Pakistan holds 'arms for peace' fair

[TomCat111]

Pakistan holds 'arms for peace' fair

By Syed Shoaib Hassan
BBC News, Karachi



Missiles are the most common Pakistani exhibit in the fair
Pakistan is bolstering its position as a trading zone for small arms and military hardware through arms fairs that have become a regular feature in recent years.

The International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (Ideas) fair, held every

two years in the southern port city of Karachi, provides a platform for Pakistan to display its products, ranging from light arms to tanks and missiles.

The fair also attracts major manufacturers of arms and military support equipment from around the world.

Since 2000, when the first Ideas fair was held, the number of participants has grown both in number and prestige.

This year's participants include, among others, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Saab, Rolls Royce and Thales.

Some governments also have an official presence. The UK is represented by the Ministry of Defence.

'Global security'


"We are looking to promote industrial cooperation in products which are geared towards the war on terror and humanitarian operations," the press secretary at the UK High Commission, Adam Thomas, told the BBC.

The theme of the five-day fair, which was inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on Monday, is Expanding Global Security.

Arms for Peace is the official slogan of the fair.

On show are products ranging from rifles and bullets to ballistic missiles, pilot less drone aircraft and fighter jets.

Lockheed Martin Corp (LMC) has put its Hellfire missiles on display.

"Pakistan is interested in buying these missiles and we are definitely going to work out a deal," said Doug Terrell, LMC's manager for international business development.

The missiles became famous during the war on terror and are known to have hit many targets in Afghanistan and the Pakistani tribal areas.

LMC is also promoting its coveted F-16 Fighting Falcon as well as the more affordable P-3C Orion and C-130 aircraft.

"We have (displayed) a limited range in view of the customers who would be here," says Dexter Henson, the communications director of LMC.

Old and new

The buyers, as in any arms fair around the world, are mostly from Asian and African countries that have low budgets and, as many anti-weapons campaigners would allege, poor human rights records.

Buyers were crowding to the American manufacturer Colt's small arms stall where the company's manager of international sales, Mike McCarthy, explained the virtues of a Colt M4 carbine, "the assault weapon of the US army".

"We hope to offer it for sale to the Pakistan government," he said.

Pakistan has showcased its usual products, such as long range missiles and two battle tanks, al-Khalid and al-Zarrar.

But it has also displayed some new items, such as a locally manufactured pilot less drone aircraft.

It has also displayed the prototype of JF-17 Thunder jet, manufactured jointly with China.

There is also a variety of electronic warfare devices and small arms made in Pakistan which some visitors described as "impressive".

How much of a boost they will prove to Pakistan's arms trade remains to be seen.

 

[EagleEyes]

IDEAS is finally generating new offers to Pakistan. Hurray!

The new C-130 and P-3C that is being offered to Pakistan are highly effective. Its something new, something different, while being cost effective.

 

[TomCat111]

IDEAS is finally generating new offers to Pakistan. Hurray!

The new C-130 and P-3C that is being offered to Pakistan are highly effective. Its something new, something different, while being cost effective.

Personally, I think Pakistan is paying too much for P-3s.

 

[Keysersoze]

Pakistan holds 'arms for peace' fair

By Syed Shoaib Hassan
BBC News, Karachi



Missiles are the most common Pakistani exhibit in the fair
Pakistan is bolstering its position as a trading zone for small arms and military hardware through arms fairs that have become a regular feature in recent years.

The International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (Ideas) fair, held every

two years in the southern port city of Karachi, provides a platform for Pakistan to display its products, ranging from light arms to tanks and missiles.

The fair also attracts major manufacturers of arms and military support equipment from around the world.

Since 2000, when the first Ideas fair was held, the number of participants has grown both in number and prestige.

This year's participants include, among others, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Saab, Rolls Royce and Thales.

Some governments also have an official presence. The UK is represented by the Ministry of Defence.

'Global security'


"We are looking to promote industrial cooperation in products which are geared towards the war on terror and humanitarian operations," the press secretary at the UK High Commission, Adam Thomas, told the BBC.

The theme of the five-day fair, which was inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on Monday, is Expanding Global Security.

Arms for Peace is the official slogan of the fair.

On show are products ranging from rifles and bullets to ballistic missiles, pilot less drone aircraft and fighter jets.

Lockheed Martin Corp (LMC) has put its Hellfire missiles on display.

"Pakistan is interested in buying these missiles and we are definitely going to work out a deal," said Doug Terrell, LMC's manager for international business development.

The missiles became famous during the war on terror and are known to have hit many targets in Afghanistan and the Pakistani tribal areas.

LMC is also promoting its coveted F-16 Fighting Falcon as well as the more affordable P-3C Orion and C-130 aircraft.

"We have (displayed) a limited range in view of the customers who would be here," says Dexter Henson, the communications director of LMC.

Old and new

The buyers, as in any arms fair around the world, are mostly from Asian and African countries that have low budgets and, as many anti-weapons campaigners would allege, poor human rights records.

Buyers were crowding to the American manufacturer Colt's small arms stall where the company's manager of international sales, Mike McCarthy, explained the virtues of a Colt M4 carbine, "the assault weapon of the US army".

"We hope to offer it for sale to the Pakistan government," he said.

Pakistan has showcased its usual products, such as long range missiles and two battle tanks, al-Khalid and al-Zarrar.

But it has also displayed some new items, such as a locally manufactured pilot less drone aircraft.

It has also displayed the prototype of JF-17 Thunder jet, manufactured jointly with China.

There is also a variety of electronic warfare devices and small arms made in Pakistan which some visitors described as "impressive".

How much of a boost they will prove to Pakistan's arms trade remains to be seen.

You Know it is funny that the article mentions Hellfire missiles. I do believe that Zraver mentioned that it could easily take out the Arjun. I wonder if it is compatible with the AH-1? If so it would be ideal for blunting any assault.

 

[blain2]

You Know it is funny that the article mentions Hellfire missiles. I do believe that Zraver mentioned that it could easily take out the Arjun. I wonder if it is compatible with the AH-1? If so it would be ideal for blunting any assault.

The Pakistani AH-1Fs would require an upgrade to be able to use Hellfires. The AH-1Z option was being offered to Pakistan for the upgrades of its existing AH-1Fs in service which would make them capable of Hellfire as well as AIM-9 use. Not sure though if PAA would actually go for it.

 

[TomCat111]

IDEAS 2006: an appraisal

By Ikram Sehgal

The 2006 version of IDEAS came to town as usual with a bang. Due to heightened security, we thankfully avoided bangs of the real kind. This exhibition of defence equipment, both indigenous and foreign, is well worth the effort. It is a logistical feat that takes some organising, not possible without commitment and dedicated effort. The Defence Export Promotion Organisation (Depo) and Pegasus have through a consistent team effort made IDEAS a fixture on the defence equipment display map of the world, an event that has now come to stay. The general public not having access to the exhibition notwithstanding, those invited certainly found the display of hardware and services interesting. To have professionals explain the function and effectiveness thereof is invaluable icing on the cake.

The opening of the exhibition was preceded by a seminar. In the first session papers were presented by Li Changhe, vice-president of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, on "Adapting military capabilities to deal with natural disasters -- cost benefit analysis"; Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on "Evolving nature of South Asian security dynamics; Benoit D'Aboville of France on "Expanding reach of NATO -- impact on future Asian security dynamic"; Prof Abdul Khaleeq Abdullah of UAE on the "Impact of foreign military forces on regional security and Dr Shireen Mazari on the "Root-causes and future trends of terrorism."

In the second session, Dr Bernard Loo of Singapore presented a paper on "Military growth in Southeast Asia: explanations and implications"; Bulent Meric of Turkey on "Small arms control and its impact on developing countries"; Rear Admiral (r) Hugh Edleston of the UK (Transparency International) on the "Distortion in defence procurement; Air Commodore M. Khalid Banuri on "Pakistan's approach to export control of sensitive technologies -- export control policy" and Abdul Rehman Allana on "Privatising defence industry and its pros and cons in the wake of a volatile security environment."

This was an occasion to discuss new ideas and debate the pros and cons of the technology and tactics of modern warfare. New concepts of regional and global security concerns, especially in view of the failure of the US-led war to stabilise Iraq and Afghanistan and the new threat to the west, were hot topics in both formal and informal discussions. With so many foreign participants around security has to be tight, with the president around security was raised quite a few notches. Obviously this causes dislocation (and some heartburning). In the circumstances the security apparatchiks were as tactful and efficient as they could be. Take into account that only a few days ago the deputy chief of the Turkish General Staff postponed his meeting with the deputy chief of the US National Security Council in Washington when he was asked to remove his uniform before he entered the Executive Office Building. The hosts subsequently apologised.

Having one of the largest armed forces in the world, it is imperative that Pakistan produce most of its arms and equipment indigenously. However this is easier said than done. While the numbers should give us economy of scale, a whole lot of commission agents (or consultants, as they are now known) over the years individually and collectively discouraged this aspect till it became unavoidable.

Blessed with the Pakistan Ordinance Factory (now Factories), Pakistan was early in the manufacture of small arms and ammunition. Gradually this progressed into artillery shells and bombs even though quite a fair amount (specialised ammunition) is still purchased from abroad. Retired brigadiers do not get to own stables of Rolls Royces on their pensions. And they spread the largesse to ensure captive purchases and continuity thereof. While POF Wah still does extraordinary work for the armed forces, there was a failure in the late 80s and 90s to change over from the 7.62 calibre to 5.56, and even lower. How can an army with such weapon diversity and manufacturing potential forget the poor infantryman and his basic weapon? Vested interest is at play, and those directly responsible for not allowing the induction of small arms that are now standard to all modern armies act holier than thou in spouting analysis on issues they have no idea about. Regretfully media involvement gives them credibility against exposure.

The army also needs vehicles of all kinds. They could easily be manufactured provided standardisation is carried out to create economy in numbers. Where we have excelled is armoured vehicles, both infantry carrying services and main battle tanks. Al-Khalid, Zarrar etc are tremendous examples of what Pakistani expertise can achieve. No mean achievement has been the production of M-113 Armoured Personnel Carrier at almost one-third the cost of import. The Air Weapons Complex (AWC) is representative of the excellence of the PAF in all that they do. From manufacturing Mashaks under license to re-building a whole generation of Mirage aircraft, the AWC has sustained the quality and precision required of such a facility. Despite its step-motherly treatment in both funding and commitment over the years, the navy's performance has also been outstanding. In the shipbuilding context the most difficult prowess is of building submarines. The Agosta 90B is in a class of its own. Our engineers and workers are inculcating skills invaluable for the future in pursuing indigenous manufacture.

We have a proven track record in missile technology while in the nuclear field our knowledge, expertise and facilities would put far more advanced countries to shame. In view of all this, the gaps in our production lower down the procurement ladder is surprising, even shocking. The Joint Chief of Staffs Committee must get involved in procurement, standardisation being needed for economy of effort, on maintenance and manufacture of parts mostly indigenously! Have a look at the varied number of vehicles being used! While we must be more pragmatic in recognising the role of consultants, and involve DEPO with this, we must give more weight to countertrade, buy–back, counter-purchase, barter etc. A pragmatic public-private sector partnership will bear dividends for the country.

Whoever thought about having a singer and other performers at the formal inauguration should have his head examined. Such things are good for dinners and informal receptions. One takes away the solemnity of the occasion in expecting senior armed forces delegations from different countries join in clapping and singing while in uniform. This discordant note notwithstanding, it is time to take IDEAS north to Islamabad, where the logistics will be that much easier.

The younger generation in the bulk of the armed forces needs to see new products and services themselves. The present location in Karachi requires too much effort for security. It disrupts the life of a fair amount of the population and is already too small to cater for more participants in the future. In particular, the mobility exercise requires space for greater impact, the EXPO area is too small by half already.

To sustain IDEAS one must be pragmatic in choosing greener pastures, otherwise an excellent idea will not become the force-multiplier it was planned to be. In many ways it has already become that and has the potential of further becoming.



The writer is a defence and political analyst. Email: isehgal@pathfinder9.com

 

[Keysersoze]

The Pakistani AH-1Fs would require an upgrade to be able to use Hellfires. The AH-1Z option was being offered to Pakistan for the upgrades of its existing AH-1Fs in service which would make them capable of Hellfire as well as AIM-9 use. Not sure though if PAA would actually go for it.

Hmmm wonder why they wouldn't.........It would be a force multiplier in attack and defence. It could shatter the spearpoints of any attack......

 

[blain2]

Hmmm wonder why they wouldn't.........It would be a force multiplier in attack and defence. It could shatter the spearpoints of any attack......

They may however it all depends on the cost etc. AH-1Z is a fairly expensive undertaking.

 

[Keysersoze]

Well I am sure it is expensive. But it would give more "bang for your buck" than if they get an entirely new platform. (Rooivalk) In short would it not be cheaper to upgrade an existing system than buy a new one?

Plus they would have more use for it in the current (political)situation

 

[EagleEyes]

We have Cobras for a little while now, and the army plans to have a helicopter for another long term. The current benefits for going for Rooivalk is because of a joint buy with Turkey it seems, which makes it a little more cheaper compare to if we go for Apaches.