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Features MT 12/2018 · 37
carrier, based on the US M113. Over 500 vehicles have been delivered and Strategic Challenges
the fleet should eventually reach 2,000 in total. Another joint development
programme – with Chengdu Aircraft Corporation – is the light multi-role Despite a steady rise of Pakistan’s ally China, India is on a similar
combat aircraft PAC JF-17 THUNDER, the future mainstay of the PAF fleet, trajectory and is estimated to overtake it in population in the 2020s and be-
with over 100 aircraft in service (70 Block I plus 30 Block II) and about 50 come both the third largest economy and global defence spender (accord-
future Block III fighters on order. ing to a recent British Ministry of Defence projection to 2045). The US rap-
Traditionally, China has been one of Pakistan’s largest suppliers of mil- prochement with India, after their bilateral 2005 Civil Nuclear Cooperation
itary equipment in critical areas – ballistic missile technology, MBTs (Type Initiative, resulted in India’s status as a ´major defence partner´ in the re-
59, Type 69, Type 85-IIAP, Type 63), combat aircraft (Chengdu F-7) – which gion and its accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016.
remains in service in large quantities. Shipbuilding and naval technology Moreover, the Trump Administration’s 2017 National Security Strategy
has become increasingly important in their mutual defence relationship, labelled China as a revisionist power and expressed concerns over
due to the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor. Technology transfer and Pakistan’s reliability. These trends present Pakistan with a long-term stra-
joint development of four F22P/ZULFIQUAR-class frigates and six PMSA tegic challenge as to how to manage its relationships with all three coun-
OPVs has resulted in a follow-on programme to deliver up to 4 Type 054A tries, without significantly limiting its strategic choices through continuing
frigates and eight S20/Type 039B conventional submarines, which will dependence on foreign financing in defence technology transfer and indus-
transform the future Pakistani fleet. Another long-standing partner, which trial cooperation. Today, the Pakistani armed forces have large capacity,
in the past provided the most advanced weaponry, is France – but the substantial and increasing conventional and nuclear military capabilities,
overall volume of French systems is decreasing in favour of indigenous and high readiness at a time of ongoing armed conflicts. However, they
production, although they still remain in the inventory (MIRAGE III/MIRAGE require a more ´joint´ rather than purely ´inter-services´ framework. Both
5 aircraft, AGOSTA-70/AGOSTA-90B-class SSKs). The relationship with the share and sophistication of domestically-produced military equipment
Turkey – which donated 34 T-37C trainers to Pakistan – is on a steady up- is constantly growing, but block obso-
wards course. Currently, there are orders for 30 T129 ATAK helicopters and lescence remains a challenge, as well as
4 MILGEM/ADA-class corvettes from STM, which will be built at KS&EW procurement delays and a disproportion-
with technology transfer – the largest Turkish export contract. ate share of R&D resources dedicated
The US-Pakistani defence partnership has always been critically to defence. With a young and rapidly
important in the country’s sustained efforts to counterbalance India. growing population, Pakistan has to bal-
Washington’s concerns over Pakistan’s commitment to countering violent ance its national security requirements
extremist movements, both in-country and abroad, has led to repeated with sustainable economic and social
suspensions of deliveries of advanced weapons systems. Nevertheless, development.
Pakistan’s status as a ´major non-NATO ally´ (since 2004) has been main-
tained and it has remained a recipient of US funding through the Foreign Note: For a comprehensive
Military Financing and Coalition Support Fund programmes. Most recently, survey of the order of battle
the Trump Administration has suspended this funding twice this year – and equipment of Pakistan’s
impacting $500 million and in September $300 million – and its future re- Armed Forces, see the WORLD
mains uncertain. DEFENCE ALMANAC 2018.