Pakistan has managed to build a sufficiently powerful army capable of fighting all the perceived opponents. Such construction was carried out due to the modernization of its defense industry and active cooperation with foreign countries. As a result, Islamabad has received a well-equipped military, which, however, is overly dependent on foreign suppliers.
On their own
Pakistan's defense industry has a certain potential and gives it noticeable advantages over other countries in the region. However, in this respect Pakistan cannot yet compare with its main friend China or India, its main competitor. At the same time, the lack of necessary technologies or the lag in various areas is compensated by cooperation with more developed countries.
The Pakistani defense complex includes about a dozen large organizations, which include other enterprises for various purposes. Research and production organizations are combined into complexes with division by industry. Thus, the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex is engaged in the development and production of aviation equipment, Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited is the main builder of equipment for the fleet, and the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission is developing the space direction.
Due to limited resources, Pakistan cannot simultaneously and fully develop all the necessary areas. Special attention is paid to the development and production of strategic and tactical nuclear missile systems. Notable results have also been obtained in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles. Less active is the creation of new systems of infantry weapons, armored vehicles, etc.
In all the main areas there is cooperation with more developed foreign countries. In addition to the simple purchase of finished samples, joint production is carried out. Also, some samples of weapons and equipment are produced under license.
Own production
The Pakistani ground forces have sufficient potential, but the share of products of their own production in them is low. For example, in the field of small arms and light infantry artillery systems, only a few types of hand grenades can be attributed to Pakistan's own developments.
The most massive tank in Pakistan is the Al-Zarrar vehicle, a Chinese Type 59 medium tank, modernized by the joint efforts of the two countries. Also the result of cooperation is the MBT "Al-Khalid". On its own, Pakistan under license produced the M113 armored personnel carrier of American design and various vehicles based on it.
Rocket troops and artillery are mainly equipped with systems of Chinese and American production. An exception is the KRL-122 MLRS, created on the basis of the North Korean copy of the Soviet BM-21. In the field of anti-aircraft weapons, only imported artillery systems are used. The missile systems are mostly foreign, but there is its own Anza MANPADS, created in cooperation with the PRC. Sino-Pakistani cooperation also led to the creation of the Bactar-Shikan and Bark anti-tank systems, suitable for use on different carriers.
The Pakistani Army Aviation has several types of UAVs of different classes. Most of this technology was created independently or with Chinese help. The Air Force also has equipment of this class. UAVs of various types are still used only for reconnaissance, but in the future, the appearance of strike systems is possible.
In 2008, the assembly of the Chinese-designed JF-17 Thunder fighter-bombers was launched at the PAC enterprises. It is currently the only combat aircraft produced in Pakistan. Other equipment of this class is of foreign origin. The result of cooperation with Sweden was the PAC MFI-17 trainer aircraft.
Islamabad pays great attention to the development of the naval forces. In the past decade, the Navy received three submarines of the French Agosta-90B project. The lead ship was completely built in France, while the other two were assembled in Pakistan. Together with them are two diesel-electric submarines of the Agosta-70 type, built by France.
On the basis of the Chinese project of the frigate "Type 053H3" for Pakistan, the ship F22P "Zulfikar" was created. Three such frigates were built by the PRC, another one was assembled in Karachi. The fifth and sixth ships are still at different stages of construction. The result of similar cooperation was three missile boats of the Azmat type (Type 037II). In cooperation with foreign countries and independently, Pakistan has built less than a dozen small artillery and missile ships and boats.
Strategic importance
Not without foreign help, Pakistan was able to create several of its own lines of ballistic and cruise missiles, now used as strategic weapons. By now, according to various sources, Pakistani industry has accumulated the necessary experience and can independently develop this direction.
The nuclear forces are armed with short- and medium-range ballistic missiles of the Hatf, Gauri, Shahin families, etc. in stationary and mobile version. The most advanced models have a firing range of up to 2500-2700 km (MRBM "Shahin-3"), which allows solving strategic tasks within their region.
Nuclear weapons are another area receiving special attention. At the moment, according to various data and estimates, Pakistan's arsenals have about 150 nuclear warheads with a capacity of no more than 50-100 kt. Such warheads can be used with different carriers: with ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as combat aircraft.
Own and someone else's
As you can see, there is an interesting trend in the material part of the Pakistani armed forces. Strategic weapons are developed and produced independently, although they were created with the help of foreign colleagues. In other areas, Pakistan is trying to develop its own production, but at the same time relies on international cooperation and procurement.
The reasons for this approach are obvious. The Pakistani defense industry is not yet able to produce all the required products with the required quality and in the desired quantities. Because of this, our own efforts have to be focused on the most important areas, while others should be developed within the framework of international cooperation.
One of the results of this approach to rearmament is the lack of balance between different types of troops. Pakistan's strategic nuclear forces and their armaments look highly developed and powerful against the background of other countries in the region. At the same time, there is a lag in other areas. For example, in terms of the number and armament of the ground forces, Pakistan is noticeably inferior to India. The same applies to the processes of rearmament of the army.
However, even in such conditions, Islamabad can maintain a favorable state of affairs for itself. Two main factors help him in this. The first is the long-standing fruitful military and political cooperation with Beijing. The Pakistani army has long enjoyed the fruits of such cooperation, and in the context of a real armed conflict with a third country, it will be able to count on new assistance.
The second factor is a special defense doctrine that provides for the leading role of nuclear weapons. Pakistan reserves the right to be the first to use such weapons in the event of military, political or economic threats from other countries. The nuclear threat and the readiness to implement it is a good deterrent to compensate for the lag in conventional weapons.
Further development
Pakistan intends to further develop its defense industry without breaking ties with foreign suppliers. It should be expected that priority projects, as now, will be created independently, although not without help from abroad - in those areas where it is possible. Also, purchases abroad and joint production on certain conditions will continue.
Now Pakistan cooperates with several foreign countries, but the main flow of military products and production licenses come from China. Beijing is interested in making money on the products of its defense industry, and also solves problems of a political nature. Pakistan is seen as a good ally against India.
Through production, joint development and procurement, carried out on such principles, the Pakistani army will gradually update the fleet of weapons and equipment, mastering new models. The result will be an increase in combat capability, which will allow Islamabad to more effectively solve the problem of containing and realizing its interests in the region.
Thus, one should not expect that in the foreseeable future, the approaches to the modernization of the Pakistani army will seriously change. Pakistan is still not able to fully fulfill all its plans, but at the same time it can count on the help of the PRC and contracts with other countries. This means that dependence on imports will continue in the future, but Islamabad will try to get the maximum military and political benefits from it.
