INDIAN WOMEN SCARE KIDS WITH PAK ARMORY
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Pakistan rolls out its tanks, missles for sale
KAMAL SIDDIQI
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KARACHI, NOVEMBER 17: 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.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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Keith Stewart
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We keep finding off-topic stuff being cross-posted into Soc.Cult.Bangladesh.
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This is meant to be a group devoted to subjects about 'Society' and
'Culture' in Bangladesh.
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