Chinese SH-15 SPH May Also Appear in Public Shortly
Several Pakistani defence websites and social media sites suggest that Islamabad will display a number of new weapons systems during the upcoming ‘Pakistan Day’ parade on 23 March.
Among the platforms being mentioned is the Turkish-made Baykar Bayraktar TB2 MALE UAV. Islamabad had reportedly been interested in acquiring the strike-capable platform since at least early 2021, with images showing Gen Nadeem Raza, Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, visiting Baykar’s facilities in March of that year.
Turkey and Pakistan are also known to be collaborating in the further development of the Anka MALE UAV, with Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) and Pakistan’s National Engineering and Science Commission (NESCOM) signing a contract in August 2021 that will see NESCOM manufacture some components for the Anka.
In its recently-released ‘National Security Policy (2022-2026)’ paper, Pakistan said that it “shares brotherly ties with Turkey” based on cultural, religious, and historic affinity, adding that Islamabad is “committed to further improving bilateral economic linkages and defence co-operation with Turkey in particular, and brotherly countries of West Asia in general”.
That said, unconfirmed reports state that Islamabad has decided to cancel planned acquisition of the 30 TUSAŞ T129B ATAK helicopters it ordered in 2018, and instead negotiate with China for the purchase of Z-10ME rotorcraft. The T129B is known to have suffered delays due to US government sanctions on its LHTEC CTS800-4A engines.
Also expected to feature in the 23 March parade are SH-15 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) from China North Industries Corporation (Norinco), with photographs recently emerging on social media showing some of these 155 mm, 6×6 systems being transported on flatbed trucks in what appears to be Pakistan. No official public confirmation has emerged about any SPH acquisition, but some reports claim the Pakistan Army has ordered several dozen.
The latest reports come after Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, suggested in late December that his country’s air force would soon be operating Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) J-10 multirole fighter aircraft, acquired from China. Speaking about the preparations to commemorate ‘Pakistan Day’, the minister said at a public event in Rawalpindi that, “For the first time, the Pakistan Air Force [PAF] will introduce JS-10 [J-10C] fighter jets during the fly past in collaboration with China,” adding that “these fighter airplanes are an answer” to the French-built Rafale fighters currently being acquired by the Indian Air Force.
While there had been unconfirmed media reports about Islamabad’s interest in the single-engined, Chinese-made fighter, Ahmed’s remarks were the first by a high-ranking Pakistani government official pointing to the PAF’s plans to field at least one squadron of J-10Cs over the coming months. If the information is correct, this means that the PAF ordered the J-10s several years ago, as it would take time to not only build the platforms but also train the pilots.
Gabriel Dominguez for MON
