Pak Marines Test Short Range Air Defense Missiles

Pak Marines have tested the man portable air defence system to enhance their capabilities against the enemy air attacks. Three such missiles were tested in the Sonmiani test range. Missile uses a very sensitive passive infrared guidance to home on to its targets and due to its light weight it can be carried and launched by the Marines. Missile has a range of about 6 kilometers.

India and Russia to Jointly Develop 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft

India and Russia has signed an agreement for the joint development and production of the 5th generation stealth fighter jet. This contract is very much like the one for supersonic cruise missile Brahmos.

Brahmos was based on the already ready for production Russian Yakhont antiship cruise missile. Few Software and guidance chances were made to the Russian Yakhont supersonic antiship missile to meet the Indian requirements and result of those changes was Brahmos missile.

In a similar fashion, India has agreed to invest some $5.50 billion to redesign the prototype of the Russian PAK FA/T-50 which is already flying. India hopes to purchase over 250 of these the 5th generation stealth fighter jet at cost of around $ 30 billion.

India Tests Short Range Prithvi-II Ballistic Missiles

Few days after the testing of the Ghauri-I ballistic missile by the Pak Army’s Strategic missile forces, India has replied by testing of two ballistic missiles of its own. India has tested two of its short range Prithvi-II ballistic missiles with success. Missiles were test fired with an interval of one hour between them.

The Prithvi is a short range single stage ballistic missile which uses the liquid fuel. Prithvi’s rocket engine is based on the Russian SA-2 Guideline air defense missiles. Missile is capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

1st Prithvi ballistic missile hit its target 280 kilometers away in seven minutes and 2nd missile hit its target some 296 kilometers away in the sea in seven minutes and eight seconds. Indian media has claimed that CEP of the missile is around 20 meters.

Mushshak Training Aircraft of PAA Crashes in Baluchistan

Inter Services Public Relations has confirmed the news that an aircraft of the Pakistan Army has crashed in Baluchistan. Both pilots of the aircraft embraced shahadat in this tragic accident.

Dead bodies of the Captain Zahoor and his Co-Pilot Masood have been transported back to Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province.

Aircraft in question was the Mushshak aircraft of the Pakistan Army Aviation which were manufactured by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex under license from Sweden.

Pakistan has exported this light weight prop-powered trainer aircraft to the Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and other countries. Pakistan Air Force also uses the Mushshak aircraft for the primary flying training.

Pakistani Strategic Missile Forces Test Fires Ghauri-I Ballistic Missile

Pakistan Army’s Strategic Force have tested the liquid fuel Ghauri-I ballistic missile. This missile is designed to deliver the conventional and nuclear warheads at a distance of 1300 kilometers.

Missile was test fired by the Strategic Missile Group which is assigned with duty to be ready to retaliate against the enemy with conventional and non conventional warheads if go ahead is given by the National Command Authority (NCA) of Pakistan. NCA is headed by the Pakistani Prime Minister and control all the matters related to the nuclear weapons program of Pakistan. This missile group is part of the Pakistan Army’s Strategic Force which forms the land based nuclear deterrence against the Indian nuclear forces.

Prime Minister Gilani along with the other guests was present at the launch site to observe the operational capabilities of the Strategic Forces of Pakistan.

India to Announce MMRCA Winner by End of 2011

Indian air force is likely to sign the contract with the winner of the MMRCA project by the end of next year. MMRCA is a competition launched by the Indian air force to purchase atleast 126 fighter jets with an option for another 64 - 74.

Indian air force is looking to replace the aging fleet of Mig fighter jets which are crashing at an alarming rate. More than 330 Mig-21 fighter jets have been lost from the total of 793 since 1963. Indian air force lost about 23 aircrafts each year from 1972 to 2004.

Indian air force planed to replace these old age fighter jets with locally developed LCA fighter jets in 1990s but due to the continued delays in the program IAF has decided to induct a fighter jet which will be purchased from aboard.

United States of America is offering F-16 E/F IN Block 70 which if accepted by the Indian air force will be the most advance version of the F-16. F-16 E/F Block 70 is a customized version of the F-16E/F Block 60 for the Indian air force. Indian F-16 E/F Block 70 will carry the AN/APG-80 AESA radar which offers much improved range over the AN/APG-68(V) 9 radar used in PAF’s F-16 C/D block 52+ aircrafts.

Pakistan Navy to Purchase Two Missile Boats from China

Images of Fast Attack Craft (FAC) Launched in Karachi

Pakistan Navy has ordered two missile boats from China. First of these missile boats will be manufactured in China and second one will be produced in Pakistan.

These missile boats will carry Chinese guns which will be guided by the radar to ensure the high precision against the targets. No details are available at the moment about the weapon systems to be carried by these boats.

It is likely to be equipped with Chinese close-in weapon system (CIWS) Type 730B for self-defense from air threats like aircraft and anti-ship missiles. Type 730B is already in service with the Pakistan Navy on its Sword Class F-22P Frigates.

JF-17 Thunder Provides Fighter Escort to the Chinese Premier Aircraft

Two JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and two Mirage fighter jets accompanied the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s aircraft. JF-17 thunder belonging to the Pakistan air force accompanied the Air China’s Boeing 747 on which Chinese Premier Wen Jiabaois travelling from the moment it enters into the Pakistani airspace.

Indian Air Force Receives its First C-130J “Super Hercules” Transport Aircraft

Lockheed Martin has delivered the first C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft to the Indian air force. India had signed a contract for 6 C-130J Super Hercules aircrafts with an option for another 6 to be decided later on.

IAF’s C-130J Super Hercules will be displayed in the Aero India air show next year. India is likely to use the option for six additional C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft. IAF’s second Super Hercules will be delivered in February next year while remaining aircrafts will arrive in India later part of next year.

DSCA sent the notice for the FMS of six C-130J transporters at cost of $1,059 million to the IAF in may 2007. Indian air force will use these aircrafts for the airdrops the equipment and troops while flying at very low altitude in all weather conditions.

Indian Air Force's Mi-26 Helicopter Crashes in Jammu

A Mi-26 heavy transport helicopter belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) has crashed in the Jammu Kashmir a couple of days ago. All the eight personal on this helicopter were able to survive the crash. This is the first crash of the Mi-26 heavy transport helicopter in Indian air force.

Indian Air Force had ordered six Mi-26 heavy transport helicopter of which four were delivered by 1989 and order for the remaining two was canceled later on. Mi-26 Heavy Lift Helicopters can carry a maximum payload of 20,000 kg which is equal to that of C-130 transport aircraft.

Pakistani Engineers Developed a Gyrocopter

Privately funded Pakistani engineers have developed an ultra light weight helicopter/ gyrocopter which have a seating capacity for two persons. This gyrocopter was first flown by them in front of the Pakistani media on Wednesday.

Mujibur Rehman, Rehan Janjua and Shakir Ayub were the engineers involved in this privately funded project. Manufactures have claimed their ultra light helicopter/ gyrocopter will be able to fly as high as 17,000 feet and will be capable a top speed of 190 km/h.

From the looks of this machine, it is clear that it is a gyrocopter as it looks to be using an unpowered rotor in auto-rotation to create lift to stay in air and uses a propeller at the back connected with an engine to push the gyrocopter forward.

PAF Interested in Old Norwegian F-16AM/BM Fighter Jets

Pakistani defense minister has said that PAF is interested in purchasing the F-16 fighter jets from the Royal Norwegian Air Force which is looking to replace them with the low observable stealthy F-35 fighter jets.

Royal Norwegian Air Force had purchased a total of 74 F-16A/B combat aircraft and 56 of them has gone through extensive upgrade called Mid Life Update. This upgrade is was on the same lines as it now planned for the Pakistani F-16 A/Bs.

This upgrade allows the arcaft to use AIM-120 AMRAAM beyond-visual-range missile. Upgraded aircrafts can use all the weapons associated with the new F-16 C/D block 52+ aircrafts.

Pakistan Air Force Receives Final batch of F-16 C/D Block 52+ Fighter Jets

Pakistan Air Force has received the final batch of the F-16 fighter jets from the United States. These new F-16 C/D Block 52+ fighter jets were part of the 18 aircrafts ordered by the Pakistan Air Force.

These new F-16 C/D Block 52+ fighter jets are stationed at the Pakistan Air Force’s Shahbaz airbase.

New fighter jets are capable of carrying advance precision guided weapons and medium range air to air missiles to destroy their targets from the standoff distance.

Combination of advance weapons and sensor will allow PAF a decisive advantage over the militants with collateral damage in war against terrorists in FATA.

Indian Agni-II Plus Ballistic Missile Fails in Its 1st Test

It has been confirmed by the DRDO that the test of the new nuclear capable missile has resulted in failure. Missile called Agni-II Plus ballistic missile was an upgraded version Agni-II to fill the gap between the 2000 km range Agni-II and 3500 km range Agni-III.

Just after few seconds into its flight missile Agni-II Plus/Prime ballistic missile fell from the sky and crashed in the ocean. Missile was launched from the famous Indian missile testing facility in the Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa, India.

Agni-II Plus ballistic missile is a two stage missile which uses the solid fuel. DRDO has confirmed the failure and said that it will need couple of days to establish the basic reasons of Agni-II Plus malfunction in the test.

India has already successfully conducted the test firing of the Agni 1 ballistic missile which can carry nuclear warheads. Agni-I ballistic missile has a range of 750 km and it can carry a nuclear warhead of 1000 kg.

Pakistan and Kingdom of Swaziland to Cooperate in Field of Defense

Pakistani government has approved the suggestion that it can give technical training to the defense forces of the Kingdom of Swaziland.

In a meeting between the Pakistani secretary of defense production and the defense delegation of Swaziland has talked about particulars of the training were. They were also provided with the detailed briefing covering the present and planned capabilities of the defense industry of Pakistan.

Visiting delegation’s head, Dr.John M.Kunene has said that Kingdom of Swaziland is very eager to build defense ties with Pakistan to take advantage of its capabilities in field of defense.The Kingdom of Swaziland is a small African country with population of about two million.

Pakistani Peace Keeper Return from Congo

Two hundred and eight five Pakistani troops stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo have returned to the mother land after completing their mission. These troops were stationed in Congo to support relief mission of the United Nations. Pakistani peace keeps served the UN mission in Congo for four years. Cong is small African country with a population of six million people. In total Pakistan Army has contributed 3,597 troops and Military Observers to the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).

Turkish PM Erdogan Offers PM Gilani Defence Co-operation

In a meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Tayyip Erdogan the Turkish Prime Minister have said that turkey is working on the UAV projects along with a gunship helicopter for Turkish armed forces. He also said that his country is also producing warships and APCs.

He added that Pakistan and Turkey can cooperate in these projects. This meeting was held in in Ankara. Pakistan and turkey have singed 17 MoUs for cooperation including defense.

Turkish attack helicopter is called T-129 and it is based on the A129 Mangusta . It is designed as gunship helicopter capable of all-weather day and night missions in cooperation with the Agusta Westland, Aselsan and TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) under a contract worth $3 billion.

In first stage Turkish armed forces have placed an order for 60 T129s delivery of which will start in 2013.

Pakistan Air Force's F-16 C/D Block 52+ Fighter Jets at "Shahbaz" Airbase

Picture of F-16 C/D Block 52+ combat aircrafts delivered to the Pakistan Air Force last month.

So far a total of twelve F-16 C/D Block 52+ combat aircrafts had been delivered by the USA and last six F-16 will be delivered later this month.

With their advance long range radar and air defense missiles, these F-16s will serve PAF as front line combat aircrafts. These aircrafts are equally capable of long-range strikes day and night in all weather with their highly accurate weapons.

News about the arrival of these combat aircrafts was published in Pakistan Military Review last month.

United States's Special Ops Units Deployed in FATA

Wikileas revealed the secret deployment of the US Special Ops Units in Pakistan which was previously unknown and denied by both Pakistan and US. These United States’s Special Ops Units are integrated into the Pakistani forces operating in the FATA.

Even though the magnitude of the forces is not big but this is considered as a very noteworthy move from Pakistani side because all such requests in the past were declined. Total of sixteen US Special Force’s operators are in the FATA region.

First such unit consisted of only four Special Forces operators which were deployed in order to help Frontier Corps launch artillery attacks on the terrorist hideouts.

Two additional Special Ops Units were positioned in the area later on. Each of these units had six operators whose job is to provide information to Pakistan Army gathered through the US satellites and Unmanned Arial Vehicles.

Prime Minister Gilani Had No Problem in Lying to the Public and Media

While there are thousands of documents containing millions of secrets, none could be as earth shattering for the Pakistanis as the one released about the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

We see the daily protests against the US drone attack on the Pakistani soil and we see that government officials coming out of their offices and saying that they won’t be allow it to happen such attacks any more, they will take up the matter with the US officials, they can’t do anything because Pakistan don’t have any capability to stop these attacks and there is no agreement permitting such attacks.

Two years ago on November 2010 he said in National Assembly “Such attacks are intolerable, and we protest against it”. He also said rejected the claims by the Pakistani media that there exists an agreement between Pakistan and US about these drone attacks.

Pakistan’s View on the FMCT Talks

US documents show that Pakistan had four concerns few of which has already been explained in yesterday’s article at the Pakistan Military Review, Pakistan feels that Indo-US nuclear cooperation allows India to use imported uranium for its electricity generating reactors while they can use the domestic production for the enhancement of the nuclear fissile material.

Second point raised by the Pakistanis is that because of the cooperation by the US, Russia and EU, India will be able to import dual propose technologies and use it for the advancement of India's nuclear systems.

Thirdly India is purchasing weapons worth tens of billions dollars each year from the US, Russia and EU. This is leading towards a strategic conventional imbalance in the region.

Maria Sultan, Director General of the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute has said that Pakistan is now looking for the tactical nuclear warheads. These small, low yield nuclear warheads will be deployed against enemy to counter it’s the large force. She says that this requirement will significantly increase the required fissile material.

Pakistani officials also raised concerns about the Indian investments in the missile defense systems. Pakistan feels that while India is atleast years from fielding a capable BMDS, but with active help from abroad Indian is looking to degrade the nuclear weapons capability in long run.

US is Pressuring Pakistan Not to Block FMCT Negotiations: Wiki-Leaks

“Wiki-Leaks” has issued new documents this Sunday which contained secret US cables from its embassies around the world. These documents contain different secret US communications, views on different matters around the world. As reported earlier by the Pakistan Military Review, US have not only tried to control the enriched uranium in Pakistan but also are applying pressure on Pakistan to start Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) negotiations.

While US is asking Pakistan not to block FMCT negotiations despite of its reservations that such treaty will only provide India with a advantage in the nuclear arsenal. US diplomat was saying in one of the cable that while US wants to use China’s influence along with the other pressures to force Pakistan to change its position.

President Barack Obama is looking to start these talks to stop and ultimately reduce the production the fissile material as early as in January next year.

On the other hand Pakistan have so far rejected all the pressure from the US and its allies as Pakistan feels that signing of the FMCT will seriously dent the security of Pakistan. Pakistani officials have already pointed out the fact that treaty will only affect the Pakistan as other nuclear weapons states have very large surplus nuclear fuel which can be used at to manufacture thousand of nuclear weapons.

They say that the major purpose of starting these talks at this point in time is to stop Pakistan from producing the highly enriched uranium and plutonium to manufacture additional nuclear weapons which can counter the Indian nuclear arsenal arising from the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Pakistan Shows Interest in Purchase of Russian Mi-35 Gunship Helicopter

In a meeting Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has asked Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to provide Pakistan with the attack/transport Mi-35 helicopter. This meeting was held on the when Gilani was in Dushanbe to attend the (SCO meeting last month.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister has shown interest in the purchase of the Russian gunship cum transport helicopter of which more than 2,500 have been produced. He stressed to buildup the cooperation in field of defense to increase the capability of Pakistan Army to fight terrorism.

Mi-35 is one of the kind design as it can be equipped with the anti-tank missiles while still retaining capability to transport the soldiers to the battle field. Mi-35 gunship helicopter need a crew of two to operate it and it can also carry another eight armed troops in hostile area.

Indian LCA Tejas Fighter Jet Test Fires Russian R-73 Short Range Air to Air Missile

India has conducted the test firing of the short range Russian R-73 WVRAAM missile from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. Tejas LSP-4 was used in this test.

Under the idea that Indian air force should induct the indigenously developed combat aircraft even if it did fails to fulfill the requirements of the service, Indian air force has so far placed an order for 20 LCA Tejas MK-I fighter aircrafts and has an option to purchase another 20 LCA. First of these LCA MK-I is planned to be delivered to the Indian Air Force early next year.

Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Tejas) has so far failed to meet the revised requirements set by the Indian Air Force. LCA MK-I is not likely to meet these requirement over and above the requirements of high thrust engine for the LCA MK-II. Indian airforce has selected the F414-INS6 MK-II version of LCA Tejas.