SinoDefence Forum

crazyinsane105

Finally the Pakistani military establishment has recognized the huge gap in our pathetic air defense system and has decided to actually do something about it!

Pakistan to get high-tech air defence system

By Hanif Khalid

ISLAMABAD: As per President Musharraf's directives Pakistan will acquire a high-tech air defence system next year, but it must come with transfer of technology, an official told The News.


"China and a European country have offered Pakistan High-to-Medium-Altitude Air Defence System, Low-to-Medium-Altitude Air Defence System, Medium-Altitude Air Defence System and Short-Range Air Defence System," said an official, who wanted not to be named. "The two countries have also offered to set up a project in Pakistan for manufacturing short- medium- and high-range air defence systems," he added.

The official said a former PAF chief had sent a summary to President Musharraf for the purchase of a high-altitude air defence system from a European country without transfer of technology, but the president rejected it.

"The summary has been rejected because Pakistan's adversary has MiG-25, MiG-29, SU-27 and SU-30 fighter planes which are capable of flying at an altitude of more than 25km," he added.

India has these aircraft since 2002 whereas the PAF has no effective weapon system to save major cities of the country and defence installations from any attack by such planes, the official said.

"Had the organisations engaged in developing nuclear-capable missiles indigenously been tasked with the development of a system to overcome this shortcoming, the country would have until now achieved the capability of hitting planes at an altitude of 25-29 kilometres," he remarked. "But no attention has been paid towards this aspect of the country's air defence capability."

The official said that Pakistan has radars that can detect aircraft flying at an altitude of 25-29 kilometres but the country still lacks a weapon system to hit such planes. He said the country needs to install at least one battery of an ultra-modern air defence system on four sides of major cities or military installations for security.

According to the official, one battery of such a defence system would comprise 16 vehicles, including two radar carriers, six missile launching vehicles and six support vehicles and thus each battery would cost $40-50 million.

A short-range air defence system can shoot down an enemy plane up to five kilometres and medium-range system is capable of hitting and attacking aircraft up to 25 kilometres while a high-range air defence system can hit an enemy plane at a distance of 90 kilometres, elaborated the official.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=5036



Right now the guys at PDF are probably thinking it will either be a European or Chinese system (forget American since America isn't gonna offer us ToT). Interesting as to if the PAF decides to go with the HQ-9, but I have my doubts since it wasn't satisfactory for the PLA.

tphuang

It really depends. Originally, HQ-9 did not reach a satisfactory level with PLA, but it is now getting better. I think China is fairly satisfied with the performance of HQ-9. Besides, the technology developed from HQ-9 system can be used to upgrade HQ-2 batteries.

planeman

What European high altitude SAM systems are there? Unless you count Ukraine as Europe.... But even the Aster-30 has a max altitude of 'only' about 20km. Hell even the Patriot tops out at 24km... and most S-300 systems top out at about 25km....

crazyinsane105

Probably Aster-30. The Indian Air Force has only one aircraft that is capable of going beyond 25 km and that is the Mig-25 Foxbat (it's the unarmed version and it is being phased out). I doubt that Pakistan will ever go for S-300 because 1) Russia probably won't allow it and 2) India already has that system and will know all the strengths and weaknesses of it.

IDonT

Isn't the PAF air defence doctrine based on the USAF, where air superiority fighters provide the best air defence over SAMS? I believe the money spent on area sams is best spent buying additional air frames. Though operational costs gives the advantage to SAMs though.

crazyinsane105

That is quite true. However, it will take quite a bit of time for the PAF to induct all the fighter aircraft necessary to balance it out with the IAF. That is why SAMs are probably being called in for a stop gap.

musharraf

Sams cost a fraction of the price of fighter planes. Hell for the price of one f-16, there can be a dozen anti-aircraft batteries installed over strategic areas.

I would go for sams, anyway s-300 will be soon sold to iran openly or in secret.

Usama17

I think instead of buying expensive air defense systwms from EU,Pakistan should buy that from our reliable chinese friends.China as we all know will always be trust worthy friend than mean USA or any other weapon exporting country.