India got worried even at economic development!

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “very strongly” raised the issue regarding China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) during his recent visit to Beijing, and termed the project “unacceptable”.

“Prime minster during his visit took up the issue very firmly and spoke very strongly that the CPEC going through PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) is unacceptable,” Swaraj said at a press conference.

Further, Swaraj communicated Modi’s concerns regarding the $46 billion project, and said that the Indian government had summoned a Chinese envoy to apprise over the corridor that is to run through Pakistani Kashmir.

The external affairs minister added that an Indian envoy in Beijing had also raised the same issue.

During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan in April, the 3,000 kilometre-long CPEC was announced.

Source: The Express Tribune 

Pakistan Seeks To Prop Up Exports, Boost Industry

KARACHI — Pakistan aims to deepen existing partnerships, attract new partners and build equipment at home, despite economic instability and insecurity.

 

A JF-17 Thunder on display at the International Defence Exhibition And Seminar show in Karachi last week.

That drive was on display last week at Pakistan’s biennial defense show, the International Defence Exhibition And Seminar (IDEAS2014).

IDEAS2014 seemed somewhat reduced, since no missile systems or mobility programs were on display. Furthermore, some large contractors, from Western Europe in particular, were absent.

Yet Zaheer Ahmad, vice president of Kestral, representing a range of primarily North American contractors such as L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky, said IDEAS2014 was comparable to any other large exhibition in terms of the variety of attendees and exhibitors.

A number of key smaller exhibitors were present for the first time.

ByField Optics, a developer of surveillance and security products and manufacturer of leading edge ultraviolet/kinetic eye protection and optics, came from Australia. Czech manufacturer Inflatech showcased its inflatable decoys that reflect radar energy and can simulate infrared signatures. Lithuania’s Helisota promoted its helicopter maintenance, overhaul and upgrade expertise. Yugoimport, Serbia’s arms export agency, was also a major presence.

With local industry the largest presence, the bulk of the remainder came from China, Turkey and the US.

The Sino-Pakistani Karakorum K-8 trainer was notable for being displayed armed for the first time with two AIM-9P Sidewinders, practice bombs and a 23mm gun pod in recognition that it now serves in the advanced jet trainer role.

Most eyes were on the JF-17, Pakistan’s flagship defense project, and Nigeria is reported to be in the final stages of negotiations to equip up to two squadrons.

“So far, there are 11 countries talking to us; so far we have not actually signed any deal,” said Air Commodore Khalid Mahmood, director of sales and marketing for the JF-17.

He outlined a wide range of improvements and weapons integrated with the aircraft. Weaponry now includes the CM-102 air-launched supersonic anti-radiation missile and GB-6 air-launched standoff submunition dispenser, which were unveiled at China’s Zhuhai Airshow last month.

Mahmood said Pakistan is “open to all suppliers” for advanced short-range air-to-air missiles, and dispelled rumors the active/passive SD-10A long-range missile was not fully operational.

He stressed the program continues to evolve and potential customers are being offered a partnership, not just an aircraft.

The expected deals for Chinese submarines and Russian Mi-35M helicopter gunships were not signed.

Russian Helicopters representatives said only that the deal is “for more than five.” Pakistan’s Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanvir Hussain also declined to directly address the issue, but did say Pakistan is also considering the Mi-28NE Havoc.

Similarly, Chinese and Pakistan Navy officials would not discuss the submarine contract, but Cmdr. Hasnain Ali of Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) said they would likely mostly be built in Pakistan.

Other deals have been quietly signed, including those for the third and fourth stealth missile boats being built at KSEW. The remaining pair have yet to be contracted.

Three batteries of the China Aerospace Long-March International LY-80 surface-to-air missile system have been purchased for nearly US $226 million, with eight units of the IBIS-150 air defense surveillance radar for $40 million.

A model of an LY-80 battery was displayed, but little further information was forthcoming.

Analyst Haris Khan of the Pakistan Military Consortium think tank, who attended IDEAS2014, said the LY-80 was a “good system that looks like it will be very effective,” but does not yet know if it will be produced locally as speculated.

NORINCO displayed its SH-1 155mm wheeled artillery system, but Khan said its worn appearance proved it had at least been trialed by Pakistan’s Army, though officials would not comment on this.

State-owned armored fighting vehicle manufacturer Heavy Industries Taxilia (HIT) has been busy. Spokesman Lt. Col. Amer Ahmed Khan said it will partner with Belgian engineering firm and licensee Duma Engineering to produce General Dynamics’ Dragoon four-wheel-drive armored fighting vehicle (AFV).

Of the initial 15, the Airport Security Force will take 10, with HIT retaining five. It is being promoted to the civilian and paramilitary security services, and for export to Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

Khan confirmed HIT’s plans to produce the Chinese VN1 eight-wheel-drive AFV are “under process,” but development of HIT’s Burraq MRAP vehicle had been abandoned after the US supplied the MaxxPro.

Though the latest variant of the Al Khalid main battle tank was absent, the most modern Mohafiz internal security vehicle was present. It can resist the armor-piercing rounds that penetrated earlier versions.

Also evident was considerable work done in replacing foreign content of the Al Khalid and T-80UD tanks with indigenous equipment to make the systems more affordable and supportable. Similarly, more radical approaches such as a common turret for the main tank types had been discussed, but no action has been taken.

The increasing number of simulators was also aimed at reducing operational costs.

Soft Innovative Systems (SIS) is Pakistan’s largest supplier and has partnered with the Military Vehicle and Research Development Establishment to produce shooting simulators and the surface-to-air weapon simulator to train personnel to operate man-portable air-defense systems.

Speaking for SIS, Muzaffar Hassan said that knowing it could match quality but undercut the Western vendors, SIS is keen to secure business with developing nations, especially those in Africa.

However, a real leap appears to have been made with the Air Force Simulation Environment.

Squadron Leader Abid Ali Khan said it started out as an air defense simulator evolving to simultaneously train pilots, air traffic controllers and radar operators.

“All are linked, so use of the aircraft sim will allow the training of multiple personnel without a single aircraft being flown,” he said. “It is very cost effective and we have also sold one to Jordan.”

Similarly, indigenous UAV firms continue to improve and export widely. Although the Global Industrial and Defence Solutions conglomerate showcased its UAV range, the most notable was perhaps Pak Business Aviation’s Enduro.

Design head Usman Habib said it was the second such all-electric UAV on the market. Fully autonomous, the man-portable Enduro has a range of 20 kilometers and an endurance of up to three hours.

Though HIT makes an armored Toyota Corolla sedan, there has been a considerable increase in private firms offering the same services due to Pakistan’s security situation.

First time exhibitor Streit Group displayed a wide range of military, law enforcement, and civilian/discreet vehicles, and has opened a small factory near Karachi that has modified many civilian vehicles for international clients based in Pakistan.

Also chasing the same clientele were Pak Armouring and UAE-based International Armored Group, with the latter along with Thai firm Chaiseri also offering tactical security vehicles.

Not to be displaced by their Chinese counterparts, Turkish defense firms are working hard to deepen their partnership with Pakistan. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) continues to heavily promote its T-129 attack helicopter. A memorandum of understanding was recently signed between TAI and the Pakistani government, but details are unavailable.

In the future, TAI also hopes to promote its Hurkus turboprop trainer, but along with software and electronics firms Aselsan and Havelsan, hopes to upgrade the Pakistan Navy’s ATR-72 patrol aircraft.Long time collaborator Yonca-Onuk is also hoping to deepen its relationship with the Navy by offering its MRTP-34 and perhaps MRTP-45 vessels, and hopes to build its MRTP-64 at KSEW under a wide-ranging transfer of technology deal.

Chinese Reactor Design Passes Safety Review

The GRSR process reviews the completely- or partially-developed safety cases of new reactor designs that are not yet in the licensing stage. It involves an international team of experts evaluating design safety case claims against selected and applicable IAEA safety standards. China signed an agreement with the IAEA last December for a GRSR review of CNNC's ACP1000 design. 

 

How a plant based on the ACP1000 could appear (Image: CNNC)

The ACP1000 reactor design has successfully passed the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's)Generic Reactor Safety Review (GRSR), China National Nuclear Corporation has announced.

CNNC has now announced that the design has successfully completed GRSR review. It is the first Chinese-designed reactor to have undergone review by the IAEA.

CNNC's assistant president Li Xiaoming told the China Daily newspaper that the IAEA's review of the ACP1000 reached three main conclusions. Firstly, the technology is recognized to be fully compliant with all the safety standards set by the IAEA and that it is suitable to be sold outside of China. Secondly, the ACP1000 design is evolutionary, meaning it is constantly evolving by adding the latest and best technology to existing technology. Thirdly, the design combines passive and active technology, ensuring better safety.

The ACP1000 is derived from the 900 MWe PWRs that China imported from France in the 1990s. The first two ACP1000 units had been planned for units 5 and 6 of the Fuqing nuclear power plant in Fujian province.

In 2012, central planners in Beijing directed CNNC and the other large nuclear builder and operator, China General Nuclear (CGN), to 'rationalise' their reactor programs. This meant CNNC's ACP1000 and CGN's ACPR1000 were 'merged' into one standardised design - the Hualong One.

In fact, each company has its own supply chain and their versions of Hualong One will differ slightly (units built by CGN will use some features from the ACPR1000) but the design is considered to be standardised. It is set for wide deployment in China as well as export to other countries. Some 85% of its components will be made domestically.

Li told the China Daily, "Exporting nuclear technology is of strategic importance to China, and it creates more demand for China's own domestic nuclear supply chain. We look forward to exporting Chinese nuclear technology globally in the near future."

However, he noted that international use of the ACP1000 is still dependent on meeting country-specific standards and requirements, but passing the IAEA safety review will make this process easier.

India Must Prepare For A Two-front War: NSA Ajit Doval

India has to be prepared for a two-front war and build deterrence that ensures conflict is not an option for its adversaries, said National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, while speaking on future threats at the Hindustan Times Leadership summit on Saturday afternoon.

 

Indian Armys' Female Members.

“India has two neighbours, both nuclear powers (which) shave a strategic relationship and a shared adversarial view of India,” the NSA said. He also confirmed that the government had received reports of Chinese personnel working in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to build infrastructure and New Delhi had already expressed concern to Beijing and Islamabad.

Taking a cue from former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, who was chairing the talk, Doval expressed concern at Pakistan’s continued use of terrorism as a part of its foreign policy. “Pakistan’s inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) can bleed India but it cannot “degrade a strong civilisational nation like us,” he said.

However, the NSA expressed optimism that India has been able to engage both countries and “economic inter-dependence” can prove to a frame work to build peace in South Asia.

But clearly the NSA was keen to reinforce Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plans for a new economic paradigm. “Economic development is the best way to ensure security and a 9% growth will make us totally secure,” Doval said. According to the NSA “a strong economy is the surest means of protecting the country and creates vested interests which will ensure India’s protection.”

Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call ‘Make In India’ Doval stressed on the need to put manufacturing on India’s highest priority. “We have a strong decisive government, considerable clout in the international arena and world calls human resources.

Doval, a former Director, Intelligence Bureau, and a much decorated intelligence office also provided context for Prime Minister’s diplomatic whirlwind taking him to the US, Australia, Myanmar and Fiji besides engaging South Asia with vigour. “In a changing world order India is engaging powers who have conflicting views. So we engage China and Japan as well as Russia and the United States.” The reason for this sustained engagement is driven by the fact that India’s economic engagement with the rest of the world had grown from 14% to 40%.

Covering a slew of issues that has dominated India’s security concerns, the NSA also underlined the Modi government’s focus on emerging technological threats from cyberspace. “We are seized of it, we have huge experience, scientific capabilities but we have have lost out on technical issues. Root servers are in other countries, mostly in the USand even private corporations have become very powerful,” he said.

With cyber space emerging as an engine for powerful economic growth,the government will continue to keep a sharp eye on it, the NSA assured.

Insight into JF-17 Thunder Block-II.

Pakistan Air Force Going To Induct 5th Gen. Stealth Fighter Before IAF Does!

An article in the People’s Daily at the end of last month did little to clarify matters. The article referred to the J-31 as a fourth-generation stealth fighter, while also saying that is comparable to the U.S.’ F-35 fighter jets. The report first said that it would be exported abroad as a competitor to the F-35, before discussing the possibility that it will be China’s next carrier-borne fighter.

“Experts predict that the J-31 will make rapid inroads in the international market in the future, and will undoubtedly steal the limelight from the F-35,” the People’s Daily report said, noting also that competition to sell the fighter jets to international customers was “becoming a new variable in the Sino-US strategic game.”
The report added that, “The J-31, with its main target as the export market, represents a serious threat to U.S. arms manufacturers.” Later in the same article, however, People’s Daily noted that the plane’s landing gear was built to sustain the impact of landing on a carrier better than the current J-15s, and therefore might be used as China’s future carrier-based jet.
One possibility is that China is building both a domestic and export version of the aircraft. Some foreign news outlets have indeed said that China may sell a version of the aircraft abroad under the name F-60, while maintaining a fleet of domestic J-31s for the PLA.
With so little known about the J-31, it’s hard to gauge how credible China’s claims are that the J-31 is a low-cost alternative to the F-35. In a report in Defense News last August, shortly after the first few images of the plane surfaced, Project 2049 Institute’s Robert Cliff dismissed the notion that the J-31 would pose a serious threat to the F-35 in terms of overseas sales.
““India won’t buy it. Russia won’t buy it,” Cliff noted, adding: “That pretty much leaves countries like Pakistan, Brazil, some Middle East countries, none of whom [the U.S. is] likely to sell the F-35 to anytime this decade or next.”
He also said that he did not believe Saudi Arabia was interested in the plane.
Pakistan is perhaps the most likely foreign purchaser of the fighter. Pakistan and China previously jointly developed the JF-17 Thunder advanced fighter, although only Islamabad has ended up purchasing the jet thus far. This week Pakistani officials called on China to increase cooperation in the area of defense production. Beijing has long helped Islamabad acquire the necessary knowledge and expertise to develop a more advanced domestic defense industry.

It Confirmed, Thunder Will Fly With Additional Two Tonnes of Hell!!

PAF's JF-17 Thunder Block-II has been tested and will be certified to carry 3000lbs of extra weight on its stores. It takes the JF-17 Block-II into the 5 tonne payload fighter aircraft category.

This is an exclusively sourced excerpt from the upcoming November issue of combataircrafts.net. Its not available yet to the public.

India Forces Pakistan To Indigenously Build Nuclear Submarine

Maverick Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been forced to build its own nuclear submarine, as India is building its own nuclear submarines besides acquiring nuclear submarines from Russia, defence sources have said.

Under this project, India launched its first indigenously built nuclear submarine in 2010 and it is presently undergoing trials and is expected to be fully operational by the end of the current year, the sources requesting anonymity.

“India has already initiated work on second such type of submarine and it is envisaged that India would be operating three nuclear submarines by 2015, providing her a clear edge over Pakistan in the strategic realm,” the sources added. 

 

Pakistan Navy Active Duty Submarines:

The sources said although Pakistan does not want to involve itself in an arms race with India, such a huge disparity in conventional and nuclear submarines needs to be given a thought to keep some balance of power in the region. They said if the challenge of building a nuclear submarine is given to Pakistani scientists, engineers and technicians, they would not disappoint the nation and would once again prove they could show miracles for the national defence. 

 

INS Arihant

“Pakistani scientists, engineers and technicians have already proven their skill and dedication by testing indigenously made nuclear bomb and by testing nuclear capable Shaheen and Babar cruise missiles, etc,” they pointed out. “Pakistani experts are capable of giving the Pakistan Navy a nuclear submarine for test and trial within six years, i.e. by 2018 or even earlier, after they are given a go-ahead signal while India took about 20 to 25 years to build a nuclear submarine.” 

The Qing Class, Which Will Be The Base for Pakistan's Nuclear Submarine:

Submarines pose immense threat to an adversary as these vessels can remain submerged for a prolong duration without detection through radar or naked eye. Owing to submarine’s stealth features and long endurance, these vessels can operate close to the enemy waters hence can destroy or damage severely the enemy shipping, particularly close to her ports. By virtue of its characteristics, the Arabian Sea poses many challenges vis-à-vis detection of the underwater vessels and is known to be heaven for submarines, elaborated the sources.

They said the conventional submarines are run with the help of batteries and such vessels are required to break the water surface and expose herself to induct air for running the engines to recharge the batteries, thus becoming vulnerable for detection by the enemy. The nuclear submarines are run with the help of a nuclear reactor and do not require to recharge their batteries, thus remaining submerged for months without exposing themselves to the enemy. “Owing to this very capability, countries possessing the nuclear submarines are said to have assured second-strike capability,” the sources said.

Presently, India has at least 14 active submarines whereas Indian Navy has contracted France for six modern submarines, the sources said. These submarines are being constructed in Indian shipyard and are likely to be inducted in the Indian fleet by 2018. The Defence Committee of India has also approved procurement of six more conventional submarines in addition to the six already being built with the help of France, thus it is envisaged that by 2025 India might have around 30 conventional submarines.

“On the contrary, the Pakistani Navy current has five active submarines and so far the disparity in numbers was somehow balanced through induction of modern weapons and sensors, however, with the induction of such a large number of submarines India will have a clear edge over the Pakistan Navy in the field of conventional submarines,” they said.

INS Chakra, SSN. Leased from Russian Navy for next 10 years.

Beside conventional submarines, India also embarked upon the programme of acquiring nuclear submarine and as a first step acquired CHAKRA class nuclear submarine from former Soviet Union in 1987 on 10 years lease so it was returned to Russia in late 1990s, the sources recalled.

Later, they said, India signed a contract with Russia for lease of two AKULA class nuclear submarines. They said one of the two leased vessels has been handed over to India and is likely to join the Indian Fleet this month. “With the induction of this submarine, India has acquired the assured second-strike capability shifting the strategic balance in the region in her favour,” the sources commented.

First Block 2 JF-17s Under Construction in Pakistan

Production of the first two of 50 Block 2 JF-17s on order by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is now well under way at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, with the first expected to fly by the end of the year.

The Block 2 JF-17 has several capability increases over the Block 1s, but the main boost to the PAF as well as to export potential is the installation of an air-to-air refuelling system. One aircraft has been fitted with a refuelling probe, which protrudes from the right side of the fuselage just behind the cockpit, sitting forward of the pilot's position. It is being used for flight trials.

However, this modification will not appear in Block 2 aircraft until midway through the production at the Aircraft Manufacturing Factory (AMF), probably in early 2016, PAF officials said. Coupled with software enhancements, other new features include an upgrade to the avionics system that works around China's Nanjing KLJ-7 radar.

Production of the first two of 50 Block 2 JF-17s on order by the Pakistan Air Force is now well under way at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra. Source: Alan Warnes 

As a result, the Block 2s can add the Chinese-designed C-802 anti-ship missile and SD-10A beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile to the Block 1s' existing armoury, which includes Mk 82/84 dumb bombs and the PL-5-EII short-range air-to-air missile. All the Block 1s will eventually be upgraded with the Block 2 improvements. 

 

A detail of the refuelling probe on one of the first two Block 2 JF-17s. (Alan Warnes)

 

With an urgent need to export JF-17s, a two-seater will be built in the Block 2 time frame. The PAF had always said that a two-seater is not urgent, but Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt now admits that a dual seater is a necessity. "We realise that it is required, because the air forces interested in buying JF-17 want one," he said.

PAF pilots currently converting to JF-17 are accumulating around 25 hours on a JF-17 simulator operational at Kamra, where one of the two operational squadrons is based. Nearly all the Block 1s have now been delivered to the PAF, which has a current requirement for 150 to replace the ageing F-7P and Mirage III/Vs. 

 

Source: www.janes.com