajwa and Abbasi to personally meet Putin for ...
Saikat Misra
2018-03-04 14:23:00
LCA project is a very successful project.This leads to the inhouse dev ...
Jigsaw
2018-03-04 12:21:00
Only composites. nothing really ground breaking here wrt stealth.
Featured
Pakistan Inks Contract for 4 MILGEM Ada Corvettes from Turkey
Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) has formally inked a contract with Turkey’s Military Factory and Shipyard Corporation (Askeri Fabrika ve Tersane İşletme Anonim Şirketi: ASFAT A.Ş.) for the purchase of four MILGEM Ada...
Monthly Report: Pakistan Defence Review 2017
Quwa Premium Sample: The following report is a free and complete Quwa Premium sample for all readers. At Quwa, we make a concerted effort to provide high-quality, detailed and timely research and analysis of current Pakistani...
Quwa Defence News and Analysis Group