Pakistani Arms Industry

Pakistani Arms Industry the Ministry of Defence Production was created in September 1991 to promote and coordinate the patchwork of military production facilities that have developed since independence. The ministry also includes seven other specialized organizations devoted to research and development, production, and administration. [ [http://pakistantimes.net/2004/12/10/top1.htm "Pakistan moves swiftly to self-reliance in defence needs"] ] [ [http://www.pakistanlink.com/headlines/oct03/20/02.html "Saudi Crown Prince witnesses exhibition of Pak Defense Production -- Shows interest in many, raises queries"] ] The navy is supported mainly by a facility at the Karachi Shipyard, which has limited production capacity. In 1987 development of a submarine repair and rebuild facility at Port Qasim was begun. By early 2000, in a joint project with China led to the development of the JF-17 Thunder fighter and the Al-Khalid Tank. Pakistan also has taken major steps to becoming self sufficient in aircraft overhaul and modernization and tank and helicopter sales and in a transfer of technology with France led to the construction of the Agosta B-90 Submarine in the late 1990s and early 2000s and is currently actively participating in many joint production projects such as Al Khalid 2, advance trainer aircraft, combat aircraft, navy ships and submarines.

After the success of its major developments in the defence industry the Defence Export Promotion Organisation ( [http://www.depo.org.pk D.E.P.O.] ) was created to promote Pakistani defence equipment to the world by inviting major and small players to the [http://www.ideaspakistan.com I.D.E.A.S.] Exhibition, which is held annually at the Karachi expo center. In recent reports, the defence exports were worth over $500 million USD in 2006 and growing annually.

Facilities

* Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
* Pakistan Ordnance Factories
* Heavy Industries Taxila
* Karachi Shipyard

Weapons and Equipment

mall Arms

* Heckler & Koch MP5 9 mm carbines and the Carbine 1A 9 mm sub-machine guns
* Machine Gun MG-3
* SMG PK, Type 1 & 2 9 essentially an MP5K variant
* Automatic Rifle G-3, Types A3 & P4
* Anti Aircraft Machine Gun 12.7 mm, Type 54

Main Battle Tanks

* MBT 2000 Al-Khalid: - new generation tank being inducted into the Pakistan Army.
* Al-Zarar: - A substantial upgrade of the T-59 tank, bringing them more on par with the T-72.
* Al Khalid II Main Battle Tank: - Reportedly under development, it will replace Al Zarrar and T-59 tanks from 2012.

Armored Personnel Carriers(APC)

Pakistani APCs are upgraded and redesigned versions of M113 and are currently being manufactured at Heavy Industries Taxila(HIT).
*Al-Talha - Five roadwheel armored personnel carrier. Pakistan currently operates 400 of these machines and expects to operate 2000 Al-Talha's by 2010
*Al-Hadeed - Armored Repair and Recovery version of Al-Talha.
*Al-Hamza - Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle version of Al-Talha.
*Al-Maaz - Variant fitted with the Baktar Shikan anti-tank missile.
*Al-Qaswa - Armored Logistics Vehicle version of Al-Talha.
*Al-Saad - Armored six roadwheel personnel carrier version of Al-Talha.
*Al-Sakb - Armored logistics support and command post carrier version of Al-Talha. It is fitted with an Integrated Battlefield Management System. [ [http://www.jedsite.info/fulltrack-tango/tango/talha_series/talha-series.html "TALHA SERIES OF TRACKED ARMOURED VEHICLES"] ]

Multiple Rocket System

* T-83 Azar 122 mm

Anti Tank Guided Weapons

* Baktar-Shikan Anti-tank Guided Missile (ATGM)

Army Air Defence

* Anza MK I Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)
* Anza MK II Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)
* Anza MK III Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM)
* SD 10 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) / (BVRAAM)

Missiles

* Hatf-I/IA/IB BRBM
* Abdali-I SRBM
* Ghaznavi-I SRBM
* Shaheen-I MRBM
* Ghauri-I MRBM
* Ghauri-II IRBM
* Shaheen-II IRBM
* Babur Cruise Missile
* Ra'ad Cruise Missile
* Ghauri-III IRBM
* Shaheen-III IRBM
* Tippu missile ICBM

Aircraft

* K-8 Karakorum
* JF-17 Thunder
* Shahbaz
* MFI-395 Super Mushaq
* MFI-17 Mushaq

Submarines

* Agosta 90B class submarine
* Cosmos class MG110 Mini-Sub

Patrol Craft

* Jalalat II Missile Boat
* Larkana Large Patrol Craft

External Links

References