Pakistan arms sales, ops, doctrine, etc

JaiS · Post by **JaiS** » 26 Mar 2009 05:51

EMBRAER DELIVERS PHENOM 100 JET TO PAKISTAN’S AIR FORCE

DCNS Set for Frigate Talks with Greece

DCNS believes the Hellenic Navy's difficulties in getting a German-built U-214 conventional submarine into service could be helpful in efforts to sell a French boat to Pakistan.

Meimarakis said that Greece is trying to renegotiate a contract for a German-built conventional submarine because of technical problems, Reuters reported Jan. 22.

The difficulties of the Greek submarine, the Papanikolis, has probably led Pakistan to reconsider a planned buy of the 214 from Howaldstwerke Deutsche-Werft (HDW), leaving the door open to DCNS' Marlin, an all-French derivative of the Franco-Spanish Scorpene.

"We are in the game in Pakistan," Fougeron said.

The last of three Agosta 90 submarines built for Pakistan's Navy took to the sea in September, equipped with the Mesma air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, Fougeron said.

The AIP system, which allows the submarine to operate for longer periods underwater, has been used heavily and is working well, he said. Two earlier Agosta 90 submarines have been retrofitted with the air-independent propulsion system.

tejas · Post by **tejas** » 26 Mar 2009 06:52

Perhaps a Rafale order, frigate order and aircraft carrier order ( lets give the Russians a one finger salute with the Gorshov) can persuade the French to no longer sell the Pukes anymore subs.

vavinash · Post by **vavinash** » 26 Mar 2009 07:59

Keep dreaming. Frenchies will charge a lot to the already begging pakis. India just needs to kick them out of MRCA and other defence deals. Israel is a better option for us.

andy B · Post by **andy B** » 26 Mar 2009 08:16

^^^ The French are just being true businessmen mate. Nothing wrong with that they are looking after their own interests....fair enough what we need to learn is to use their (Amrikhan, French, Russia, whoever) knowledge (whatever we can get) through the MRCA and other contracts and to make sure that it goes straight into enhancing our own indigenous efforts.

I am not saying we should not try to deter them from selling stuff to crazies..hint hint...

But at the same time we should be concentrating more on exploiting our own indigenous management of the defense establishments that we have, expand govermand support to these establishments, infuse these entities with the knowledge that they dont yet have, etc....

Also the French cannot be kicked as such from the MRCA thread as the Rafale is one of the few true independent option IMHO.

The French can also not be completely replaced with the Yehudis bcoz the Yehudis dont "yet" manufacture big ticket items such as DDGs, Frigates, Fighters, Subs, etc...JMT

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 27 Mar 2009 10:59

PAF gets its first Phenom 100 Very Light jet

sum · Post by **sum** » 27 Mar 2009 11:32

Pakis denied arms by Swiss

The Swiss cabinet approved the sale of hundreds of rifles and machine guns to India to equip the police in various parts of the country...

While approving the sale of rifles and machine guns to India, the Swiss cabinet has rejected a request for export of replacement parts for anti-aircraft systems to Pakistan due to the unstable political situation.

The cabinet will reconsider its policy if and when other European countries restarted exporting arms to Pakistan, a spokesperson of the Economic Ministry was quoted as saying by the official Swissinfo news website.

Pakistan was the largest buyer of Swiss arms last year. On Wednesday, the Swiss cabinet also rejected a request for the export of weapons to Egypt and Saudi Arabia because of the unsatisfactory human rights situation in those countries, Swissinfo said.

However, it approved the sale of hundreds of rifles and machine guns to India to equip the police in various parts of the country, and the delivery of parts for air-to-air guided missiles and anti-aircraft guns to South Korea.

Which AA guns do the swiss export?

ArmenT · Post by **ArmenT** » 27 Mar 2009 11:41

sum wrote:Which AA guns do the swiss export?

Oerlikon is a major Swiss arms manufacturer and if I recall correctly, they make AA guns. If it is a swiss arms manufacturer, it is likely to be them.
[edit] Wiki shows that Pakiland is listed as an user of the Oerlikon 35 mm Twin Can on and are listed to have approx 200 of the GDF-002 model [/edit]

sum · Post by **sum** » 27 Mar 2009 11:43

Hope that this is the start of more arms embargoes against Pak (hope India is putting in lots of back room efforts)

JaiS · Post by **JaiS** » 29 Mar 2009 22:12

More details at the link.

Four Air Commodores of PAF promoted as Air Vice Marshal

ISLAMABAD, March 29 (APP): The Government of Pakistan has promoted four Air Commodores Syed Azhar Hasan, Hafeez Ullah, Muhammad Arif, Arshad Quddus, to the rank of Air Vice Marshal.

Samay · Post by **Samay** » 30 Mar 2009 03:51

sum wrote:Hope that this is the start of more arms embargoes against Pak (hope India is putting in lots of back room efforts)

nothing stops for porkis until unkil wishes

Vick · Post by **Vick** » 02 Apr 2009 05:41

From DN
March 3, 2009

Pakistan May Seek Chinese Interceptor

By USMAN ANSARI

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan, whose ballistic missile program owes much to China, may also seek help from Beijing for high-altitude and anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defenses, defense observers say.

“Pakistan is actively looking to purchase a high-altitude missile air defense system,” said defense analyst Haris Khan of the Pakistan Military Consortium. “Reports indicate that the Chinese HQ-9/FD2000 developed by the China Academy of Defence Technology is the front-runner, but I think it is the only candidate, since no other supplier will sell these types of missiles to Pakistan.” But other observers here noted obstacles, including defense budget cuts and a rough patch in relations between the two governments.

The HQ-9 reportedly blends technology from Chinese efforts, Russian S-300s and an early version of the U.S. Patriot system obtained from Israel. Chinese sources say it can hit aircraft out to 125 kilometers, air-launched cruise missiles out to 50 kilometers, and ballistic missiles out to 25 kilometers — representing at best a rudimentary ABM capability.

There has been speculation that Pakistan acquired an HQ-9 variant called the FT-2000 some years ago as a short-term countermeasure against India’s airborne early warning and control aircraft, but no such missile has been seen in the country, and some sources say the FT-2000 was never actually produced.

Despite the close Sino-Pak military-to-military relationship, the government-to-government relationship seems to be under strain. Khan said Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari had allegedly offended the Chinese by demanding kickbacks for contracts to build nuclear power plants in Pakistan.

During his recent visit to China, Zardari was not met by any member of the Chinese ruling elite and spoke to his opposite number only by telephone.

But China analyst Shahzad Akhtar of the Institute of Strategic Studies, a think tank here, dismissed this as an obstacle to a potential missile sale.

“I think the relationship is stronger than any one person,” Akhtar said. “China has always fulfilled its promise to meet Pakistan’s defense needs.” He noted that China needs Pakistan as a bulwark against Indian hegemony in southern Asia, and said the “all-weather, strategic Sino-Pak relationship had moved beyond a purely defense relationship” to a “deep economic relationship.” Akhtar also dismissed concerns about budget cuts, saying that the enduring Sino-Pak relationship makes him “optimistic that this would not affect Pakistan’s defensive capabilities in the long run.” But Shireen Mazari, a former head of the Institute of Strategic Studies, has written that the government’s Strategic Planning Division, which controls the planning and deployment of strategic weapons, had cut research and development funding in high-technology areas.

Khan agreed. “The SPD’s funds have been curtailed,” especially for newer projects, he said.

Strategic Planning Division officials have rejected these statements.

Khan also said the SPD and the National Engineering and Scientific Commission, which handles the design and production of ballistic missiles and other defense programs, had been instructed to slow work on certain projects.

“In the short to medium term, there might not be any effects, but in the long term, these reductions will cause fault lines which Pakistan cannot afford,” Khan said.

How these political and financial developments will affect a potential HQ-9 deal is unclear.

“The Pakistan government has an eye on these Indian ambitions, and would definitely have to counter the threat,” Akhtar said.

Kartik · Post by **Kartik** » 02 Apr 2009 05:53

Sources: Pentagon seeks $3B for Pakistan military
By LOLITA C. BALDOR – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration plans to seek as much as $3 billion over the next five years to train and equip Pakistan's military, and is considering sending 10,000 more troops to battle the Taliban in Afghanistan, defense officials said Wednesday.

The money would include $500 million in an additional war budget request for the coming year that will go to Congress this month, The Associated Press has learned.

In outlining the spending program publicly for the first time, defense officials told the Senate Armed Services Committee it is critical to train and equip the Pakistanis so they have the skills and will to fight.

The $3 billion for Pakistan would complement a plan for $7.5 billion in civilian aid. That civilian request would come in legislation sponsored by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Democrat John Kerry of Massachusetts, and the committee's top Republican, Richard Lugar of Indiana.

link

Nikhil T · Post by **Nikhil T** » 05 Apr 2009 03:54

HR1186 Legislation for Pakistan Aid Assistance bill
Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2009 (PEACE Act)

In the garb of education/stability assistance, US is committing to spend "not less than 75% of each fiscal year's amount ($1.5bn)" to defence related expenditures including the FMS (Foreign Military Sales programme) and included in 2009's assistance is F-16 fighter equipment (some 142 million $).

1st:

USEOFFUNDS.—Not less than 75 percent of the amount authorized to be made available under this subsection for a fiscal year is authorized to be used for the purchase of defense articles, defense services, and military education and training for activities relating to counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations in Pakistan. Such articles, services, and military education and training

2nd:

Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title for a fiscal year, not less than $500,000,000 is authorized to be made available for grant assistance under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763; relating to the Foreign Military Financing program) for the purchase of defense articles, defense services, and military education and training for Pakistan.26

Interestingly, dismantling camps in Mudrike (LeT) finds a reference along with Quetta (Al-Q) in the President's certificate that's due every year.

JaiS · Post by **JaiS** » 12 Apr 2009 21:19

Pak navy to join int’l fleet review

Chinese shipbuilders call on Zardari
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 009_pg7_24

Chinese air force delegation visits Air Headquarters

Image:Pakistan Air Force first Embraer Phenom 100 registered PT-ZYE (V-4101) in Athens

sourced from Athens (Greece) Airport Aviation News

Some info about the a/c from that site (take it FWIW):

The stops it made (since it can be tracked) are the following:
4/4/2009 GEO (Cheddi Jagan, Guyana) - SXM (Saint Martin, Netherlands Antilles)
5/4/2009 SXM - PLS (Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands) - FLL (Fort Lauderdale, USA)
6/4/2009 FLL - ORF (Norfolk, USA) - BGR (Bangor, USA) - YYR (Goose Bay, Canada)
7/4/2009 YYR - UAK (Narsarsuaq, Greenland)
9/4/2009 UAK - RKV (Reykjavík, Iceland) - WIC (Wick, Scotland)
10/4/2009 WIC - GVA (Geneva, Switzerland)
11/4/2009 GVA - ATH - SSH (Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt)

and

"it has the Brazilian registration PT-ZYE (c/n 50000017) and no titles, logos or stickers of the PAF. It is expected to be registered as V-4101 upon delivery to Pakistan."

sum · Post by **sum** » 12 Apr 2009 21:29

Is it a spy plane for Pak(since no PAF markings etc)?

JaiS · Post by **JaiS** » 12 Apr 2009 21:49

The blog answers your question, sum. And it's primary role is transportation.

Arun_S · Post by **Arun_S** » 14 Apr 2009 00:43

While the Yindu ISRO is self-falligating and self constraing because of fear of Amri-khans embargo on top of embargo, even for use of transponder for military communication. While China is free willy

China Sells Comsats To Nigeria, Venezuela and Pakistan

Hong Kong (UPI) April 9, 2009
China has sold three communications satellites to Nigeria, Venezuela and Pakistan that have military capabilities, a service life of 15 years and are equipped with C-band frequency and 18 channels of Ku-band frequency transmitters.

The performance characteristics of all three of these satellites were basically the same, and all of them were to be launched by CZ-3B carrier rockets.

However, the communications satellite for Nigeria stopped functioning less than one year after it went into operation when its solar array drive assembly failed. This posed a major challenge to the credibility of China-made communications satellites. Two weeks ago, China announced it would replace the Nigerian satellite in 2011 at no charge.

The satellites were developed on the foundation of the domestic Dong Fang Hong IV communications satellite. Of course, all of them can be used for military communications as well as civilian purposes -- a matter of concern to the U.S. military. The United States had asked China not to assist Venezuela with its satellite project, but its request was ignored.

The United States is concerned about China exporting military-use satellites and providing launch services to "rogue nations." The People's Republic of China's indifference to this U.S. concern can be seen as a tactic to exert pressure on the United States to halt its sales of advanced arms to Taiwan.

China is now actively cultivating oil-producing nations as customers for its satellites and launch services. China's strategy has been effective so far, and its exports of military equipment have been boosted as a result. Nigeria and Venezuela are among the newest clients of Chinese-made military equipment.

Nigeria has purchased a number of J-7 air-superiority combat fighters from China. In November, shortly after its satellite launch, Venezuela announced that it would purchase 18 K-8 trainers from China.

Iran is another customer that China is pursuing for its satellite sales and launch services. In 2006 China provided a VSAT communications-satellite program to Iran's TA Co. valued at more than $500,000. This satellite network provided voice communications, data and video transmission service to the Iranian oil company, which is believed to have paid for the system with crude oil.

Programs involving satellite technologies often involve huge sums of money, through which full-scale economic and trade relations can be expanded. Following its satellite launch for Nigeria, China won an $8.3 billion project to restructure Nigeria's railway network. However, after the communications satellite stopped functioning, Nigeria coldly declared it would suspend the contract with China.

In Angola, when the Angola state television station upgraded to DStv satellite channels, China Electronics Import and Export Corp. provided an entire satellite TV program production and transmission center. Angola is China's second-largest source of imported oil.

(Andrei Chang is editor in chief of Kanwa Defense Review Monthly, registered in Toronto. Jeff Chen is a reporter for the same magazine.)

kobe · Post by **kobe** » 14 Apr 2009 03:22

JaiS wrote:The blog answers your question, sum. And it's primary role is transportation..... of terrorists

mods are too busy.. they don't even finish the statement...
if I am wrong, please delete my additions

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 14 Apr 2009 03:36

The PAF has its own plane for renditions?

rkhanna · Post by **rkhanna** » 15 Apr 2009 04:37

Life in Swat after the peace deal
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=172210

Fazlullah, the leader of Swat Taliban, led the prayer at his home village, Mamdirai on Friday, April 3. He was warmly received by his followers, as well as military officials and officials of the district administration. Those who prayed behind him were key military and civil officers—including Brigadier Tahir Mubeen, Syed Javed Hussain, the commissioner of Malakand region, Khushhal Khan, the DCO of Swat, Danishwar Khan, SwatÕs DPO and the man in charge of Operation Rah-e-Haq. After the prayers Fazlullah gave an emotional and threatening speech which was heard with zeal and respect by all, including the military and civil officials, like obedient subjects. How funny is it that key state functionaries are praying behind the terrorist who killed soldiers of the Pakistani army, NWFP police officers and civilians of the Valley. During the telephone conversation with this writer Afzal Khan Lala said: ‘There cannot be two swords in one sheathe. There cannot be two kings of one land. In Swat one king is Fazlullah and the other the government.’ The conduct of the state functionaries in Swat showed who the real king of Swat is.

The people of Swat owe an explanation from the Pakistani army and the government of the NWFP. Would the army care to explain why its commander in Swat was offering namaz behind the terrorists who killed soldiers of the army and policemen? Would the ANP government care to explain why its senior-level government servants pray behind a terrorist who killed civilians in the very constituency that elected the ANP to power? It is also pertinent to mention that police in Swat have registered at least 60 cases related to suicide bombings, kidnappings, attacks on civilians, police and armed forces and damage to public and private property against Fazlullah.

JaiS · Post by **JaiS** » 19 Apr 2009 03:13

PAF officer ambushed; ASI killed in encounter

The PAF officers normally move under strict security between their offices and residences. Even buses, carrying their families, also used to be guarded by police and PAF security personnel.

Five PN personnel killed in Ormara traffic accident

JF-17 Thunder Aircrafts Squadron to be set up in Peshawar: Air Chief

Admiral Noman Bashir to arrive in China today

680 sailors join PN

sum · Post by **sum** » 23 Apr 2009 21:54

Ex-PAF chief accuses Musharraf of 'kickbacks' in jet deal

Islamabad, Apr 23 Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has been accused by a former air force chief of"ruining"a USD 1.2 billion deal for acquiring surveillance aircraft from Sweden&aposs Saab firm for"possible kickbacks".

Former Air Chief Marshal Saadat Kaleem has claimed that despite the Pakistan Air Force&aposs opposition, Musharraf put pressure on the force to modify a contract to reduce the number of surveillance aircraft to be purchased from Saab from six to four and to include two Chinese systems.

The contract originally envisaged the purchase of six Saab airborne warning and surveillance systems and a Saab 2000 aircraft for VIP flights. He told&aposThe News&aposthat Musharraf"personally exerted pressure on him"to modify the contract.

Kaleem said he was opposed to this because of objections raised by PAF experts on technical grounds. He said after he retired in March 2006, the contract with the Swedish firm was modified to include two Chinese systems.

"It was done with mala fide intentions," Kaleem said, adding such modifications were usually made due to"some motivation factor".

The PAF had cautioned that the Chinese system was inferior to the Swedish one and that the two systems were incompatible. One of the systems was superfluous and the mix of two different technologies is bound to create more problems instead of serving the purpose for which the project was conceived, he said.

The last sentence seems to confirm my doubts as to how they expected to work with two sets of dissimilar AWACs with one set being able to communicate with only select aircraft of the fleet....

Looks like this royal mess is Mushy's doing....

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 24 Apr 2009 02:48

More details here.

Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has been accused by a former air force chief of "ruining" a USD 1.2 billion deal for acquiring surveillance aircraft from Sweden's Saab firm for "possible kickbacks".

Former air chief marshal Saadat Kaleem has claimed that despite the Pakistan Air Force's opposition, Musharraf put pressure on the force to modify a contract to reduce the number of surveillance aircraft to be purchased from Saab from six to four and to include two Chinese systems.

The contract originally envisaged the purchase of six Saab airborne warning and surveillance systems and a Saab 2000 aircraft for VIP flights. He told The News that Musharraf "personally exerted pressure on him" to modify the contract.

Kaleem said he was opposed to this because of objections raised by PAF experts on technical grounds. He said after he retired in March 2006, the contract with the Swedish firm was modified to include two Chinese systems.

"It was done with mala fide intentions," Kaleem said, adding such modifications were usually made due to "some motivation factor".

The PAF had cautioned that the Chinese system was inferior to the Swedish one and that the two systems were incompatible. One of the systems was superfluous and the mix of two different technologies is bound to create more problems instead of serving the purpose for which the project was conceived, he said.

Kaleem said the two systems could not be integrated and it would be better to cancel the Swedish contract altogether and go in for the Chinese option.

The Swedish system used an electronically scanned antenna while the Chinese one had a rotating dome antenna. The former is superior to the latter, he explained.

The PAF had initially decided to buy the Swedish system following recommendations of its operations branch, which was not in favour of modifying the contract to include the Chinese technology due to technical objections.

Kaleem recalled that Musharraf once called him to the Army House and directed him to modify the contract to include two Chinese surveillance systems. When Kaleem opposed this, Musharraf reportedly snubbed him by saying, "What is the problem with you?"

The former PAF chief said he had told Musharraf that it would be a disadvantage to have two technologies but the former military ruler wanted to award a USD 250 million contract to a Chinese company, citing "strategic relations" with Beijing.

Kaleem said he had pointed out that the PAF was already procuring defence equipment worth six to seven billion dollars from Chinese firms and another contract of USD 250 million would not make much difference.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 24 Apr 2009 03:06

sum wrote:The last sentence seems to confirm my doubts as to how they expected to work with two sets of dissimilar AWACs with one set being able to communicate with only select aircraft of the fleet....

Looks like this royal mess is Mushy's doing....

Buying Chini AWACS might have been the chinis arm twisting the Pakis vis-a-vis the thandaar and J10. I dont believe Mushy took Kickbacks from the Chinis (he had plenty from Unkil). The taller than ocean friends might have refused to data-link either of the aircraft to the Erieye.

JaiS · Post by **JaiS** » 24 Apr 2009 07:24

Pakistan ships on goodwill visit

This blog below seems to have several job postings in Paki armed forces, unfortunately several in Urdu, could still be interesting though.

Jobs Blog

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 03 May 2009 15:23

Some more on the Chinese AWACS junk sale

'It’s for you to go and dig around,' a mealy-mouthed former power horse tells me when I ask for more information. His bare boned two sentences of a 'deal' negotiated between Pakistan Air Force and the Chinese who have just sold us their anti-aircraft weaponry gets me all excited.

The punch line: a son of a VVIP is involved, antes up my interest. 'Come on, tell me more,' I fish for details. But my informant isn’t biting. 'Ask your sources,' he says tantalisingly. 'Sources?' I roll my eyes in exasperation 'excuse me where do I begin – at the air force mess?' Convinced my friend knows a lot more than he’s willing to let out, I later commit this embryo to ink hoping some ‘God fearing’ guy may one day breathe life into it after he reads my column. I draw a blank. Meanwhile, winter comes and goes. Then suddenly last week there’s a boom! The ‘God fearing guy’ I had dreamt about, and waited for, but never got, descends out of the blue. He spills the beans (sorry for this cliché but it’s a good fit) to an English-language newspaper, not this one, and goes on record.

Why did Air Marshal Saadat Kaleem wait for full three years after he retired as Air Force Chief to speak up?
You and I know perfectly well that the devil’s in the details. And the details can only be had from the man/woman at the top embroiled in the deal. Air Chief Kaleem alleges he was pressured by President Musharraf who summoned him at the Army House to do business with the Chinese. When he opposed the purchase, Musharraf snubbed him by saying, 'What is the problem with you?' according to the newspaper report. Why has Kaleem chosen to unzip his mouth now? There has to be a reason. Perhaps he wants to preempt an inquiry about the deal incriminating him for the purchase? He has therefore conveniently passed the buck to the former president. In any case, the deal is history and the deed is done. But who got the kickbacks is now the question? Kaleem does not mention Musharraf as the direct beneficiary but a hint is all over the newspaper story. Don’t also forget our friend the son of a VVIP sitting in at the bargaining table. I know his name but can’t mention it. No, I’m not a weasel, but an ‘Uninformed Person’ (UP) because the truth will never come out unless and until it comes directly from the horse’s mouth (oops one more cliché!). Maybe when there’s a seismic shift in power and the current set of VVIPs get thrown off their Pak-1 ark, the son will either rise or drown in the deluge of accountability.

JaiS · Post by **JaiS** » 07 May 2009 05:45

Naval Efficiency Competition parade held

Reception on board Pakistan navy ship

Airpower plays a major role in determining and projecting national power: VCO AIR Staff

Air Marshal Hifazat Ullah Khan, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force was the Chief Guest on the occasion. 2nd Multi Engine Course, 28th Navigation Course and 19th Flight Engineer’s Course graduated on the occasion. 02 Nigerian Officers of 19th C-130 Aircraft Commander Course also completed there training successfully.

He further said, "The ongoing up gradation of PAF’s transport element speaks of the weightage given to this all-important aspect by the Air Staff. The avionics up grade of the C-130 aircraft is progressing at a good pace. Induction of IL-78 Tanker and Transport aircraft is about to materialise. In order to provide a constant stream of well-trained aircrew to fully assimilate this phenomenal expansion, the role and task of TCS would enhance manifold. I am sure that TCS will uphold its rich tradition of training aircrew inline with the highest standards of PAF."

A Sharma · Post by **A Sharma** » 07 May 2009 15:56

Pakistan Army helicopter crashes near Sargodha

PAF's UAV crashlands

JaiS · Post by **JaiS** » 09 May 2009 23:54

Pakistan reported developing armed UAV

Graduation ceremony of 11th Basic Airborne Course held

US almost doubles military aid to Pakistan

vishal · Post by **vishal** » 12 May 2009 18:52

Pakistan expanding its nuclear capability
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30648446/

Excerpt: Without any public U.S. reproach, Pakistan is building two of the developing world’s largest plutonium production reactors, which experts say could lead to improvements in the quantity and quality of the country’s nuclear arsenal, now estimated at 60 to 80 weapons.

What makes the project even more threatening is that it is unique. “Pakistan is really the only country rapidly building up its nuclear forces,” says a U.S. intelligence official.
::
::
“They’re building a capability beyond any reasonable requirement,” says Albright, who first wrote about Khushab two years ago, when he noticed construction south of an existing but smaller plutonium production reactor that’s been operating since about 1998.
::
::
“The addition of the two reactors does two things,” Mian notes. “It allows them to make a lot more warheads, four or five a year, but it also allows them to make much lighter and more complex weapons for longer-range missiles and cruise missiles. ... And triggers for thermonuclear weapons are almost always plutonium-based.”
::
::
“There have been a series of reports where you can find evidence of Pakistan developing third- and fourth-generation centrifuges, much more powerful,” he said, “the same as the Europeans use to produce reactor fuel.”
::
::
There is not even a ruse that the Khushab reactors would produce electrical power for energy-starved Pakistan.

“There’s no connection to the national grid, no turbine at this site,” Albright said. “These kinds of reactors can be scaled up to power, but they need more cooling towers to make them large enough for electrical generation, and we don’t see that.”

Samay · Post by **Samay** » 13 May 2009 13:50

vishal wrote:Pakistan expanding its nuclear capability
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30648446/

Excerpt: Without any public U.S. reproach, Pakistan is building two of the developing world’s largest plutonium production reactors, which experts say could lead to improvements in the quantity and quality of the country’s nuclear arsenal, now estimated at 60 to 80 weapons.

What makes the project even more threatening is that it is unique. “Pakistan is really the only country rapidly building up its nuclear forces,” says a U.S. intelligence official.
::
::
“They’re building a capability beyond any reasonable requirement,” says Albright, who first wrote about Khushab two years ago, when he noticed construction south of an existing but smaller plutonium production reactor that’s been operating since about 1998.
::
::
“The addition of the two reactors does two things,” Mian notes. “It allows them to make a lot more warheads, four or five a year, but it also allows them to make much lighter and more complex weapons for longer-range missiles and cruise missiles. ... And triggers for thermonuclear weapons are almost always plutonium-based.”
::
::
“There have been a series of reports where you can find evidence of Pakistan developing third- and fourth-generation centrifuges, much more powerful,” he said, “the same as the Europeans use to produce reactor fuel.”
::
::
There is not even a ruse that the Khushab reactors would produce electrical power for energy-starved Pakistan.

“There’s no connection to the national grid, no turbine at this site,” Albright said. “These kinds of reactors can be scaled up to power, but they need more cooling towers to make them large enough for electrical generation, and we don’t see that.”

From just a post above(of jais)
US almost doubles military aid to Pakistan

aren't these linked??
just look at some facts:
1970-1990 ,soviet era, intrusion in afghanistan, increased funding from usa to pigs, pigs develop nukes ,.
1990-2000, pigs exchange nuke tech with nk, they get missile tech,
2001-till date, terror era in afghanistan, increased funding from usa to pigs,pigs further develop their nuke tech,
to cover up all this, unkil blames pigs and their nukes as potential threat, whole world is satisfied with this blame game ,and supposedly satisfied with the fate the pig nuke reaches, i.e, partial american control,
but what is seen on ground is different than what unkil shows to the world ,that it is concerned about the danger , but it comes out to be untrue,
no unkil has no control on pig nukes,but in a round away manner helping pigs to do that
NOW WHO IS PROLIFERATING, UNKIL OR PIGS??
WHO IS CREATING NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST IN SUBCONTINENT?
i suppose both of them

parshuram · Post by **parshuram** » 13 May 2009 13:56

Pakistan Test-fires Babur Hatf VII Cruise Missile

As the country's News Agency reported at the end of last week, on Wednesday Pakistan conducted a successful test-firing of its latest domestically manufactured cruise missile, known as Babur (or Babar, Hatf VII), exactly at the time President Asif Zardari was in Washington and due to meet US President Barack Obama.

A source in the Foreign Office said the test was carried out without prior announcement and that Islamabad did not want to leave any negative impression regarding the Washington meeting.

Designed by the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), the Pakistani scientific and research organisation, Babur is believed to be based on the US BGM-109 Tomahawk design. The cruise missile has a reported range of 500 kilometres (310 miles). It can be fired from warships, submarines and aircraft and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. The Pakistani cruise missile is designed to hug the terrain and slip undetected through almost any protective radar system.

The Babur joins Pakistan's existing arsenal of short-range, intermediate and long-range nuclear and conventional missiles, which includes the Shaheen-I with a range of 600 kilometres , the Shaheen-II with a range of 2,000 kilometres , the Ghauri-I and Ghauri-II with ranges of 1,500 kilometres and 2,300 kilometres respectively, and the short-range (100-290 kilometres) Hatf series.

After its first test-firing in 2005, then-President Pervez Musharraf described the Babur as "a major milestone in Pakistan's quest for strengthening and consolidating the country's strategic capability." Looking in the direction of India, he added that the missile manifests Pakistan's resolve to maintain the balance of power that is essential to stability and peace in the region.

link

parshuram · Post by **parshuram** » 13 May 2009 14:03

vishal wrote:Pakistan expanding its nuclear capability
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30648446/
.....................

Down the Line This article Iwhich says --

Mian notes that Pakistan already has intermediate-range and short-range missiles capable of hitting any target in India, as well as submarine-launched cruise missiles.

Do pakistan really posses SLCM's ?

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 13 May 2009 14:09

Wait a second, arent those reactors being built by CHina, Clear violation of NPT by CHina but who cares, it is against Evil Hindus only.

sum · Post by **sum** » 13 May 2009 18:42

Why should anyone care if we ourselves dont care?

Dmurphy · Post by **Dmurphy** » 13 May 2009 19:39

Pakistan To Test-Fire Italian Air Defense Missiles in 2010

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 13 May 2009 20:02

parshuram wrote:...........

Do pakistan really posses SLCM's ?

exocets.

vavinash · Post by **vavinash** » 13 May 2009 21:17

Why do the porkis need to test fire a missile that is already in service with foreign armies. Its a SR sam like spyder-SR and MBDA product to boot.

JaiS · Post by **JaiS** » 14 May 2009 07:58

US, Pakistan conduct naval exercises

Pakistan To Test-Fire Italian Air Defense Missiles in 2010

Serving colonel, lawyer arrested for espionage

sum · Post by **sum** » 14 May 2009 09:11

Serving colonel, lawyer arrested for espionage

Indian assets?