Has Brazil Sold Arms to Pakistan?

Brazil sold arms to Pakistan overlooking Indian concerns? A section of Brazilian media has carried reports about a Pakistan Air Force transport aircraft being loaded with missiles and bombs last month at Sao Jose dos Campos airport near Sao Paulo.

If these reports are true, the move will be received by surprise as just last year, Brazil had cancelled a contract to sell anti-radiation missiles - meant to destroy radars - to Pakistan. It was widely believed that the deal was cancelled keeping in mind the Indian concerns.

There is no official confirmation so far on the nature of cargo loaded on the C-130 transport aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force. One report claimed that it was short range air to air missile 1-A Piranha, whose improved version MAA-1B is still under development. Other claim has been that the cargo was unguided bombs based on the US MK Series.

The reports also claimed that the sale was kept a secret due to a confidentially clause in the contract.

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Has Pakistan Signs Deal with China to Co-produce Six Subs With The Technology that India Wants?

Even as India has announced its intent to have new generation diesel-electric submarines, Pakistan has gone ahead and signed a deal with long-standing ally China to produce submarines with the same technology that India wants.
The Pakistan Navy and China’s Ship Building Corporation signed a deal that got the seal of finality during the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Pakistan last December. Indian security agencies in know of the matter have cautioned the government that this could tilt the balance in favour of the Pakistan Navy in the Arabian Sea.

India is looking to spend Rs 50,000 crore to acquire six new diesel-electric submarines that will be equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology to boost operational capabilities. Conventional diesel-electric submarines have to surface every couple of days for oxygen to recharge their batteries. A submarine using AIP technology can stay submerged for 12-15 days at a stretch, thus increasing its capacity to hunt down enemy warships without being detected. Nuclear powered submarines can stay underwater for even longer periods.

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JF-17 Thunder Fighter Jets from No. 26 Squadron 'Black Spiders' in Zhuhai Air Show 2010

Pakistan air force has sent three JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from the No. 26 Squadron 'Black Spiders' to participate in Zhuhai Air Show 2010. JF-17 Thunder is jointly developed by the Pakistan aeronautical complex and Chengdu Aircraft from China to replace the jets to replace very old aircrafts like Nanchang A-5, Chengdu F-7P / PG and Dassault Mirage III / V fighter aircraft in Pakistan air force.

Pakistan air force is looking to purchase around 250 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to replace its old inventory. JF-17 is jointly developed and produced by Pakistan and China. Both countries are offering JF-17 Thunder to the countries which are looking to replace their old fighter jets with inexpensive modern fighter jets.

Pakistani air force plans to install the refueling probes next year on the JF-17 Thunder to allow them to refuel for the IL-78MP MRTT aircrafts. For this purpose PAF is looking at both fixed and retractable in-flight refueling probes options.

At Zhuhai Air Show 2010, Pakistan Air Force has announced that it is no longer looking to acquire the western avionics and weapon systems for the second batch of the JF-17 Thunder fighter jets. Both Pakistan and china are in talks with atleast eight countries that have shown interest in purchase of these low cost, medium to advance fighter jets.

Initially, People’s Liberation Army Air Force has not committed to purchase JF-17 Thunder fighter jets as Pakistan air force needs to replace its very of fleet of fighter jets soon but officials from both Pakistan aeronautical complex and Chengdu Aircraft from China are saying that they are positive that People’s Liberation Army Air Force will order atleast 150 JF-17 Thunders at the later stages of the project.

Chinese SD-10A beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missiles were displayed together with PAF’s JF-17 Thunders at the Farnborough International Air Show 2010. At the shame show model of JF-17 Thunder were shown carrying six air-to-air missiles under its wings four of which were SD-10A BVRAAMs.

JF-17 Thunder will be able to carry four SD-10A BVRAAM and two WVRAAMs (Options include Chinese PL-9 and South African fifth generation close-combat missile A-darter )to defend the friendly skies from any intruders and different kind of standoff precision guided weapons for ground attack and antiship missiles for maritime attack. JF-17 Thunders are also being integrated with the C-802A Anti-Ship missile which has a range of 180 km for maritime strike role.

For ground attack role JF-17 Thunder can carry LS-6 Precision Guided Glide Bomb. It consists of a conventional 1000lb bomb and GPS/INS-based guidance and targeting system and pair of foldable wings for the extended range.

This will allow the JF-17 Thunders to release the LS-6 from a standoff distance which will allow it to stay away from the surface-to-air missiles and still hit targets. LS-6 has a range of 60 km if it is dropped from an altitude of 10,000m and it can hit its intended targets with accuracy of less than 15m. LS-6 is very much similar in performance to the U.S. Joint Direct Attack Munitions.

The LeiTing-2 or LT-2 is Chinese developed laser guided bomb. It uses semi-active laser guidance system.JF-17 will also use H-4 precision guided weapon which is developed by the NESCOM. This weapon has a range of 120km and can strike the enemy targets with an accuracy of 3 meters. This weapon was used in High Mark Exercise 2010 from Mirage-III Rose-I fighter jet.

Different other light weight precision guided weapons ranging from 50kg to 150kg are under development in china to take advantage of high accuracy of these new Chinese PGMs and reduce collateral damage.In 2008 Pakistan has signed a deal 108 million dollars to purchase 100 Brazilian MAR-1 Anti-Radiation air-to-surface missiles. This missile will be used against the enemy radars. Pakistan Air Force plans to integrate MAR-1 with the JF-17 Thunder aircrafts.

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JF-17 Thunder fighter jet production begins in Pakistan - January 22, 2008

Chief of Air Staff Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed on Tuesday said the PAF would induct 8 JF-17 Thunder aircraft by end of this year. The fighter aircraft is being indigenously assembled with the co-operation of China.

Addressing the launching ceremony for manufacturing of JF-17 Thunder sub-assemblies, marking formal assembling of the fighter aircraft, at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed said around 60 percent of the frame of the aircraft while up to 80 percent of the avionics to be fitted in the aircraft would be manufactured in the country by 2010.

He said the PAC has all plans to make JF-17 Thunder the world's first weapon system that will be able to carry all types of conventional weapons targeting from air to air, air to ground, air to sea, and to pound from the air. He said this state-of-the-art, multipurpose, light combat aircraft, would be a complete combination of fighter and a weapon system which would also have optional capability of carrying non-conventional weapons.

He said the PAF would induct 150 aircraft in its inventory in the Phase-I in accordance with the already signed agreement with the Chines company, co-operating Pakistan in assembling and manufacturing of the aircraft. "Still we will require some 100 aircraft, as the PAC envisages to take the yearly assembling and manufacturing capability of the aircraft from at present 8 aircraft to 15 then up to 25 by 2011," he said.

Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed said: "All JF-17 Thunders will have to be produced in Pakistan as the PAC has achieved the capability of assembling, paint the frame and aircraft, besides conducting flight tests." He said on March 23, (Pakistan Day) the indigenously assembled aircraft would take part in the fly past, a routine feature of Pakistan Day parade of PAF.

He said around 40 to 50 aircraft would have avionics of Chinese origin, while in the next batch these would have indigenously developed avionics. Air Chief Marshal Tanvir said that in the next decade the aircraft would be available for re-export through China and the share in the financial receipts would be paid to Pakistan.

After formal inauguration of the sub-assemblies of the aircraft the Air Chief told media persons that the PAC in the next two years would achieve the capability of making the fighter a 'warfare suite' that would be matching to the needs of most of the countries in the sector. He said the alphabets "J & F" included as title of the aircraft denoting "Joint Fighter" and "we will prove that this Joint Fighter is the best available in the market."

Air Chief Marshal Tanvir thanked the friendly country, China, for extending all co-operation enabling Pakistan to achieve the cherished goal towards manufacturing of a fighter aircraft. He said JF-17 Thunder is a living example of Pak-China friendship and this will help further deepen the bonds existed between both the brotherly and friendly countries.

Terming it a landmark achievement, he said, it is not only a source of pride for Pakistan but also a measure of rare distinction for the country to have joined a selected group of nations having indigenous fighter aircraft production capability.

The project launched in 2000 has already made major strides, including first flight of prototype in August 2003, then in April 2004 and on May 10, 2006 with fully integrated configurations.

Later, in September 20006, the prototype-6 of the aircraft made its maiden flight paving the way for smooth flight testing process ever since. In order to speed up the development progress and facilitate maturity of the aircraft, two J-17 of the small batch production were received in Pakistan on March 21 last. Subsequently, these aircraft made their debut by participating in Pakistan Day Parade on March 23.

Earlier, in his address of welcome, PAC Chairman Air Marshal Khalid Chaudary said PAC has all the capability of achieving the goals with the help and assistance of Chinese engineers and technicians. He said the factory has created employment opportunities for around 5,000 skilful workers and around 80 percent of them are already on job.

The ceremony was attended by Defence Production Division Secretary Lieutenant General Shahid Sidique Timizi (retd), Vice President of Chinese Aircraft Manufacturing Company, Defence Attache of China in Islamabad and a large number senior military officers.

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PAF and JF-17 thunder PHOTOS

Here is some Pakistan air fore Photos of China air show enjoy-www.pakarmydefence.blogspot.com

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