From Aircraft and UAVs to Tanks and Missiles

Pakistan’s armed forces displayed a number of recently-acquired, Chinese-made platforms and weapon systems during a parade held on 23 March in Islamabad to commemorate Pakistan Day.

Among the highlights was a series of fly-pasts featuring J-10CE ‘Dragon’ aircraft, only commissioned into the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on 11 March. The multirole aircraft, which features an advanced AESA radar and can deploy PL-10 short-range and PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles, are reportedly being acquired in response to the Indian Air Force’s ongoing acquisition of 36 French-made Dassault Rafale fighters. Also taking part in the fly-past were Sino-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder fighters, F-16s, several older Mirage and F-7PG aircraft, a single Shaanxi ZDK-03 and two Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C platforms

Also showcased were new, locally-built UAVs – the Shahpar II and the tactical UQAB-NG. Developed by Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS), the two platforms appeared on trailers.

The Army also showed newly-acquired platforms such as the Norinco VT-4 MBT and SH-15 howitzer – the latter believed to be an export variant of China’s 155mm PCL-181. Also paraded were several air defence systems, including the FM-90, LY-80, and HQ-9B.

Several ballistic missiles were prominent on their launchers, such as the Nasr, Ghauri, and Shaheen IA, II and III systems, as well as the Babur cruise missile system and multirole rocket launchers, such as the Fatah-1.