Author: Kamal Siddiqi
Publication: The Indian
Express
Date: November 18, 2000
It is only Pakistan's
first international defence exhibition, but it's left the hosts and participants
impressed. Thousands of visitors thronging the ``IDEAS 2000'' defense
show, being held in Karachi, have been coming away stunned with the range
of locally-manufactured weapon systems and equipment on display.
Little was known of Pakistan's
military might, and the country had never put on show its full range of
military might before. Now, visitors at IDEAS 2000 could see the
1,500-kilometer-range Ghauri and 600-kilometer range Shaheen missiles,
which are not for sale, in firing positions. On static display was
the 2,500-kilometer range Shaheen II missile.
Senior officials at Pakistan
Ordnance Factories, Wah, said several delegations would be proceeding to
the Pakistan Ordnance Factories after the show, including teams from Syria,
Egypt, Bangladesh and Kenya. Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Qatar have
expressed interest in transfer of technology from Pakistan for construction
of Midget and Agosta submarines, which have been built in collaboration
with Italy and France, Pakistan chief of Navy, Admiral Azim Mirza told
the press.
Malaysian air chief,
Air Chief Marshal Sri Ahmad Saruji, told reporters that he was greatly
impressed by the arrangements. ``It is certainly impressive as you
are holding the show for the first time,'' he said. ``I have found
the arrangements quite excellent and I am impressed.''
The army gave a mobility
display of Al-Khalid main battle tank (MBT) and Al-Zarrar, the upgraded
T-59 MBT. Pakistan strongman General Pervez Musharraf commented that
Pakistan would soon start mass production of the Al-Khalid battle tank,
``which will symbolise its capabilities in defence production.''
The 46-tonne three-man
tank has a maximum speed of 65 kms per hour and a cruising range of 400
kilometers. Musharraf said the Al-Khalid was superior to the Arjun
tank, which was rejected by the Indian Army because of its heavy weight.
The Pakistan Air Force
also opened up the cockpit of its upgraded Mirage III to show off the new
avionics package put in place by French firm Sagem. Also on display
were the Karakoram-8 jet trainers and Super Mashshak primary trainers.
Meanwhile, senior officials
of A.Q. Khan Research Laboratory said theyhad provided some 13,000
Baktar Shikan anti-tank missiles to the PakistanArmy. The Baktar
Shikan missile, developed by the A Q Khan Laboratories,is replacing the
American TOW missiles in the army's inventory. The spareparts of
TOW are no longer available under the Pressler Amendment. The missile,
like the TOW, is wire-guided and can be fired from jeep, armoredpersonnel
carrier or helicopter.
The A.Q. Khan Laboratories
have also met the Pakistan Army's requirements for the Anza Mk-1 surface-to-air
missiles, said the senior officials. Now, they are producing the
Anza MK-2, which the army has started inducting.
The A.Q. Khan Laboratories
have also sold Pakistani-made laser range finders to several countries,
including Saudi Arabia.
Similarly, the Defense
Science and Technology Organization (DESTO) is hoping to sell body scanners
to Sri Lanka and Lebanon. The non-metallic mine detector NMMD MK
3.1 detects non-metallic objects and plastic mines and, as such, is a useful
tool in counter insurgency operations.
DESTO has also developed
a rocket-assisted mortar bomb, called Glider, for the Pakistan Army, increasing
its range from around 6,000-6,500 meters to 10,000-10,200 meters.
Apart from that, the
organisation has produced several items for the Pakistan Navy. These
include bombette signal star, which is used by submarines for signaling.
The item in question, which was imported for Rs. 0.25 million, is
now being produced by DESTO for only Rs. 14,000.
Moreover, DESTO is also
making oxygen candles for the country's submarines. The candle generates
oxygen in an emergency. Officials said the product in question was
being produced for only Rs. 4,000 per unit and the navy had stopped
paying Rs. 45,000 for its import.
DESTO has also started
production of depth charge, SEA SURGE, an anti-submrine weapon used in
shallow waters. The depth charge can be dropped either from a fixed
wing aircraft or a helicopter for costal defense.
DESTO is also producing
tear gas shells for the Pakistan police, which were earlier imported at
a cost of Rs. 400 million per annum.
The managing director
of the Centre of Excellence at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, Wing
Commander Changezi, asserted that his facility, boasting supercomputers,
had no rival in Pakistan. ``We can produce products which no other
facility can come up in Pakistan,'' he said.
The official showed parts
of the CFM-56 engine mounted on Boeing and Airbus aircraft, which his organization
which offers both integrated and flexible manufacturing, had produced.
``We can make any part of any aircraft, including the Space Shuttle,''
said Changezi. The Centre will soon start production of the parts
of its Atar-9C engine.