Pakistan Navy Ship PNS Shamsheer Welcomed in Colombo

The Mission Commander, Commodore Bilal Abdul Nasir and the ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Syed Rizwan Khalid met SL Navy officials and had cordial discussions at the yesterday.

Pakistan Navy Operation "SEASPARK - 15"

Missile Launch was conducted as part of ongoing Exercise Sea-Spark 2015.

Its Confirmed, Pakistan Navy Acquiring 8 New Type 041 Improved Yuan Class Submarines From China

Pakistan is renewing efforts to modernize its submarine arm with eight submarines from China as well as a search for surplus European submarines.

Navy and Defence Ministry officials revealed the plans to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence on Tuesday, with Economic Affairs Secretary Muhammad Saleem Sethi leaving for China to pursue the deal on Wednesday.

 

Improved Type 041 Yuan Class Submarines.

Analysts believe that since the National Security Committee has agreed to the deal in principle, it is likely to go ahead.

The officials also requested US $294 million to upgrade ATR-72 maritime patrol aircraft. Two un-upgraded aircraft are in service, and officials hope to acquire more.

Pakistan operates five French submarines.

Its two Agosta-70s were acquired in 1979 and 1980, respectively, and despite upgrades they are widely acknowledged by analysts to be well past their prime and in need of replacement. Three air-independent propulsion (AIP)-equipped Agosta-90Bs, which are a development of the Agosta-70s, were commissioned from 1999 onward.

The Navy requires 12 submarines laid out in the Armed Forces Development Plan (AFDP) 2015 and a later revised plan.

Tuesday's proceedings created some confusion, however, with officials telling the committee that surplus submarines had been pursued from France, Germany, and the UK, but later acknowledging France had refused Pakistan's approaches with concerns over transfer of technology as one example.

Brian Cloughley, previous Australian defense attache to Islamabad, has said France has simply abandoned the Pakistani defense market to focus on the far more lucrative Indian one.

The mention of the UK was also surprising, considering the UK has not built or operated conventional submarines since the early 1990s, and sold its four Upholder-class subs to Canada where they now serve as the Victoria class.

Cloughley believes the Germans may not be willing or able to supply any surplus submarines either as they do not seem to have any, or at least any that Pakistan would want.

German firms offer new Type-214, Type-209/1400 mod, and Type-210 mod submarines for export.

However, Cloughley said there may be other possibilities.

Germany partnered with Turkey in 2011 to offer Indonesia a lease/new-build deal for Type-209 submarines. Indonesia, however, selected the South Korean improved Chang Bogo, a development of the Type-209/1400.

Turkish industry officials have told Defense News they are ready to offer Pakistan Type-209s if asked.

Turkey, one of Pakistan's closest allies and strongest defense industry partners, shelved its plans to upgrade its six Type-209/1200 Atilay class subs with AIP systems in favor of acquiring the Type-214.

However, Pakistani defense industry officials have said Islamabad would prefer a newer design.

It is uncertain if present circumstances have forced a rethink. "It's all supposition, and I'm afraid there doesn't seem to be an answer," Cloughley said.

Pakistan almost signed a deal for three Type-214 subs in 2008, raises hopes of Pakistan-Turkish submarine cooperation.

However, analyst Haris Khan of the Pakistan Military Consortium think tank said the deal floundered on the issue of financing after the then-Pakistan People's Party-led government signed an IMF loan agreement that derailed the sub acquisition plans.

He said the Type-214 deal was the centerpiece of the naval aspect of the AFDP, and that the first submarine would have been delivered in 2015. The naval aspect of the AFDP especially is in total disarray, he said.

It is unknown if the Type-214 was shelved until finances become available (some industry officials believe this was at least the intention at the time the deal collapsed), but attention subsequently switched to acquiring six AIP-equipped submarines from China.

Due to the need to decommission the Agosta-70s, Khan believes any refurbished submarines will be required to be "sailing under a Pakistani flag within 12 months."

Acquiring Turkish Type-209s remains possible, and despite Pakistan's predicament, Khan says "Under the present circumstances I don't see any collaboration between Pakistan and Turkey since Pakistan will only be locally producing Chinese submarines."

Whether the Chinese submarines are the S-20 export derivative of the Type-039A/Type-041 Yuan-class submarine, or a bespoke design, is unclear. But the Yuan has also been mentioned, and according to government officials the deal was supposed to be secured by the end of 2014.

If the deal transpires, Khan said it will be the largest ever Sino-Pakistani deal. He believes the submarines will each cost $ 250 million to $325 million.

Neither the Ministry of Defence nor the Navy would shed further light when asked. No answers were forthcoming to requests regarding the timeframe of the deal, whether the two Agosta-70s will finally be retired now the number of planned Chinese submarines has increased to eight, clarification on acquiring surplus Western submarines, or the status of the Type-214 acquisition efforts.

Should the Chinese deal go through, it will be a considerable relief, and be especially significant for the nuclear deterrent.

Pakistan inaugurated its Naval Strategic Force Command in 2012 in response to India's rapid nuclearization.

A potential force of 8 AIP-equipped Chinese subs and the three Agosta-90Bs "is a quantum leap in existing capabilities," said Mansoor Ahmed of Quaid-e-Azam University's Department of Defence and Strategic Studies.

Though acknowledging nuclear-powered attack boats are far more capable, he believes "An AIP [diesel-electric submarine] offers Pak the best bang for the buck. But it has to be supplemented with a commensurate investment in [anti-submarine warfare] capabilities to neutralize developments on the Indian side."

He said this will lay the groundwork for having a permanent sea-based deterrent equipped with plutonium-based warheads fitted to cruise missiles, "which is expected to be the next major milestone in Pakistan's development of a triad."

Ahmed acknowledges this "would pose fresh challenges for ensuring effective and secure communications at all times with the submarines for both India and Pak in addition to having a mated-arsenal at sea that would require pre-delegation of launch authority at some level for both countries.

"This would be an altogether new challenge that would have to be addressed for an effective sea-based deterrent."

Nevertheless, AIP-equipped conventional submarines "provide reliable second strike platforms, [and] an assured capability resides with [nuclear-powered attack and nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines], which are technically very complex and challenging to construct and operate compared to SSKs, and also very capital intensive."

Pakistan Aheading To Purchase 8 Submarines From China

Pakistan‬ will procure eight ‪submarines‬ from ‪China‬ to further strengthen its defence. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence was informed today during its meeting in Islamabad that a contact was made with France for the supply of new sub marines which declined their supply while it has already supplied these submarines to ‪India‬. It was informed that contact was also made with countries for the purchase of these sub marines but the Chinese submarines were found more feasible to meet requirements of our Navy.

 

The Committee was also informed that the Government is also in contact with ‪France‬, ‪‎UK‬ and ‪Germany‬ to purchase used sub marines. It was also disclosed in the meeting that contacts have been made with various countries to sale JF-17 Thunder fighter plane besides other defence technology. The committee was also told that defence ties with ‪‎Russia‬ are improving gradually.

Indian Navy's Floating Coffins!

According to the News report by India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the submarine fleet revealed that the operational availability of the existing boats was “as low as 48% .The CAG report also warned that more than 50% of submarines have completed three-fourths of their operational life and some are already beyond their maximum service life, compelling the navy to deal with the challenges of handling an increasingly obsolete fleet safely.

 

An Indian navy submarine Sindhurakshak with about 18 sailors on board caught fire after an explosion.While the exact cause of the explosion on-board Sindhurakshak is still to be determined, but it puts a spotlight on the spate of incidents involving naval vessels. Since 2005, at least 10 serious incidents have been reported. Among them five are related to the Sindhughosh-class of submarines, of which Sindhurakshak is the one. Like in April 2006 INS Prahar Naval Patrol vessel, which was on return journey to Mumbai from Goa, sank at a Distance of 20 nautical miles from the coast.

In January 2008 INS Sindhu-gosh, with a large foreign-owned cargo ship in the Arabian Sea last could have meant a cold watery grave for the 53 sailors on board the underwater vessel. The 16-year-old Russian-made submarine, INS Sindhurakshak, also suffered an explosion in 2010 that killed one sailor and injured two others. The Indian navy said that accident was caused by a faulty battery valve that leaked hydrogen, causing an explosion in the vessel’s battery compartment.

While these incidents may reflect training and safety lapses coupled with an ageing fleet. Safety is, doubtless, a paramount concern not only in the running of conventionally armed submarines, which presently operate out of bases surrounded by densely populated cities and even more so in the case of the nuclear-armed submarine. If there were to be a similar incident with the nuclear-tipped missiles, it would be catastrophic not only for the crew but for the nearby population centers as well.

PAF To Get Extra Military Hardwares From USA

A recent post from defence.pk suggests that Pakistan will get some crucial military hardwares from various US sources. These includes:

I. 8 Block 52+ F-16 C Fighting Falcons fighter

Pakistani F-16 Block 52+ Fighting Falcons.

II. 3 Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate

Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate infographic.

III. Requested the sale of AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to replace the AH-1F/S Cobras 

 

A devastatingly handsome (and lethal) beast, AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters.

It is likely that Pakistan will exercise the option for the total 18 extra F-16s or buy more surplus ones from the US. Many would say this as the diplomacy of the COAS, but still there something to observe.  Pakistan those AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, because for both type of war scenario of Pakistan Army, in the east or north-west, they need these attack birds very urgently. 

Recently Pakistan approaches firmly with Russian firms to acquire Mil Mi-35 HIND-E attack choppers in a countable number from Russia.

 

Pakistan Navy Plans To Buy 30 JF-17 Thunder Block-II

A rumor spreads through defence.pk forum couple of a years ago. But still there's nothing loud to confirm by the appropriate authority. However, it could be very possible because of the higher threat assessment for navy. Till today, if Pakistan Navy needs air support they must call air force. But considering the situation and multi-front scenario they could think of an fighter arm of Pakistan Navy Air Arms.

Due some speculation and information from highly valued sources of the forum it can be assumed that really navy going to establish their Naval Fighter Regiment soon. If this happen still we need to wait to see the real.

 

I was a rookie reporter nine years ago in October 2005 when, in the main ceremonial room of the Indian MoD, then Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt and then Ambassador of France, the tempestuous Dominique Girard, signed the Indian government's contract for six Scorpene submarines. I had spent just over a year on the defence beat at The Indian Express. The P75 submarine build programme was one of the biggest developing stories at the time. 

 It would be the new UPA government's first defence deal, and the Indian Navy was desperate for an early conclusion. Only two weeks before the signing at the MoD, I and a small group of other reporters were huddled in a small conference room at Delhi's Hyatt Hotel receiving a briefing from Germany's HDW on the Class 214 submarine. We were only journalists, but it was a final effort to pitch the U-boat as a better product than the French offering that would defeat it less than 14 days later.

Nearly a decade later, the Germans are back in the race. Presumably. (No maker of submarines has officially declared interest in the P75I competition since it was cleared for a 'Make in India' route earlier this month.) Cleared of corruption allegations in the Shishumar-class build programme, the Germans still smart at how they lost the 2005 deal. And they'll be competing to make good. But, in every way -- every possible way -- the P75I programme is likely to be more complicated, contentious and competitive than its predecessor. The Class 214, which squared off against the Scorpene in the final race the last time, could face at least four worthy competitors this time. All come with their own technical, capability-centric and political pros and cons:

All six submarines will be built in India at an Indian shipyard. By December, the MoD has committed to identifying the public and private shipyards capable of taking on such work. Apart from Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) and L&T's shipyards (the only two currently engaged in submarine building work), the MoD will size up Cochin Shipyard Ltd, GRSE, GSL, Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) and Pipavav, among prospective others. 

Here's the original P75I request for information from years ago, which originally envisaged two submarines built by the OEM and four in an Indian shipyard:

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR PROCUREMENT OF 06 CONVENTIONAL SUBMARINES UNDER PROJECT 75(I) 

1. INDIAN NAVY IS IN THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING A CONTEMPORARY CONVENTIONAL SUBMARINE FOR CONSTRUCTION AS FOLLOWS:- 

(A) TWO SUBMARINES AT COLLABORATORS SHIPYARD. 

(B) FOUR SUBMARINES AT TWO INDIAN SHIPYARDS. 

2. INDIAN NAVY REQUESTS INFORMATION FROM FIRMS WHO HAVE INDEPENDENTLY DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED A COMPLETE MODERN CONVENTIONAL SUBMARINE WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE / UNDERGOING SEA TRIALS. THE SUBMARINE SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF OPERATING IN OPEN OCEAN AND LITTORAL / SHALLOW WATERS IN DENSE ASW AND EW ENVIRONMENT AND ABLE TO UNDERTAKE FOLLOWING MISSIONS:-

(A) ANTI SURFACE AND ANTI SUBMARINE WARFARE.
(B) SUPPORTING OPERATIONS ASHORE.
(C) ISR MISSIONS.
(D) SPECIAL FORCE AND MINING OPS.

3. PROSPECTIVE COLLABORATORS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD DATA REGARDING THE FOLLOWING CAPABILITIES OF THE PROPOSED DESIGN:- 

(A) MAXIMUM DIVING DEPTH WITHOUT LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF DIVES. 

(B) MAXIMUM OPERATING RANGE (DIVED-SNORT-SURFACE) AND MISSION ENDURANCE. 

(C) AIR INDEPENDENT PROPULSION SYSTEM BEING OFFERED. 

(D) SURFACE DISPLACEMENT AND RESERVE BUOYANCY. 

(E) INDISCRETION RATE.

(F) SEA WATER SPECIFIC GRAVITY OPERATING RANGE. 

(G) TORPEDO TUBES WITH CAPABILITY TO LAUNCH LONG RANGE HEAVY WEIGHT WIRE GUIDED TORPEDOES, MISSILES AND METHOD FOR WEAPON DISCHARGE. 

(H) EXTERNALLY LAUNCHED TORPEDO DECOY SYSTEM. 

(J) INTEGRATED COMBAT SYSTEM (DETAILS OF PROSPECTIVE SUPPLIERS TO BE PROVIDED). 

(K) CONTEMPORARY LOW NOISE PROPULSION AND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM. 

(L) AUXILIARY MOTORS WITH TAKE HOME CAPABILITY. 

(M) CONTEMPORARY IPMS, SMCS, APMS. 

(N) AC SYSTEM CUSTOMISED FOR OPERATION IN TROPICAL WATERS CHARACTERISED BY HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS. 

4. THE FOLLOWING DATA IN RESPECT OF THE PROPOSED SUBMARINE BE PROVIDED ALONG WITH RESPONSE TO RFI:- 

(A) RADIATED NOISE LEVELS IN FREQUENCY BAND 30 Hz TO 10000Hz (db // REF μPa) AT SPEED OF 5 KNOTS AND 10 KN 

(B) NOISE AND VIBRATION DATA FOR MAJOR PROPULSION AND AUXILIARY MACHINERY (C) MANOEUVRABILITY & STABILITY CHARACTERISTICS 

5. THE RESPONSE TO THIS RFI SHOULD ALSO ELABORATE THE FOLLOWING:-

(A) SCOPE AND DEPTH FOR TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY (TOT) FOR SUBMARINE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION AND PRODUCTION OF KEY SYSTEMS/SUBSYSTEMS AT INDIAN SHIPYARD / BY INDIAN INDUSTRY.
(B) PLAN FOR DISCHARGE OF OFFSET COMMITMENTS AS ENUMERATED IN THE "DEFENCE PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE – 2008" AT WEBSITE WWW.MOD.NIC.IN. 

(C) FEASIBILITY AND PROPOSED APPROACH FOR USE OF ITEMS / EQUIPMENTS SOURCED FROM INDIAN INDUSTRY ON THE SUBMARINE. 

(D) PLAN FOR TRAINING SHIPYARD PERSONNEL FOR PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND INDIAN NAVY PERSONNEL IN ASPECTS OF SUBMARINE DESIGN. 

6. IT IS REQUESTED THAT THE RESPONSE TO THIS RFI BE FORWARDED BY 30 SEP 10.

Source: Livefist

Naval Dockyard Attack - Enemy powers seeking pores in the Pakistan Armed Forces

Navy on Tuesday remained tight-lipped on the defence minister’s claim in parliament that the weekend Karachi dockyard attack was an inside job. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking on a point of order by PPP Senator Raza Rabbani, said “some of the navy staff of commissioned ranks and some outsiders” were involved in the terrorist strike.

Pakistan Navy’s public relations wing said on Monday night that its troops had thwarted an attack on the Karachi dockyard on Saturday in which one of its soldier lost his life while defending the facility. Two militants were killed and four others were apprehended by naval security personnel. Some of the attackers were said to be wearing navy uniforms. The defence minister promised to lay more details about the attack before parliament on Wednesday. It is claimed that some navy men were also involved in the 2011 attack on Mehran Base, which is the deadliest attack so far on a navy installation.

A navy spokesman when contacted to comment on the claims about the involvement of some navy personnel in the dockyard attack said several arrests had been made from Karachi and other cities. He, however, refused to say if there were navy personnel among the dead or arrested attackers.

“Disclosing such sensitive information at this stage could compromise our investigations that are still continuing for unearthing the network,” the spokesman said. He did not speak either on the reports that one of the attackers reportedly killed in the incident – Owais Jakhrani — was a former navy sailor, who had quit a few months ago. Twenty-five-year-old Owais was son of SSP Ali Sher Jakhrani. 

 

Federal Minister for Defence, Water and Power Khwaja Muhammad Asif addressing press conference

 

“The body was handed over to the hospital and we do not have any further details to offer,” another navy spokesperson said. He avoided commenting on the links of the militants. “It’s too early to say that”. The proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack. A person identifying himself as TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid sent messages to journalists, saying: “We claim responsibility for the attack on navy in Karachi.”

He claimed that support from “inside navy” had helped the TTP carry out the strike. Shahid vowed to carry out more attacks against the armed forces in future. Police investigators in Karachi said a body found along the seashore on Sunday was that of Owais Jakhrani. “It’s our own investigation which suggested that Owais was one of the attackers who targeted the navy’s dockyard facility,” Karachi police chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo told Dawn.

“There was no bullet wound on his body. Though he died of drowning, he was one of the attackers. Initially, police took the body as of a drowning victim and shifted it to the Edhi morgue. Details emerged later to determine the facts and identity of the deceased,” he added. Referring to his talks with SSP Jakhrani, who was in Saudi Arabia on an official visit, Mr Thebo said Owais had been recruited as a commissioned officer in the navy and quit the force some four to five months ago to join civil service.

“He left home on Friday informing the family that he was leaving for Islamabad. The family was under an impression that he was in Islamabad, but someone called his father in Saudi Arabia that his son was killed; go and get his body from Edhi morgue,” he said. The facts shared by the city police chief, however, failed to quell the mystery shrouding the incident. Even police findings were not confirmed by the navy. 

 

In this photograph taken on July 10, 2006, Pakistani naval personnel give the final touches to the third Agosta 90 B Submarine named as 'Hamza' at The Pakistan Navy Dockyard in Karachi (File Photo)

“We were not aware any of such incident (recovery and identification of Owais Jakhrani’s body)” said a navy spokesman. “We have already shared the details with the media and we stick to those facts. We are not aware of the reason behind the police claim so we cannot confirm that.” Although the police authorities confirmed that Owais was one of the attackers, they distanced themselves from investigation into the attack, saying it was solely the navy’s job. That was perhaps the reason which restricted the law-enforcement agency to register an FIR of the attack.

If the facts shared by police and the navy are relied on, the number of attackers may rise. There was no word from the Karachi police about information which led them to believe that Owais was involved in the attack. If he was, the question about the cause of his death remains unanswered. There is also a question why his body could not be spotted by security forces fighting the attackers. Security sources see the fresh assault as a signal of global terrorism network’s revival in Pakistan.

“There are signs which suggest that the attack was carried out with the assistance of people within the force,” said a security official. “It is believed that the attack was carried out by Al Qaeda with help from within the Pakistan Navy. Al Qaeda in Pakistan is showing signs of revival. One cannot ignore recent announcement of Al Qaeda having formed an Indian branch of the militant group to spread Islamic rule and raise the flag of jihad across the subcontinent.”

Meanwhile, Owais Jakhrani was buried in Tark-i-Ali graveyard in Jacobabad. His funeral prayer was offered in the ground of a government school and attended by his relatives and a large number of people.

 

Source: dawn.com

Photo Courtesy: APP & AFP

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.

Pakistan deploys first home-made drones

Pakistan launched its first domestically produced drones on Monday, as police cracked down on demonstrators protesting US drone strikes targeting Islamic militants on Pakistani territory.

The new drones are called the Burraq and Shahpar and will be used by the Pakistani army and air force, the military said in a statement on Monday, although they did not specify if the drones will be armed or unarmed.

Shahpar (Image from gids.com.pk)

The statement from the military comes as the police prevented protesters trying to block trucks carrying NATO supplies to and from troops stationed in neighboring Afghanistan.

The protests began on Saturday when the Pakistani cricket star turned politician Imran Khan led thousands of demonstrators to block a road used to ship goods to and from Afghanistan in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan.

Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, has said it will block NATO trucks until the US ends drone strikes. His group has been a vocal critic of US drone strikes but only began direct action last Saturday. 

Activists of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) arrive to attend a protest rally in Peshawar on November 23, 2013 (AFP Photo / A Majeed)

And on Sunday members of his party stopped trucks and roughed up drivers at a toll on the outskirts of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Police were present at the scene but did not attempt to stop the protesters.

But police officer Behram Khan said as of Monday police would only permit peaceful protests by the side of the road and would not allow people to stop trucks as happened Sunday. He added that they had opened an investigation into the activist’s actions on Sunday that could lead to criminal charges.

The CIA began targeting Islamic militants in drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal North West regions in 2004. They have been a highly controversial because of their violation of Pakistani sovereignty and the number of civilian casualties. Estimates of the number of civilians killed because of US drone strikes vary widely between 290 and almost 900. 

 
But the issue is complicated because the Pakistani government is known to have sanctioned some drone attacks but not others.

Instead of carrying out the attacks themselves, Pakistan has asked the US to provide it with armed drones, saying that they would be more effective in carrying out attacks on militants. However, Washington has refused because of the sensitive nature of the technology used in drones and doubts whether Pakistan can reliably target US enemies.

For its own part Pakistan has been trying to develop its own drones but has struggled with the advanced technology required for their manufacture. Pakistani military officials speaking on condition of anonymity told AP that they have been struggling with the precision munitions required in drones and of developing a done large enough to carry accurate missiles and with a long enough range.

Drones Made in Pakistan: 'drone technology has existed in Pakistan for the last 20 years.'

Looking at the facility from outside, no one would guess what goes on within the 90,000-square-foot research facility of Integrated Dynamics (ID), a privately owned company in Karachi. There are no signboards indicating that ID is in the business of developing drone technology for military and civilian use. Surprisingly, there isn't even an army of security guards manning the complex as one would expect upon entering the gate. A lonesome gate keeper lets us in without a fuss.

A large variety of UAVs are manufactured by Integrated Dynamics at its facility in Karachi.-Photo Courtesy Integrated Dynamics

Even more startling is the ease with which R.S. Khan, IDs chief executive, states that 'drone technology has existed in Pakistan for the last 20 years.'

Khan, who graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a masters degree in aeronautics and astronautics, is quick to clarify that his company has 'never been asked to develop a drone which has an armed implication.' Instead, ID develops advanced Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle (UAV) systems capable of reconnaissance missions as well as target decoys for anti-aircraft missiles. His customers, he says, include the armed forces of the country as well as foreign buyers from the US, Australia, Spain, Italy and France.

Although he may not have been asked to develop an armed drone, Khan, who previously worked as a consultant for Pakistan's aerospace agency Suparco, points out 'If we consider the fact that drone development has been taking place in Pakistan for the last 20 years, I think the technology for flying long-range autonomous missions has existed for at least 10-12 years.'

Given Khans estimations about local drone development, it is unclear why Pakistan is asking the US to handover its armed drone technology, especially that of the infamous Predator. President Asif Ali Zardari recently told the British daily Independent that the US should give Pakistan the 'weapons, drones and missiles that will allow us to take care of' the militant threat in the tribal areas.

'If you ask anyone in Pakistan involved in the business of making unmanned UAVs whether something similar to the Predator drone aircraft can be made, the answer would be yes, explains Khan. I won't say we can make it overnight or by tomorrow. But I won't say either that it is a matter of decades. I would say that, if given the task, we can make such aircrafts in a few years. As a technologist, Khan is hesitant to speculate as to why the Pakistan government or armed forces are not investing in home-made technology. I think you need to ask the policy makers that.

Drone terminology

Model aircraft Typically a remote-controlled unmanned plane that flies within the visual range of an operator.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle A remote-controlled unmanned plane that can fly beyond the visual range of an operator. It is usually fitted with remote sensors and/or cameras.

Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle An advanced form of unmanned aerial vehicles, it may have a range of hundreds of kilometres and an endurance of months. Moreover, the mission can be pre-programmed in such systems and can be completed with or without the assistance of an operator. Some advanced versions also use artificial intelligence.

Drone In Pakistan, drones are usually associated with advanced unmanned autonomous vehicles that are fitted with lethal firepower (for example, the American Predator and Reaper drones). Target drones do not have combat capability and are used as decoys to simulate fighter aircrafts and test anti-aircraft batteries.

UAVs in Pakistan

Interestingly, there are several public sector companies involved in developing UAVs in Pakistan, including the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Air Weapons Complex (AWC) and National Development Complex (NDC).

The PACs Uqaab drone is in use by the Pakistan Army, and, according to unconfirmed reports, is being upgraded with Chinese help to carry a weapons payload. Other PAC UAVs include the Bazz and Ababeel. AWCs Bravo+ UAV is in use of the Pakistan Airforce (PAF). The PAF recently acquired an unarmed Italian drone called the Falco UAV, which is reportedly being used for surveillance and battleground assessments in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. In 2008, the Pakistan Navy also reportedly completed trials of UAVs - the Austrian Schiebel Camcopter S-100 and Swedish Cybaero - from a Pakistani frigate in the Arabian Sea.

Private sector companies are also involved in the design and development of UAVs. Apart from ID in Karachi, East-West Infinity (EWI), Satuma and Global Industrial Defense Solutions (GIDS) are in the drone-making business.

The EWIs Heliquad UAV is considered a stealth design because of its small size and Whisper Watch signals intelligence package, which is capable of picking up radio and other communication signals. IDs Nishan Mk1 and TJ1000, Vision MK1 & MK2, Tornado, Border Eagle, Hornet, Hawk and Vector are also popular models employed by the armed forces for reconnaissance missions and target practice (each model varies in range and endurance). Satumas UAVs, with similar functionalities, are called Flamingo, Jasoos and Mukhbar. For its part, the GIDS develops the Huma-1 UAV and its own version of the Uqaab.

Even though almost all UAVs in the country have been built for military applications - reconnaissance, simulations, decoy systems, remote sensing - none of them are reported to be capable of firing arms. Moreover, none of the above-mentioned facilities are involved in large-scale, mass production of UAVs.

Policy on drones

It is still not clear what Pakistan's policy regarding unmanned drones is. On the one hand, Pakistan has 'condemn[ed] in the strongest terms' any US drone attack. On the other hand, reports have emerged that the US has the tacit approval of the current government.

Previously, former president Pervez Musharraf had reportedly authorized Washington to launch Predator drones from secret bases near Islamabad and Jacobabad. Google Earth images of an airbase in Balochistan hosting Predators had also emerged at a time when Pakistan was adamantly claiming that all drones were flying in from Afghanistan. More recently, the Pakistan Army 'practiced' shooting down drones, but even then, foreign aircrafts continued to rain in their missiles.


IDs Khan explains that shooting down drones to prevent attacks is a viable option. 'From a technical standpoint, all it takes is a simple air-to-air or surface-to-air missile to bring the drone down. Almost all of these aircrafts have a very low radar signature. But they're not undetectable. They can be detected, he says. The question really is whether one wants to bring one down or not.

Drones vs. casualties

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'The question really is whether one wants to bring one down or not.'

According to news reports, US drone attacks have killed around 701 people in Pakistan since 2006, including 14 alleged Al Qaeda leaders. Although armed UAVs or drones provide safety to their operators since they cannot be harmed if the aircraft are shot down during combat operations, they come at the cost of scores of civilian casualties, who bear the brunt of aerial raids. Therefore, it is debatable whether the armed drones, even if built and controlled by Pakistan, would actually make a difference in terms of changing the sentiment of the people against their devastating impact.

The way forward

Apart from their use in a military context, there is a need to deploy UAVs for the benefit of Pakistani communities. UAVs abroad are being used for a variety of civilian services, including search and rescue operations, environmental analysis, assisting local law enforcers, scientific research and even transport. Situational awareness about a potentially hazardous or calamity-hit areas, for example, in the aftermath of an earthquake, could also be gained through the use of such systems.

The responsibility of implementing this vision rests not only with the companies that develop UAVs, but also with government bodies that should utilise drones to improve their image and efficiency. After all, drones are not exclusively killing machines.