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Riaz Haq writes this data-driven blog to provide information, express his opinions and make comments on many topics. Subjects include personal activities, education, South Asia, South Asian community, regional and international affairs and US politics to financial markets. For investors interested in South Asia, Riaz has another blog called South Asia Investor at http://www.southasiainvestor.com and a YouTube video channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkrIDyFbC9N9evXYb9cA_gQ
Pak-China Defense Tech Ties "Irk West"
Growing defense collaboration between China and Pakistan irks the West, according to a report in the UK's Financial Times newspaper. The paper specifically cites joint JF-17 Thunder fighter jet, armed drone Burraq and custom AIP-equipped submarines as examples of close cooperation between the two nations.
Pakistan's bitter experience with the unreliability of its cold war allies as weapons suppliers has proved to be a blessing in disguise. It has forced Pakistan to move toward self-reliance in production of the weapons it needs to defend itself from foreign and domestic enemies.
It all started back in 1965 when the US and its western allies placed an arms embargo on Pakistan during war with India. The bitterness grew stronger when the US forced France to cancel its contract to supply a breeder reactor to Pakistan in 1974 soon after India conducted its first nuclear test.
Khushab Nuclear Reactor:
Fortunately for Pakistan, the French had already given Pakistanis scientists drawings and specifications before canceling the breeder reactor contract. Work on Khushab reprocessing plant stated in 1974 when Pakistan signed a contract with the French company Saint-Gobain Techniques Nouvelles (SGN). In 1978, under U.S. pressure, France canceled the contract. Pakistan then proceeded to indigenously produce its own nuclear breeder reactors at Khushab. Four such reactors are now operating to produce plutonium for Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. Having done its first nuclear test in 1998, Pakistan now has a large and growing nuclear arsenal it needs to deter any enemy adventurism against it.
Babar Cruise Missile:
Since MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) prevented Pakistan from acquiring delivery vehicles from other countries, the country had to develop its own ballistic and cruise missiles to carry nuclear weapons.
The story of Babar Cruise Missile development is particularly interesting. It is believed that Pakistani engineers learned the technology by dismantling and studying a US Tomahawk cruise missile that fell in Pakistani territory when President Bill Clinton fired these missiles to target Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
JF-17 Thunder Fighter:
The development of JF-17, a modern highly capable and relatively inexpensive fighter jet, is the crowning achievement to-date of the Pakistan-China defense production cooperation. It's being deployed by Pakistan Air Force with Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) on recently rolling out the 16th Block 2 JF-17 aircraft for PAF's 4th squadron. The latest version is capable of launching a variety of nuclear and conventional weapons ranging from smart bombs and air-launched cruise missile Raad to anti-ship missiles.
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) got its start decades ago by setting up maintenance facilities for advanced fighters like French Mirage and US F-16s and by manufacturing Mushshak and Super Mushshak trainer aircraft. It is now also building JF-17s as well as a variety of drones, including combat UAV Burraq being used in Pakistan's war against militants in Waziristan.
Nuclear-Capable AIP Submarines:
Pakistan is expanding and modernizing its underwater fleet with 8 additional AIP-equipped submarines. Four of these subs will be manufactured in Pakistan. These will reportedly be custom versions of Yuan class diesel-electric subs with additional wider tubes from which cruise missiles can be launched. A key requirement for these submarines is to be stealthy—and the AIP-equipped Yuan class is indeed very quiet. The trick is in the submarine's air-independent propulsion fuel cells, which provide power under the surface as the diesel engines—used for running on the surface—rest and recharge. Though relatively limited in range, this system is quieter than the nuclear-powered engines on American and Russian submarines, which must constantly circulate engine coolant.
Arms as Pakistan's Cottage Industry
Pakistan has a long history of arms manufacturing as a cottage industry. The dusty little town of Darra Adam Khel, only a half-hour drive from Peshawar, reminds visitors of America's Wild West. The craftsmen of this town are manufacturers and suppliers of small arms to the tribal residents of the nation's Federally Administered Tribal Areas who carry weapons as part of their ancient culture. The skilled craftsmen of FATA make revolvers, automatic pistols, shotguns and AK-47 rifles. Until five years ago, the list also had items such as anti-personnel mines, sub-machine guns, small cannons and even rocket launchers. Pakistani government has forced the tribesmen to stop making heavy assault weapons to try and prevent the Taliban and Al Qaeda from getting access to such weapons.
Pakistan's arms industry has come a long way from making small arms as a cottage industry in the last few decades. The US and Western arms embargoes imposed on Pakistan at critical moments in its history have proved to be a blessing in disguise. In particular, the problems Pakistan faced in the aftermath of Pressler Amendment in 1992 became an opportunity for the country to rely on indigenous development and production of defense equipment.
Pakistan's Military Industrial Complex
The country now boasts a powerful industrial, technological and research base developing and manufacturing for its armed forces a wide variety of small and large weapons ranging from modern fighter jets, battle tanks, armored vehicles, frigates and submarines to armed and unarmed aerial vehicles and high tech firearms and personal grenade launchers for urban combat. Some of these items were on display at IDEAS 2014, the 5-day biennial arms show held November 2014 in Karachi, Pakistan.
A country can not be truly independent unless it can manufacture the arms it needs to defend itself. Pakistan is just starting to build the weapons it needs but it has a very long way to go. This goal can only be achieved if Pakistan develops significant human capital and builds a vibrant economy.
IDEAS 2014 Arms Show
Pakistan Defense Industry
Silicon Valley Book Launch of "Eating Grass"
Pakistan's Human Capital
Pakistan Economy Nears Trillion Dollars
Pakistan's Sea-Based Second Strike Capability
Posted by Riaz Haq at 1:30 PM
Labels: China, Defense Production, Pakistan
PAF still hasn't learnt its lesson fromt the Pressler Amendment when
Pakistan paid for the F16's but U.S sanctioned them. Now PAF wants to
buy 8 F16's for 1.5 billion when they could buy 36 J10B's with no strings
Riaz Haq said...
Mo: "PAF still hasn't learnt its lesson fromt the Pressler Amendment when Pakistan paid for the F16's but U.S sanctioned them. Now PAF wants to buy 8 F16's for 1.5 billion when they could buy 36 J10B's with no strings attached."
F-16 has been a very useful vehicle for Pakistani pilots and engineers to learn advanced US technology....the kind of technology that China currently lacks.
Dr. Sahab, those days are gone now and China is currently at least in early 2000 in terms of aircraft technologies in many cases and in some cases the deference is now marginal.
When did Paki pilots ever convert that knowledge into something useful - that is win a war.
Mo: "Dr. Sahab, those days are gone now and China is currently at least in early 2000 in terms of aircraft technologies in many cases and in some cases the deference is now marginal."
A big advantage US has is the fact its stuff uses battle tested technology coming out of Silicon Valley.
Anon: "When did Paki pilots ever convert that knowledge into something useful - that is win a war."
Here's what legendary US pilot Chuck Yeager @GenChuckYeager tweeted recently
Q: What did u think of Pakistan pilots? A: When I was there in 1971-73, they were the best. They kicked the Indians butt!
Here's what Yeager wrote in his autobiography:
"This airforce(the PAF), is second to none"
"The air war lasted two weeks and the Pakistanis scored a three-to-one kill ratio, knocking out 102 Russian-made Indian jets and losing thirty-four airplanes of their own. I'm certain about the figures because I went out several times a day in a chopper and counted the wrecks below."
"They were really good, aggressive dogfighters and proficient in gunnery and air combat tactics. I was damned impressed. Those guys just lived and breathed flying. "
Compare this to the incompetent Indian Air Force that bombed its own territory in Rajasthan today, India's Republic Day,
http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/indian-air-force-jet-accidentaly-drops-5-bombs-over-rajasthan-explosions-spread-panic-but-no-casualties-reported-249861.html
Battle tested against what? Some third, nah fourth world country with no logistics, air force and battlefield formations to talk of.
Get it battle tested against an equal peer and then we can talk, otherwise it's just a term good only for marketing purposes nothing more.
Plus don't forget you might have the best weapons in the world but if you can't procure the right ammunition and spares for it then it's worse than useless.
Mo: "Battle tested against what? Some third, nah fourth world country with no logistics, air force and battlefield formations to talk of."
No one with any real knowledge of the facts questions US superiority in the air regardless of the enemy. Countries with large air forces equipped with sophisticated Russian and European equipment have failed time again when confronted with US technology in the Middle East and elsewhere.
As to comparison of US Air Force with F16s vs Indian Air Force with Su30 MK at Red Flag exercise, watch this video of an American colonel talking about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKEa-R37PeU
MesquiteIce said...
All these playthings are just ways of US to project power. From Vietnam to Iraq to Afganistan, the US and their capabilities have been exposed. China=US=russia. Could you please tell me if ever any country has won a significant war after WW2 with these toys around?
Now a days technology is so advance and already test in various phase of production that these things are not consider any more. Yes only things matter is man and machine interface.
Mo: "Now a days technology is so advance and already test in various phase of production that these things are not consider any more. Yes only things matter is man and machine interface."
Technology is not static. It's constantly changing and US spends far more on research than any other nation.
Please take a look at this chart to see the huge gap between US and its various competitors:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PyadGC4ozTw/UwoVss1wHDI/AAAAAAAAFCA/c1-UeZ7BJ2k/s1600/R&D+Spending+Pakistan.png
Chandra said...
Let's analyze Pakistan's Military track record. For all the praise, support and admiration it lost 50% of the country in 1971. Thousands of Pakistani soldiers died and many more became POWs. Prior to that, all the hype of getting "kashmir" in 1960s simply failed. Yet more attempts were planned. The Military was yet again got embroiled in the Kargil fiasco and got international condemnation and here it was China who told on Pakistan!
Chandra: "Let's analyze Pakistan's Military track record."
About 1971 war, the Indian Field Marshal speaks. "The Pakistan Army in East Pakistan fought very gallantly. But they had no chance. They were a thousand miles away from their base. And I had eight or nine months to make my preparations [while they were being worn out in a counter insurgency war against the secessionist forces of the Mukti Bahini]. I had a superiority of almost fifty-to-one." From the BBC archives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y13qEyxKHy4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-tgRl_VK_Q
About 1965, read RD Pradhan's "Inside 1965 War":
"...a major battle the west of the Beas would end in the destruction of the Indian Army and thereafter allow the enemy (Pakistani) forces to push to the gates of Delhi without much resistance."
In Chapter 8 titled "Of Cowardice and Panic" of his book "1965 War-The Inside Story", R.D. Pradhan describes the cowardice of Maj. Gen. Niranjan Prasad, the Indian general commanding officer in Lahore sector. When Pakistan Defense Forces counter-attacked the intruding Indian military and the general was fired upon on Sept 6, 1965, he "ran away". Here's an excerpt:
"On learning that, Lt. Gen. Harbakash Singh and the corps commander drove in a Jonga (Nissan P60 Jeep) to the battlefront. Army commander found that the enemy (PAF) air attack had created a havoc on G.T. Road. (Indian) Vehicles were burning and several vehicles of 15 Division abandoned on the road, the drivers having run away, leaving some of the engines still running. Maj. Gen. Niranjan Prasad was hiding in a recently irrigated sugar cane field. As described by Harabakash Singh: "He (Prasad) came out to receive us, with his boots covered with wet mud. He had no head cover, nor was he wearing any badges of his rank. He had stubble on his face, not having shaved." Seeing him in such a stage, Harbakhash Singh asked him: "Whether he was the General Officer commanding a division or a coolie? Why had he removed badges of rank and not shaved? Niranjan Prasad had no answer."
http://www.riazhaq.com/2013/09/inside-story-pakistan-army-at-gates-of.html
Stop chasing France's Rafale: India's air warriors can't fly on foreign wings forever
Incidentally, Rajiv Gandhi, then a newly elected member of Parliament and Congress general secretary, saw it put through its paces at the Paris Airshow. He was very impressed. He sat in on the official meeting in the ministry of defence that decided to acquire Mirage 2000. Gandhi had just become a qualified Boeing 737 pilot and this was presumably considered expertise enough.
Nevertheless, the deal to make 110 more Mirage 2000s in Bengaluru made eminent sense—both for the IAF and the economy. But it was dropped no sooner than when the first lot of 40 fighters in a flyaway condition were delivered. Why this deal was terminated remains a mystery, but one reason was certainly the price. The MiG -29 was available to India at Rs5 crore a unit, while the Mirage 2000 cost double that.
Replacing MiG-21 and MiG-27
The Indian Air Force will soon retire several squadrons of MiG-21 and MiG-27 jets at the end of their life cycle. Replacing these aged fighters will be the latest Su-30MKI, a 4+ generation long endurance air dominance fighter, now being assembled by HAL.
The MiG-21 is a short endurance lightweight and high-speed interceptor with limited ground attack capability. The Russians describe it as a frontal aviation aircraft. The Sukhoi, being an air dominance fighter, can perform both these roles, as well as undertake deep penetration strikes. The Su-30 is a Mercedes Benz SUV compared to the MIG-21's Maruti 800. Now let's say the IAF wants to intercept a Pakistan Air Force or People's Liberation Army Air Force JF-17. The IAF's fighter of choice for this is likely to be a MiG-21bis rather than the Su-30MKI. While the Sukhoi can do the job effectively, sending a 4+generation aircraft weighing in at over 18 tonnes against a much older and cheaper JF-17 weighing less than 6.5 tonnes would not only be overkill but also very cost ineffective.
The MiG-27 is a mid-sized, variable geometry, ground attack aircraft developed to support mechanised infantry and armoured columns. Its swing-wing configuration allows it to swiftly reach the target area and then swoop in at a much-reduced speed to effectively attack enemy ground forces. But what would be just another day in the office for the MiG-27 could prove expensive with the much bigger and heavier Su-30. Since ground attacks are often by flying low and slow, a bigger aircraft is more vulnerable to ground fire. The IAF learned this in 1971 with the Su-7. Besides risking a Su-30MKI costing about Rs400 crore each against relatively low-cost ground targets doesn't sound sensible.
A permanent solution
What the IAF needs for its interceptor and ground attack roles are smaller fighters and attack helicopters. Clearly, the IAF needs a permanent solution, not a high-cost fix like the Su-30MKI. The Rafale too, then, becomes another, yet more expensive, interim fix. Hence, the IAF needs to shed its reluctance and urgently induct the Tejas light combat aircraft and push for newer and more powerful versions.
http://qz.com/603776/stop-chasing-frances-rafale-indias-air-warriors-cant-fly-on-foreign-wings-forever/
http://news.yahoo.com/not-top-gun-yet-china-struggles-warplane-engine-030529878--sector.html
Enjoy your top class Chinese planes with WS10A and WS15 engines which cannot supercruise. China is behind USA an Europe by at least 15-20 years in terms of technology.
#Pakistan Air Force pilot M.M. Alam among 7 of the Greatest Flying Aces in World Aviation History - http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/g2323/greatest-flying-aces/ … via @PopMech
A dogfight between two aircraft is perhaps the most fascinating type of combat. The technical knowledge and precision required to operate a fighter aircraft combined with the physical and mental strain of a dogfight make the fighter pilots who excel at them truly exceptional.
Unofficially, a flying ace is a fighter pilot who shoots down at least five enemy aircraft, though the number a single pilot can achieve has steadily decreased because anti-aircraft and tracking technology has made dogfights rare in modern warfare. From Erich Hartmann, the Nazi fighter pilot credited with the most aerial victories of all time, to Giora Epstein, the ace of aces of supersonic jet pilots, these men are among the most skilled fighter pilots to ever enter a cockpit.
Muhammad Mahmood Alam was a Pakistani Air Force jet fighter pilot in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He was the last fighter pilot to become an ace in a day, shooting down five Indian Hawker Hunter fighter jets in less than a minute on September 7 1965, the last four of which he downed within 30 seconds. A national hero in Pakistan, Alam holds the world record for becoming an ace in the shortest amount of time. This bold feat also makes him the only jet pilot to become an ace in one day. Alam was already a respected leader and proficient pilot and gunner when the war started in April 1965. He piloted an F-86 Sabre and downed a total of nine Indian Hawker Hunters in the 1965 war, as well as damaging two others.
Manfred von Richthofen - World War I
Erich Hartmann - World War II
James Jabara - Korean War
Muhammad Mahmood Alam - Indo-Pakistani War
Charles B. DeBellevue - Vietnam War
Giora Epstein - Arab–Israeli Wars
Cesar Rodriguez - Gulf War
Sammy Dara said...
The West cannot trust Pakistan. Not only recently, but it has been that way for a while. The A Q Khan Nuclear proliferation with North Korea and Iran and the capture and killing of Bin Laden has left many leaders in the West with a gaping trust deficit.
This Pakistan-China arms deal irks the West - you are right. This "irk" will just add to previous major "irks".
SD: "The West cannot trust Pakistan."
Nor can Pakistan trust the West.
The distrust is mutual.
Here's how ex sec of defense Robert Gates explains it:
"Well, first of all, I would say, based on 27 years in CIA and four and a half years in this job, most governments lie to each other. That's the way business gets done."
That was Defense Secretary Robert Gates' straight talk in response to the phony outrage by Senator Patrick Leahy on the news of Pakistan arresting 5 CIA informants following Osama bin Laden's killing by US Navy Seals in Abbotabad.
Here is the text of the exchange between Gates and Leahy during the US Senate hearing on Pakistan that began with Leahy asking Gates how long the U.S. will be willing to "support governments that lie to us?"
GATES: Well, first of all, I would say, based on 27 years in CIA and four and a half years in this job, most governments lie to each other. That's the way business gets done.
LEAHY: Do they also arrest the people that help us when they say they're allies?
GATES: Sometimes.
LEAHY: Not often.
GATES: And -- and sometimes they send people to spy on us, and they're our close allies. So...
LEAHY: And we give aid to them.
GATES: ... that's the real world that we deal with.
http://www.riazhaq.com/2011/06/straight-talk-by-gates-on-pakistan.html
What will happen to the financing of CPEC if Yuan depreciates ?
Anon: "What will happen to the financing of CPEC if Yuan depreciates ? "
Nothing. It will go on as planned. Yuan depreciation will help Chinese exports and swell up their reserves even more.
Falconistan: The Long History of #Pakistan and #US F-16s | The Diplomat. #Afghanistan #Taliban #India http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/falconistan-the-long-history-of-pakistan-and-us-f-16s/ …
Last week's statement announcing the prospective sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan follows a well-established pattern of the U.S. attempting to induce Pakistani action through incentivization. A few observations can be made to provide context around the proposed supply of F-16s to Pakistan.
First and perhaps most obviously, the announcement comes at a time when the U.S. again seeks Pakistan's cooperation in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table with the Afghanistan government. A previous attempt at negotiations last year, under the aegis of Pakistan, ended abruptly when it was revealed that the Taliban's reclusive leader, Mullah Omar, had been dead for over a year.
It remains to be seen as to whether or not the Pakistanis wield sufficient influence over the Taliban, which is in the throes of an internal leadership struggle following the announcement of Mullah Omar's death. However, the U.S. no doubt feels that it must do what it can to coax Pakistani action on the Afghan front. The thinking of the Obama administration appears to be that a promise to supply of F-16s, a key demand of Pakistan's for some time, might induce favorable action from Pakistan.
Second, U.S. concerns over Pakistan's nuclear weapons program remain unabated. Indeed, even as the Obama administration appeared ready to supply the eight F-16s to Pakistan, the State Department's deputy spokesman underscored U.S. concerns over the reported rapid growth of Pakistan's nuclear weapons stockpile and its induction of the so-called tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs) to its arsenal. The U.S. has reportedly considered offering Pakistan a civil nuclear deal in exchange for its commitment to roll back its TNWs. It is not inconceivable then that the supply of F-16 fighter aircraft could be part of a broader U.S. approach to elicit commitments from Pakistan on Afghanistan and on nuclear security. Indeed, the Carter administration contemplated the sale of F-16s to Pakistan with the hope that it could convince Pakistan to scale back its nuclear weapons program.
Third, the announcement underscores the transactional nature of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, despite the rather curious language in the notification, which describes Pakistan's as a "strategic partner." The United States' past dealings with Pakistan show that although Pakistan desires a more broad-based strategic relationship with the U.S. in order to effectively counter India, the relationship continues to be anything but strategic and is unlikely to transform into one anytime soon.
Fourth, despite considerable strategic convergence between the United States and India in the Indo-Pacific, the announcement highlights that a gulf still exists between the two countries on Pakistan. The Indian government is unhappy with the sale, which will augment Pakistan's nuclear delivery capabilities, and chided the U.S. for its perceived lack of sensitivity toward the potential threat the sale presents to India's security. Many in India view the United States' inducements as incentivizing Pakistan's bad behavior in the region.
And lastly, domestically, the announcement further brings into focus the schism between the Obama Administration and Congress on a host of issues, including foreign policy. The Obama Administration has since moved Congress for approval of the deal, but it is likely that it will run into opposition from lawmakers of both political parties. The Obama Administration could potentially invoke the national security waiver to override Congressional resistance over the supply of the F-16s to Pakistan. There is likely a sense of urgency in the Obama Administration and anxiety in Islamabad to conclude the deal prior to the U.S presidential elections in November.
#Modi's $222 Billion Make-in-#India Haul Masks Hurdles To Come. #MakeInIndia Inauspicious start with fire http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modis-222-billion-make-in-india-haul-is-complicated-foreign-media-1278842 … via @ndtv
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's glitzy campaign this week to showcase India as the world's next manufacturing hub met with a few unpleasant realities of life in Mumbai: a fire engulfed one of the event stages and a strike by rickshaw drivers paralyzed traffic in the financial hub.
More worrying is the conflicting data and vague timelines that raise questions about Modi's "Make in India" drive, which on Saturday he called "the biggest brand created in India."
The tally for investment pledges soared on the final day to 15.2 trillion rupees ($222 billion) - more than triple what India has attracted through foreign direct investment since Modi came to office in May 2014.
Whether any of that will materialize remains to be seen. Right now the campaign launched in 2014 is best known for its logo - a lion made of cogs - that has shown up on billboards from Hannover to San Francisco.
"It hasn't really taken off," Radhicka Kapoor, a fellow at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, said of the campaign. "It'll take a lot more than a flashy new website, a new lion symbol, and catchy phrases to make India a manufacturing powerhouse and create productive jobs for its rapidly rising workforce."
Modi is pushing to lure manufacturers that can create millions of jobs, allowing India to take advantage of a demographic dividend as its population surpasses China in the next decade. While India's 1.3 billion people and high growth rate make it a stand-out among emerging markets, other indicators are grim: Investment remains weak, exports have fallen for 14 straight months, borrowing costs are relatively high and trade deals have stalled.
Modi's efforts to make it easier to operate in Asia's third-biggest economy have yet to show up in key external indicators. In the World Bank's Doing Business index, for instance, India still ranks 130 of 189 economies - well short of Modi's goal to crack the top 50 in two years.
One of the problems of Make in India, Kapoor said, is that it fails to address the outsized influence of states - many governed by Modi's opponents - on regulatory environments. Unions have opposed changes to some of the world's most rigid labor laws, and a fractious parliament has blocked a goods-and-services tax that would create a single market in India for the first time.
"India is a difficult place to govern, and one needs to have patience," said Nilmadhab Mohanty, a former civil servant and honorary senior fellow at the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development in Delhi. "But we don't have much time - other countries are competing for this and investors will go elsewhere."
"Under the pressure of this campaign, the government machinery will be required to make a number of corrections on the policy front," Modi said in the speech on Saturday, speaking to an audience that included his Swedish and Finnish counterparts. "We are committed to make India an easy place to do business."
Added to promises Modi has drummed up from foreign leaders, total investment pledges come to at least $421 billion since he took power - more than what has come in during the past 14 years for which data is available.
There's reason to be skeptical that India will see the money. About 8 percent of nearly 40 trillion rupees proposed at investment summits during Modi's 11-year tenure as Gujarat chief minister was actually implemented, according to data from the state's Directorate of Economics and Statistics.
Modi, for one, knows the pressure is on to deliver.
"There is no time for incremental changes," he said last week. "We want a quantum jump."
#SIPRI: #India world's top arms importer #China 2nd #Australia 3rd #Pakistan 4th. Top exporters: #US, #Russia, China http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-retains-worlds-largest-weapons-importer-tag/article8271899.ece …
China, the third largest arms exporter and importer, sold most of its weapons to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, says according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute report on global arms purchases.
India remains the world's largest weapons importer over a five-year period according to latest report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on global arms purchases released on Monday. The report also says that China sold most of its weapons to India's neighbours.
India accounted for 14 per cent of total imports between 2011 and 2015. China ranks second with 4.7 per cent, Australia (3.6 per cent), Pakistan (3.3 per cent), Vietnam (2.9 per cent) and South Korea (2.6 per cent) the report titled "Trends in international arms transfers-2015" said.
However on an annual basis India ceded its top spot to Saudi Arabia in 2015 which is reflective of the turmoil in the West Asia.
While Pakistan remains the main recipient of Chinese weapons accounting for 35 per cent, a growing trend for India to watch out for is that Pakistan is followed by Bangladesh and Myanmar, accounting for 20 and 16 per cent respectively, all three being neighbours of India.
India merely extended its top run from 2006-2010 period. The top five exporters in the period were U.S., Russia, China, France and Germany.
The report noted that a major reason for the high level of Indian imports is because India's arms industry has so far largely failed to produce competitive indigenously designed weapons.
While Russia maintains a strong lead as the top supplier, purchases from U.S. are sharply increasing.
While the government has embarked on an ambitious Make in India drive to increase domestic manufacturing it is yet to bring in any meaningful technology build up in the country.
Chinese exports on the rise
Interestingly, China figures at third place as an exporter and importer.
China which has emerged as the world's third largest arms exporter after U.S. and Russia has increased its exports of major arms by 88 per cent between 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 and concurrently China's global share of arms exports rose from 3.6 to 5.9 per cent.
"China supplied major arms to 37 states in 2011-15, but the majority of these exports (75 per cent) were to states in Asia and Oceania," the report said. Major arms include big platforms like aircraft, tanks and so on.
Chinese exports of major arms to states in Asia and Oceania in 2011-15 were 139 per cent higher than in 2006-10, the report added. This is likely to cross path with India's own increased forays in the Indian Ocean region with emphasis on military diplomacy and capacity building.
F-16 Fightrer Jets Dispatched to #Pakistan (and $700 Million Dispatched to #Lockheed Martin?) -- The Motley Fool http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/02/26/f-16s-dispatched-pakistan-700-million-lockheed-mar.aspx?source=eptfxblnk0000004#.VtEzr5F1hsk.twitter …
Few people realize it, but Pakistan currently boasts one of the most powerful air forces in the Middle East, including hundreds of Chinese F-7 fighter jets and French Mirages combined -- and nearly four dozen early model Lockheed F-16s (the most popular fighter jet on the planet). But as recently revealed in a notification to Congress by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the Pakistani air force is about to tip more heavily toward the F-16, thanks to an impending sale of eight new F-16 "Block 52" Falcons.
As revealed in the notification, Pakistan has asked Congress to approve the sale of two new F-16C fighters and six F-16Ds. Each aircraft will be powered by United Technologies' (NYSE:UTX) F100-PW-229 turbofan engine. Including the cost of a set of helmet-mounted cueing systems for the pilots, this portion of the sale comes to $564.7 million in value -- about $70.6 million per fighter jet.
The remaining 20% of the deal's value, according to DSCA, is made up of non-"Major Defense Equipment" not subject to the federal government's notification requirements. Comprising radar systems and defensive electronic warfare (EW) equipment for the planes, plus "spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services," this portion of the sale comes to $134 million in value.
Who gets the loot?
Curiously, although Lockheed Martin is providing the planes that are both the core of this arms deal and also the most expensive equipment, Lockheed will not necessarily be named primary contractor. DSCA says, "Contractors have not been selected to support this proposed sale."
With Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) building the radar, Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) the EW equipment, and United Technologies the engines, it seems it's at least possible the Pentagon will ultimately run the contract through one of these three -- and leave Lockheed Martin the role of subcontractor!
What it means to investors
Even if the Pentagon does choose a company other than Lockheed to handle the sale, however, this deal promises to be very good for Lockheed. The reason is contained in a single line buried within DSCA's notification, noting that "this sale will... support transition training for pilots new to the Block-52."
The implication of this statement seems to be that the sale of eight new-model F-16s to Pakistan may be only a prelude to a larger deal to upgrade Pakistan's 46 older F-16s with more advanced models. Given that such a sale could rise into the billion-dollar-plus range, we'll be watching developments here closely.
6th Annual #Pakistan #US Strategic Dialogue Planned to Start Monday in #WashingtonDc with #Kerry Sartaj meeting http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pakistan-us-to-hold-strategic-dialogue-on-monday/article8292265.ece …
It will be the third annual meeting since the present government has come to power. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to the U.S. in October last year had given the necessary impetus
Pakistan and the U.S. will on Monday hold a ministerial-level strategic dialogue on key areas including economy, security and counterterrorism, amid strong opposition by India as well as U.S. lawmakers on the proposed F-16 deal to Islamabad.
Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz will lead the Pakistani delegation while U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will lead the U.S. side for the 6th round of the strategic dialogue to be held in Washington, Radio Pakistan reported on Monday.
The six segments of the strategic dialogue include cooperation in economy and finance; energy; education, science and technology; law enforcement and counterterrorism; security, strategic stability and non-proliferation and defence.
It will be the third annual meeting since the present government has come to power. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to the United States in October last year had given the necessary impetus to the dialogue mechanism, the report said.
The dialogue process began in 2010 but interrupted in 2011 when the U.S. forces killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in a midnight raid. The process resumed in 2014 when Mr. Aziz and Mr. Kerry met in Washington in January.
The key meeting will take place soon after the U.S. announced to sell eight F—16 fighter jets worth $700 million to Pakistan, despite objection from India and mounting opposition from influential American lawmakers.
Mr. Kerry has strongly defended the Obama Administration's decision, arguing that these fighter jets are a "critical" part of Pakistan's fight against terrorists.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who is in Washington as part of the Pakistani delegation, has said the dialogue will provide an opportunity to operationalise key future making initiates between the two countries.
He was speaking at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
The Foreign Office had earlier said that the upcoming meeting will "afford an important opportunity to take stock of the entire gamut of Pakistan's bilateral relations with the U.S".
#Pakistan Seeks #France's Thales Damocles Targeting Pod For JF-17 Fighter Aircraft for precision targeting http://www.defenseworld.net/news/15768/Pakistan_Seeks_Thales_Damocles_Targeting_Pod_For_JF_17_Aircraft#.VwbwLXqidWs.twitter …
Pakistan is assessing the Thales-made Damocles targeting pod to be mounted on its JF-17 aircraft for giving the fighter precision-targeting capability.
Pakistan Air Force deputy chief Muhammad Ashfaque Arain, currently in Paris to discuss the possibility of acquiring the Domacles pod was quoted by Reuters today as saying, "the Damocles is a battle- proven system and the other options are not. If we do not get the Damocles pod for example, then we will need to look for alternate options that may not be proven."
The JF-17 is a China- Pakistan joint venture manufactured in Pakistan. Arain said that the JF-17 with the Pakistan Air Force had been performing well but its usefulness in current operations was limited because it lacks precision-targeting, a need which would be fulfilled if Thales sold it the Damocles pod.
Arain revealed that 16 JF-17s will be produced this year in Pakistan and a further 20 in 2017. The aircraft are equipped to carry air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and bombs.
The Damocles is a 3rd generation targeting pod, modular, eye-safe laser and a high performance pod. It is currently operated by Malaysia's Su-30MKM jets, UAE Mirage 2000-9 jet, Saudi's Tornado and Typhoon aircraft, as well as France's Rafale and Mirage 2000D jets.
#Pakistan army chief's #Beijing visit heightens #US, #India jitters - http://FT.com #China #CPEC http://on.ft.com/1sv1iGc via @FT
The arrival of General Raheel Sharif in the Chinese capital on Monday — a day after India successfully tested an interceptor missile designed to destroy incoming nuclear capable missiles — follows a report by the Pentagon warning that China is seeking to establish a naval base in Pakistan.
The report, published last week, said China would "most likely seek to establish additional naval logistics hubs in countries with which it has a longstanding friendly relationship and similar strategic interests, such as Pakistan."
Chinese companies have helped Pakistan build the port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea, the centrepiece of the $46bn pledged by Beijing for infrastructure spending linking China to Pakistan, known as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Many observers believe that China will ultimately seek to use the port as a naval base.
However, both Pakistani and Chinese officials said their understanding of the economic corridor is that it is limited to economic co-operation and has no security component.
Andrew Small, an expert on China Pakistan relations at the German Marshall Fund, said it was reasonable to expect some sort of basing arrangement "Having crossed the threshold with the Djibouti [in the Horn of Africa] deal, Pakistan would be a very obvious choice, and it appears that the PLAN (People's Liberation Army Navy) views it that way."
Such a step would be sure to anger India, and raise questions in Washington. Xu Jin, a professor of international relations at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, said that the Chinese-Pakistani friendship is "the closest thing China has to an alliance."
While in Beijing, Gen Sharif met Chinese premier Li Keqiang and held talks with Fan Changlong, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, which oversees the country's military.
Pakistan has long viewed China has a counterweight to its historic enemy, India. There are concerns in Islamabad that this week's interceptor missile test may tip the balance of power between the two nuclear armed neighbours in India's favour.
"In times of difficulty, Pakistan has always turned to its close friend China for help. I am certain the Indian test came up for detailed discussions between General Raheel Sharif and the Chinese," a senior Pakistani foreign ministry official said.
Gen Sharif's visit to China follows a recent squabble between Pakistan and Washington over congressional objections to US funding for eight new F-16 fighter jets meant for sale to Islamabad.
Following the spat, Pakistani officials said they were considering alternatives such as the Chinese J-10 for future purchases. Pakistan is already by far China's main client for arms exports.
"The timing of this visit is very significant," said Masood Khan, Pakistan's former ambassador to China and now head of the Islamabad Strategic Studies Institute (ISSI). "There's a long history of China's co-operation with Pakistan."
#Pakistan flight in force at #Africa Aerospace & Defense Show 2016 | IHS Jane's 360 #AAD2016 http://www.janes.com/article/63857/pakistan-flight-in-force-aad16d3#.V9wLp0OyHnU.twitter …
Visitors to AAD are being treated to the aerial prowess of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Mushshak, a light, robust primary flight trainer and utility aircraft, whose display includes deliberate spinning.
PAC (Hangar 7, Stand CE12) entered the field of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of aircraft in the early 1970s, as well as components of Chinese origin for the Pakistan Air Force. PAC subsequently moved towards MRO of Mirage III and V aircraft.
In the field of aviation manufacturing, PAC progressed from the manufacture of the Mushshak and Super Mushshak aircraft for primary training to the Karakorum-8 (K-8) advanced jet trainer. The Super Mushshak is a powerful two-/three-seat trainer with a more advanced avionics package. The K-8 has a multi-role mission capability including air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon delivery.
Today, PAC has advanced technology to design and manufacture the multi-role JF-17 fighter aircraft and upgrade the avionics of fighter aircraft. The JF-17 Thunder is a new-generation single-seat multi-role light fighter with high manoeuvrability and beyond visual range capability. It has a long-range operational radius and advanced aerodynamic configurations.
The PAC contingent at AAD is headed by chairman Air Marshal Arshad Malik.
#Pakistan's quest for self-reliance in #defense . #ideas2016 #Karachi
http://gulfnews.com/opinion/thinkers/pakistan-s-quest-for-self-reliance-in-defence-1.1932031
A major international defence exhibition, which is due to open in Karachi tomorrow, marks a timely opportunity for Pakistan to showcase its journey towards self-reliance in the face of significant odds. Whenever sanctioned by Washington during periods of lows in a checkered history of Pakistan's relations with the United States, Islamabad's choice of building up close ties with China has indeed paid off. Most of Pakistan's successfully developed indigenous weapons systems have resulted from the uninterrupted support that the country has received from China.
In a nutshell, Pakistan's success has become possible with a combination of the country's valuable friendship with China and the determination of successive governments in Islamabad to focus on critical areas of need. Going forward, its vital for Pakistani authorities to keep up the momentum by retaining the focus in two inter-related ways.
On the one hand, it is essential for Pakistan to continue funding its indigenous efforts irrespective of the difficulties. The success in finding indigenous solutions to the needs of Pakistan's defence forces must never be subject to compromise. On the other hand, it is vital for Pakistani authorities to work tirelessly towards building up public opinion in support of its achievements. The pride of Pakistan, such as the JF-17 Thunder, has already earned the support of the public.
Finally, celebrating this success is also vital for Pakistan to guard its interests on a continuing basis. With the recent unexpected success of Donald Trump in United States presidential election, Pakistan may well face an element of unpredictability in its relations with Washington. Given how Trump expressed his reservations against Muslims and Pakistan during campaign, Islamabad needs to prepare itself for the worst possible scenarios. The likely fallout from a drying up of US economic and military assistance must remain at the centre of Pakistan's policies.
In this journey, Pakistan could well serve its interests by getting its priorities right. For too long, successive governments have failed to give enough focus to the needs of its defence forces, supporting, instead, fancy ventures like heavy expenditure on luxury projects. With Pakistan presiding over a historic opportunity built by its dedicated engineers in developing critically-needed defence hardware, its importance for policy-makers in Islamabad to choose the right set of priorities.
261 foreign firms to attend #ideas2016 #defense expo in #Karachi #Pakistan https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/166551-261-foreign-firms-to-attend-IDEAS-2016 …
KARACHI: Commodore Tahir Javed has said that 90 delegations of 43 countries are participating in IDEAS 2016, while 261 foreign and 157 Pakistani firms will put up their stalls.
Addressing a press conference regarding the 9th IDEAS 2016 starting from November 22 at the Karachi Expo Center, Director Media Defense Export Promotion Organization Commodore Tahir Javed said that the exhibition has been extended from all the previous IDEAS expos and foreign defense delegations have responded positively over the invitations and 90 delegations from 43 countries are participating in the exhibition.
He said that two MoUs were signed in 2014, while this year 14 MoUs will be signed. The International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) is the biggest defence exhibition of international stature, held biennially in Pakistan. The route leading to the Expo Centre from Karachi Airport has been decorated with national flags and buntings and the traffic police have announced alternate routes as the four-day International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2016 is set to begin on Nov 22.
The IDEAS 2014 was successfully conducted from 1-4 December 2014, at Expo Center, Karachi. It was 8th in the series, since the inception of the Exhibition. The IDEAS 2014 had an opportunity and distinction to host participants from 67 countries. It also attracted 256 exhibitors, 88 foreign defence delegations (from 50 countries) including trade visitors.
According to DEPO, the IDEAS-2014 was a great success. All the defence delegates, exhibitors, trade visitors and speakers of the seminar/sideline conferences conveyed their appreciation for the elaborate planning, efficient organization, flawless and befitting conduct of this mega international event of our region. The forum indeed helped to project Pakistan as a modern, progressive and tolerant state that is determined to recover her distorted image.
Now, the IDEAS 2016 would improve the image of Karachi at international level, the District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Korangi said in a statement on Sunday as it placed welcome banners for the delegates from Karachi Airport up to Drigh Road and also decorated the route with national flags and buntings.
#Nigeria buys #warplanes from #Pakistan & #Russia after #US refuses to sell
http://www.newsweek.com/nigeria-buys-military-aircraft-russia-pakistan-us-demurs-528344
Nigeria has turned to Russia and Pakistan for warplanes following refusals by the United States to sell military aircrafts to the West African country.
At a media briefing in the Nigerian capital on Sunday, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said that the Nigerian Air Force also had more than 700 troops training in various countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Russia and China, at a media briefing in the Nigerian capital on Sunday, Nigeria's Premium Times reported.
The Nigerian Air Force shared pictures on its Facebook account on Monday of the chief of the Pakistani air force, Sohail Aman, at a ceremony in northern Nigeria marking the sale of the aircraft.
https://www.facebook.com/hqnigerianairforce/photos/a.1684765155069762.1073741829.1684425015103776/1806492082897068/?type=3&theater
Pakistan's Super Mushshak Grabbing World Trainer Aircraft Market Share
http://www.defenseworld.net/news/17121/Pakistan___s_Super_Mushshak_Grabbing_World_Trainer_Aircraft_Market_Share#.WExISaIrJ-U
Pakistan's Super Mushshak basic trainer aircraft appears to be grabbing market share for basic trainers both in the military and civil aircraft training sphere.
So far, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran and South Africa have the aircraft in service, Iran has 25 and Oman has 8. South Africa has 5 civilian variant of the aircraft. Iraq has ordered 20 in 2014, Nigeria bought 10 early this year and Qatar has signed a contract to buy an undisclosed number of Super Mushaks in June this year.
In addition, Turkey has finalized a deal with Pakistan to buy Super Mushak trainers and will be signed soon.
The Super Mushshak is an advanced variant of the Mushshak basic trainer, and is produced at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC).
PAC showcased static and aerial display of Super Mushshak aircraft, at the African Aerospace and Defence Exhibition, AAD 2016, held at Waterkloof Air Force Base at Pretoria South Africa from September 14.
The aircraft has a service ceiling of 22,000 feet, and a maximum speed of 268km/h. Range of the aircraft is reported at 814 kilometres.
The Super Mushshak has emerged as a viable alternative for nations which cannot afford basic trainer aircraft made by European and US manufacturers.
#Indian Army Vice Chief says #Pakistan's #defense #industrial base better than #India's. #military
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-defence-industrial-base-better-than-ours-army-vice-chief-4766949/
Lt. Gen. Sarath Chand, Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS), said the ordnance factories have not been able to keep pace with changing technology while "there is no competition whatsoever" and it is "an unsuccessful method of supporting our defence requirements".
A top Army general on Tuesday said Pakistan has a better military industrial base and exports more defence equipment than India, as he came down heavily on ordnance factories which manufacture weapons for the forces. Lt. Gen. Sarath Chand, Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS), said the ordnance factories have not been able to keep pace with changing technology while "there is no competition whatsoever" and it is "an unsuccessful method of supporting our defence requirements".
"I would even go to the extent of saying that Pakistan probably has a better industrial base, as far as defence production is concerned, than our country. In fact they export defence equipment abroad, definitely more than what we are doing," he said.
He wondered whether the functioning of ordnance factories is because of the assured orders they have or the lack of accountability. "There is little or no research and development. They do not even have the capability of absorbing the industry through transfer of technology, and in some cases they have even failed to assemble products that have been imported from abroad," Lt. Gen. Chand said.
"It is very hard to see ordnance factories changing in the present state. Overall it has become an unsuccessful method of supporting our defence requirements," he said. He was speaking at the inaugural session of AMICON 2017, a two-day conference organised by the Army and the CII.
He noted that having indigenous industrial capability is very crucial for the country. He further cautioned that in an event of a war, one has to look abroad for its sustenance. "And very often, friends have let us down whenever the chips have been down," Lt. Gen. Chand observed.
He said the 'Make in India' programme, the Defence Procurement Policy 2016, the strategic partnership model, and the creation of the Army Design Bureau (ADB), are major steps taken by the government for fast-tracking indigenisation in the sector.
US Senator Larry Pressler whose infamous Pressler Amendment forced Pakistan to diversify arms sources and seek self-reliance in arms production is BACK!
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-us-should-go-for-pre-emptive-strikes-destroy-paks-n-assets-ex-us-senator/articleshow/60834852.cms
Suggesting that both India and the US conduct pre-emptive strikes inside Pakistan to destroy its nuclear sites (where weapons have either already been stored or are being made), former US Senator Larry Pressler told TOI on Monday that Donald Trump may turn out to be the best American president yet for India as he had recently put Pakistan on notice for harbouring terrorists.
But for this to happen, Trump would have to get around the Pentagon, which always encouraged Pakistan, he said. Such encouragement emboldened Pakistan to attack India as "the mother of terrorism" and "predator" at the UN general assembly session on Sunday, he added. Trump's description of the Pentagon as "a swamp" was a good sign, he noted, hoping the US president would drain it soon (as he'd promised).
A three-term Senator and twice a member of the House of Representatives, Pressler (75) authored the famous Pressler Amendment which in 1990 blocked US military aid to Pakistan when the then US President George H W Bush could not certify Pakistan was not developing nukes.
As the delivery of close to 30 F-16 aircraft to Islamabad was barred, Pressler, then a Republican and head of the Senate's arms control subcommittee, became something of a hero in India and, in his own words, "a devil in Pakistan." His new book, Neighbours in Arms, engagingly tells the story of the amendment and of the US foreign policy that enabled Pakistan to develop nuclear weapons and casts a severe spotlight on the culture of lobbying in Washington and the grip of the military-industrial state ("the Octopus") inside the US.
Pressler has long distanced himself from the Republican Party — he contested Senate polls as an Independent in 2014 and backed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential polls — but despite differences with Trump, he feels the president is not doing half as badly as US media suggests.
Trump's warning to Pakistan on its sheltering and export of terror, linking of US aid to "action on terror" and his request to India to "help us more with Afghanistan" signalled a recasting of relations.
The ex-Senator hopes Trump will act on the notice.
"US must declare Pakistan a terrorist state, cut off all aid and must not treat India and Pakistan as equals. India is a democracy, Pakistan isn't. And Pakistan and especially the ISI have lied to us for decades," he said.
Pakistan Tests An Indigenously Developed Anti-Ship Cruise Missile
Pakistan introduces the Harbah, a cruise missile with anti-ship and land-attack roles.
https://thediplomat.com/2018/01/pakistan-tests-an-indigenously-developed-anti-ship-cruise-missile/
Last week, the Pakistani Navy carried out the first-ever test launch of its Harbah anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile (LACM/ASCM). The test was carried out in the North Arabian Sea on January 3, according to a press release from Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
"The successful live weapon firing has once again demonstrated the credible fire power of Pakistan Navy and the impeccable level of indigenization in high tech weaponry achieved by Pakistan's defence industry," ISPR noted in a statement. "The missile accurately hit its target signifying the impressive capabilities of Harbah Naval Weapon System."
The Harbah is thought to be derived from Pakistan's Babur family of cruise missiles. Pakistan has tested multiple Babur variants, beginning with the ground-launched Babur-I to the submarine-launched Babur-III, which was first tested last January. Though ISPR made no comment on the missile's payload capabilities, its origin in the Babur family would suggest that it could be converted for both conventional and nuclear payload delivery.
According to Pakistani media reports, Pakistan's Ministry of Defense Production had planned to develop a missile system for the PNS Himmat by October 2018. According to the Ministry's 2014-2015 yearbook, the Directorate General of Munitions Production (DGMP) had been tasked with "the indigenous (sic) developing of ship-borne system with Land Attack Missile [LACM] and Anti ship Missile" by that date.
The missile was launched from an Azmat-class fast attack craft, PNS Himmat. PNS Himmat was commissioned into the Pakistan Navy last summer after extensive sea trials. Along with PNS Himmat, PNS Azmat and PNS Deshat are likely to also operate the Harbah ASCM once the system is declared operational.
Pakistan's test-firing of the Harbah came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to end U.S. military aid to the country in a tweet. While U.S. aid does not go toward Pakistan's indigenous strategic weapons research and development, the ISPR statement noted that Pakistan's chief of naval staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, said that Pakistan needed to "reduce reliance on foreign countries" and "emphasized the need to capitalize on indigenous defense capabilities."
POSSIBLE MALE UAV CONCEPTS AT PAKISTAN'S AVIATION DESIGN INSTITUTE
https://quwa.org/2018/01/09/possible-male-uav-concepts-at-pakistans-aviation-design-institute/
In a promotional video for the breaking-ground event for Air University's Aerospace and Aviation Campus in Kamra, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) revealed design concepts of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designs made by the Aviation Design Institute (AvDI) which may be related to "Project Azm."
Under Project Azm, AvDI – which is part of PAC – was tasked by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to design and develop a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV.
While preliminary and tentative, AvDI's mock-ups broadly mirrored the MALE UAVs being produced in China and Turkey, such as the Wing Loong as well as CH-4 and the Anka, respectively. However, technical specifics such as prospective powerplant, payload, hardpoints and weaponization were not disclosed.
In December 2017, the PAF CAS reportedly stated that the AvDI MALE UAV will materialize in 18 months.
The PAF Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sohail Aman formally announced Project Azm in July 2017 in the inauguration event of the Kamra Aviation City complex, which is envisaged as the home of PAC, AvDI, Air University and other state-owned and potentially private sector aviation companies.
Recently, analysts belonging to the Center for Study of the Drone at Bard College, New York identified a Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) Wing Loong UAV stationed at PAF M.M. Alam in Mianwali by using commercial satellite imagery. It appears that the Wing Loong arrived to Mianwali in late November 2017.
Currently, it appears that Pakistan is continuing its tests of the Wing Loong, having flown it through 2016 under "experimental flights." CAIG is also test-flying the improved Wing Loong II, which has a payload of 400 kg, top speed of 370 km/h, service ceiling of 30,000 ft and endurance of 32 hours. The Chinese press claim that the Wing Loong II secured its launch export orders before its flight, but it is unknown who has the drones on order, though it is said to be the largest overseas sale of Chinese drones to-date.
Notes & Comments:
The PAF's UAV attack UAV is the Burraq, produced by the National Engineering and Scientific Commission. It can carry up two laser-guided air-to-ground missiles. Thus far, it appears that the PAF has been using the Burraq for time-sensitive and/or targeted strikes as part of its counterinsurgency (COIN) and counter-terrorism (CT) operations. The PAF has been using the Leonardo Falco and General Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) Shahpar for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) in its COIN/CT operations.
Pakistan began inducting the Falco in 2009 under a co-production agreement involving PAC and Leonardo. The Falco has a payload of 25 kg available for electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) turrets. The Falco was later joined by the Shahpar, which has a payload of 50 kg and endurance of seven hours.
The introduction of MALE UAVs – be it the Wing Loong-series or a potentially original design by PAC and AvDI – would provide the PAF with increased attack capabilities and ISR coverages through the use of its drones. It could also spur the introduction of using heavier munitions, such as 100 kg precision-guided bombs, from drones. This would extend the use of these aircraft from time-sensitive strikes and targeted attacks against individuals to close air support (CAS)-level missions in COIN/CT, such as attacking moving vehicles and neutralizing enemy firing positions. In terms of ISR, the PAF can equip these new drones with synthetic aperture radars for real-time image intelligence and use ground-moving target-indication for target acquisition – this information could be provided to other airborne and/or land units via data-link. Pakistan can leverage the endurance of a MALE UAV to sustain a ISR coverage unit for a longer time period.
Could China Help Pakistan Make Its Nuclear Arsenal Even Deadlier?
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/could-china-help-pakistan-make-its-nuclear-arsenal-even-25158
Testifying before Congress in March, U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency director Robert Ashley confirmed that "In January 2017, Pakistan conducted the first test launch of its nuclear-capable Ababeel ballistic missile, demonstrating South Asia's first MIRV payload."
Analysts believe Pakistan's MIRV technology has yet to be perfected, but the latest acquisition of a Chinese optical system will significantly aid development.
In missile testing, optical systems consist of specialized telescopes equipped with a high-speed camera, infrared detector, laser ranger, and a tracking system that captures and follows targets. With this system, missile designers are able to view high-resolution images from each stage of the missile including launch, separation, re-entry and the release of warheads.
The Chinese system that Pakistan acquired is unique for its four telescope units. Each unit is placed at a different location to capture highly detailed and accurate images from multiple angles. With multiple warheads, the additional telescopes allow the system to more easily track each warhead simultaneously.
Rong Jili, Beijing Institute of Technology's School of Aerospace Engineering's deputy director, explained that high-quality optics are especially critical in the development of MIRVs. While radar and other tracking systems can collect more precise data at long distances, optical systems provide direct feedback.
"Seeing it with our own eyes is completely different from mining dry data. It helps to not only diagnose problems, but also generate inspiration," Rong told the South China Morning Post.
A Chinese team spent three months in Pakistan assembling the system and training locals on how to use it.
China has long partnered with Pakistan, covertly assisting the nation in developing nuclear weapons during the Cold War. More recently, China has helped Pakistan develop several nuclear reactors and regularly sells the nation fighter jets, submarines, short-range missiles and unmanned drones.
In 2017, Pakistan bolstered its air defenses by spending $373 million on Chinese anti-air missiles to ward off Indian jets.
#Turkey, #Pakistan reach their largest-ever #defense contract for 30 #Turkish attack #helicopters
https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2018/05/29/turkey-pakistan-reach-their-largest-ever-defense-contract/
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey and Pakistan have agreed on the sale of a batch of 30 Turkish-made T129 ATAK multirole combat helicopters, Turkish officials have said.
A government election manifesto revealed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey and Pakistan "just recently" agreed on the contract, which is the largest-ever Turkish-Pakistani defense contract.
The two countries have been negotiating a T129 deal since 2014. This is the first export contract for the helicopter.
Turkish Aerospace Industries, or TAI, maker of the T129 under license from the Italian-British AgustaWestland, has so far delivered 35 T129s to the Turkish Army and the Gendarmerie force.
Before the deal, the T129 went through various tests in Pakistan. Most recently, the T129 was showcased at a March 23 military parade for Pakistani National Day.
"We expect further [T-129] contracts to follow the order from Pakistan," a Turkish defense procurement official said. "We are in talks with a number of countries."
The official declined to name any of the potential T129 buyers. One TAI official said, however, that potential buyers could include Jordan, Libya and Azerbaijan.
The Turkish government has not disclosed a price for the T129 deal with Pakistan, but aerospace industry sources estimate the contract to be worth about $1.5 billion, almost equivalent of Turkey's annual defense exports.
Turkey's defense exports rose slightly from $1.677 billion in 2016 to $1.739 billion in 2017. Turkish officials aim to attain $10 billion in defense and aerospace exports by 2021.
TAI started to deliver the T129 to the Turkish Army in April 2014. Under the full program, a batch of 59 helicopter gunships will be delivered. There is an option for a follow-on order of 32 more choppers. TAI officials say the T129 features 97 percent sovereign production.
The Turkish Army deploys T129 gunships at its domestic southeastern military bases to support anti-terror operations against Kurdish rebels fighting for autonomy in southeast Turkey, northern Iraq and northwest Syria.
The T129 choppers are Turkey's first locally made platforms under license. The T129 features a tandem seat, twin-engine and NATO-interoperability for attack, armed reconnaissance, and precision-strike and deep-strike mission capabilities for day and night and in all weather conditions.
The T129 incorporates asymmetric weapon-loading capability and enables the use of all weapons according to mission requirements. For close-combat support missions, a 20mm gun turret with a capacity of 500 rounds as well as 70mm rockets with a capacity of 76 rockets have been integrated.
Planes, ports and satellites - rejected by US, Pakistan cosies up to China
By Maria Abi-Habib
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/planes-ports-and-satellites-rejected-by-us-pakistan-cosies-up-to-china-20181220-p50nfc.html?fbclid=IwAR3cfQySdHXnLP2jVbOq_CkuxIzo4y0xL31PMewKUlXAJJQ_ONUN18dCqj4
Chinese officials have repeatedly said the Belt and Road is purely an economic project with peaceful intent. But with its plan for Pakistan, China is for the first time explicitly tying a Belt and Road proposal to its military ambitions – and confirming the concerns of a host of nations who suspect the infrastructure initiative is really about helping China project armed might.
As a strategically located and nuclear-armed neighbour, Pakistan has been the leading example of how the projects are being used to give Beijing both favour and leverage among its clients.
Since the beginning of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, Pakistan has been the program's flagship site, with some $US62 billion in projects planned in the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
In the process, China has lent more and more money to Pakistan at a time of economic desperation there, binding the two countries ever closer.
For the most part, Pakistan has eagerly turned more toward China as the chill with the US has deepened. Some Pakistani officials are growing concerned about losing sovereignty to their deep-pocketed Asian ally, but the host of ways the two countries are now bound together may leave Pakistan with little choice but to go along.
Even before the revelation of the new Chinese-Pakistani military co-operation, some of China's biggest projects in Pakistan had clear strategic implications.
A Chinese-built seaport and special economic zone in the town of Gwadar is rooted in trade, giving China a quicker route to get goods to the Arabian Sea. But it also gives Beijing a strategic card to play against India and the US if tensions worsen to the point of naval blockades as the two powers increasingly confront each other at sea.
A less scrutinised component of Belt and Road is the central role Pakistan plays in China's Beidou satellite navigation system. Pakistan is the only other country that has been granted access to the system's military service, allowing more precise guidance for missiles, ships and aircraft.
The co-operation is meant to be a blueprint for Beidou's expansion to other Belt and Road nations, however, ostensibly ending its clients' reliance on the US military-run GPS network that Chinese officials fear is monitored and manipulated by the US.
In Pakistan, China has found an amenable ally with much to recommend it: shared borders and a long history of co-operation; a hedge in South Asia against India; a large market for arms sales and trade with potential for growth and a wealth of natural resources.
Now, China is also finding a better showcase for its security and surveillance technology in a place once defined by its close military relationship with the United States.
"The focus of Belt and Road is on roads and bridges and ports, because those are the concrete construction projects that people can easily see," said Priscilla Moriuchi, director of strategic threat development at Recorded Future, a cyberthreat intelligence monitoring company based in Massachusetts.
"But it's the technologies of the future and technologies of future security systems that could be the biggest security threat in the Belt and Road project."
For the Pentagon, China's satellite launches are ominous.
"The [Chinese military] continues to strengthen its military space capabilities despite its public stance against the militarisation of space," including developing Beidou and new weaponry, according to a Pentagon report issued to Congress in May.
#China building export version of one of its advanced #warships and will deliver it to #Pakistan as part of a major #arms deal. The ship has a fully loaded displacement of about 4,000 metric tons and is equipped with advanced radars and missiles. #Navy http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201901/02/WS5c2c0e5aa310d91214051fba.html
China recently started construction of an export version of one of its advanced warships and will deliver it to Pakistan as part of a major arms deal, according to China State Shipbuilding Corp, a large State-owned defense contractor.
It said the ship is a version of the Chinese Navy's most advanced guided missile frigate, without specifying its type.
In late December it said the ship is under construction at its Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai, noting it will be equipped with modern detection and weapon systems and will be capable of anti-ship, anti-submarine and air-defense operations.
According to the Pakistani Navy, the ship's class is Type 054AP, which means it is based on the Type 054A of the People's Liberation Army Navy. It previously said four such ships had been ordered.
Once constructed, the warship will be one of the largest and technologically advanced platforms of Pakistan's Navy and strengthen the country's capability to respond to future challenges, maintain peace and stability and the balance of power in the Indian Ocean region. It will also support the Pakistani Navy's initiative of securing sea lanes for international shipping by patrolling distant waters, it said in a statement on its twitter account.
Type 054A is the best frigate in service with the PLA Navy. Military sources said the ship has a fully loaded displacement of about 4,000 metric tons and is equipped with advanced radars and missiles. About 30 Type 054As are in service with the PLA Navy, observers said.
Cao Weidong, a senior researcher at the PLA's Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said that in the past, the Pakistani Navy would ask its Chinese contractors to use Western radars or weapons on ships constructed by Chinese shipbuilders because it believed Western naval technologies were better than Chinese ones.
"But it seems that all weapons and radars on the new ship will be Chinese products, which reflects our progress in the industry and the Pakistani Navy's confidence in our technology and capability," he said.
Cao said there are many nations selling frigates in the market, so Pakistan must have made thorough comparisons in terms of combat capability and costs.
"I believe the reason they chose our type is that ours is one of the few that can carry out all of the air-defense, anti-ship and anti-submarine tasks," he said, expecting the service of the Chinese frigate to substantially boost Pakistan's defense capability.
An insider in China's shipbuilding sector with knowledge of the Type 054AP program told China Daily on condition of anonymity that the ship is the largest and most powerful combat vessel China has ever exported.
"Based on pictures circulating on the internet, the ship will have vertical launch cells that can fire Chinese HQ-16 air-defense missiles and other kinds of missiles. Vertical launch cells will bring flexibility to the user in terms of weapons portfolio, thus giving it a stronger fighting capability," he said, adding that the Type 054AP is the best frigate Pakistan can access in the international market.
"The service of Type 054APs will double the combat power of the Pakistani Navy's surface fleet," he said.
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FAQS about Casino Gaming Employee License Renewals
Every casino operator, casino employee and gaming vendor must be licensed by the Commission prior to participating in the casino gaming business in Ohio. The state's Casino Control Law requires all persons applying for licensure to establish their suitability by clear and convincing evidence.
The Commission's licensing division conducts investigations and determines whether applicants are eligible for licensure. License applicants include casino operators, management companies, gaming-related vendors, key employees and casino gaming employees. All suitability investigations result in a recommendation to the Commission to either grant or deny a license following an extensive background check.
Once a license is granted it is valid for a period of three years and then must be renewed. During this period, the Commission has the authority to reopen a licensing investigation at any time. This ensures that Ohio licensees remain suitable to conduct or participate in the casino gaming business.
Steps to Obtain License
If you are seeking a Casino Gaming Employee license in connection with an offer of employment with a casino in Ohio:
1. Please consult with your prospective employer for specific instructions on how and where to file your application.
2. You do not need to enclose payment at the time you file the application. Your prospective employer has agreed to pay the application fee on your behalf. However, depending upon company policies that are wholly outside the control of the Commission, your employer may choose to seek reimbursement from you for the amount of the fee paid on your behalf.
If you are seeking a Casino Gaming Employee license and you have not been offered employment with a casino:
1. Contact the Commission's Division of Licensing & Investigations at (614) 387-5688 or toll free at (855) 800-0058 for more information about the submission of a completed application and all attachments, the criminal records check, and all associated fees, including the amount and acceptable methods of payment.
Looking for a list of individuals and/or entities licensed by the Commission?
Go to eLicense and use the 'Verify a License' feature.
A list of holding companies licensed by the Commission can be found here.
Have you or your spouse served in the US military?
Senate Bill 7 provides temporary or permanent reciprocity for an individual on military duty in Ohio or that individual's spouse if the individual holds a license to practice the trade issued by any other state or jurisdiction, the individual is in good standing in that state or jurisdiction, and the individual provides adequate proof of the military duty or the spouses' military duty. Further, the law also instructs the Commission to expedite the licensure process for military-related individuals, including service members, veterans, and spouses or surviving spouses of service members or veterans.
The Military Status Form should accompany all casino-gaming-employee or key-employee applications for individuals that fall into any of the categories mentioned above. This form, along with the required documentation, will provide the Commission with the necessary information to determine an individual's eligibility for reciprocity or to have their license application expedited.
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Pursuant to House Bill 263 of the 133rd General Assembly, also known as the Fresh Start Act, a list of criminal offenses for which a conviction, judicial finding of guilt, or plea of guilty may disqualify an individual from obtaining an initial license issued by the Commission can be found here.
An individual who has been convicted of any criminal offense may request, at any time, that the Commission determine whether the conviction disqualifies the individual from obtaining a license issued by the Commission. R.C. 9.78. To do so, an individual must complete the Request for Licensing Disqualification Information Form. Once completed, the Form may be sent to the Commission in any of the manners indicated on the Form. Upon receipt of a complete Form, the Commission has up to 30 days to inform the individual, based on the criminal-record information submitted, if the individual is disqualified from licensure. The Commission is not bound by this determination; if, through further investigation, the Commission determines that the individual's criminal history differs from the information presented in the Form.
Please note that a disqualification may be, but is not guaranteed to be, overcome if the individual applying for the license or, as applicable, the individual's employee, holds a certificate of qualification for employment issued under R.C. 2953.25 or a certificate of achievement and employability issued under R.C. 2961.22 of the Revised Code. As such, please attach and submit as part of the Request for Licensing Disqualification Form any such certificates you may have received.
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Trick-or-Treat Reads is an annual Halloween event where authors put their books for free and readers go trick-or-treating to get the books. BOOKS ARE THE CANDY!
Patricia thought of a great one.
I'm glad you got to join in this year, Chrys.
This was good to join in, unfortunately I didn't know about it.
That is the first I heard of that bloghop. Need idea indeed.
And books are so much less fattening than candy. Unless, you're reading a cook book . . .
I love free books. Thanks for sharing the blog hop.
Free books are the best books. ;) You're welcome!


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Hinchliff-Pearson-West, Inc.
Send Flowers for Shirley
Shirley J. Park
Shirley J. Park, 62, of Joliet, formerly of Galesburg, died at 1:44 p.m. Tuesday, January 5, 2021, in AMITA Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.
She was born September 30, 1958, in Galesburg. She was the daughter of Earl G. and Carolyn (Swartz) Park Jr.
She is survived by her mother, Carolyn Park of Galesburg; a brother, Robert M. (Debbra) Park of East Peoria; an uncle, Rev. Gary (Marlene) Park of Rockford; and aunt, Virginia Park Porter of Blaine, Minnesota; and several cousins. Her father preceded her in death.
Shirley graduated from Galesburg High School in 1976, where she was highly involved with the music program through band and choir. She attended Carl Sandburg College and graduated from Augustana College, where she was a member of the Sigma Alpha Iota Professional Music Fraternity for Women. Shirley was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Galesburg. She worked for many years as office supervisor at Advance Disposal Services in Batavia, Illinois.
Cremation will be accorded. No visitation or service is planned. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or the Knox County Humane Society. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel is honored to serve the family. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Shirley J. Park, please visit our floral store.
No services to be held
Knox County Humane Society
GALESBURG IL 61401
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Ontario SPCA honours animals' wartime contributions
11/02/2018 11/03/2018 News Review Media SA 348 Views 0 Comments
As Canadians come together on Remembrance Day to honour those who have served their country, the wartime contributions of animals will also be recognized through a new commemorative pin unveiled by the Ontario SPCA.
The Animals in War pin is designed to be worn alongside your poppy to remember our veterans and the animals who bravely served by their side. This year's commemorative pin will feature a dog. For each pin sold, one dollar will be donated to the Royal Canadian Legion, in support of veterans.
The Animals in War pin concept was launched in 2017, with the inaugural design featuring a horse. The Ontario SPCA donated $2,500 to the Royal Canadian Legion branch at Stouffville from the sales of last year's pin.
"The Animals in War pin was created to serve as a reminder of the wartime contributions of animals, while also supporting our veterans," says Daryl Vaillancourt, Ontario SPCA humane programs and community outreach senior director. "We invite Canadians to wear it with pride as they don their poppy this Remembrance Day."
The Ontario SPCA will also be sending officers to Ottawa to place a wreath during the national Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11, marking the third time they have taken part.
"We are honoured to be participating in this service to reflect on the veterans and animals who have served this country," said Vaillancourt. "The Society will always remember their sacrifices and bravery."
A variety of animals have served in wartime. Mules carried artillery, horses transported troops and hauled field guns, pigeons delivered crucial messages and dogs served as messengers, medical assistants, bomb detectors and search and rescue workers.
The Animals in War pin is available online and at Ontario SPCA animal centres across the province. Visit pawsandgive.ca to purchase a pin or find an Ontario SPCA animal centre or participating humane society near you.
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Lydia Davis: Break It Down
You might be tempted to read Lydia Davis's stories in passing, to treat them as quirky, funny entertainments. They are so short, after all, and you can page through one piece after another almost as if you're reading a joke book.
But the quirky facade is deceptive, and even the humor often causes a chill of tragic recognition.
Take "Break It Down," the story that gives the title to her 1976 collection of short stories. It's a simple story on the surface: the narrator is obsessively trying to quantify eight days of love, in which he spent approximately $800. In the process of evaluating the cost, he breaks down the love affair, and arrives at a surprising conclusion.
Initially, he figures that they had sex once a day, eight times total, so he spent $100 each time, or $50 an hour since they stayed in bed for two hours, an experience that he decides is expensive.
But he goes further--the cost must include the small moments as well. "You're with each other all day long and it keeps happening, the touches and smiles, and it all adds up...." Soon he breaks down the cost to $6 an hour as he tallies up all of those times when the lover is present or absent, because "you can't forget and it's all inside you all the time."
It's a laughable exercise to try to quantify such an experience, of course, but the narrator's project also begs many questions as he recounts the number of tendernesses, the beautiful and precious moments that add nothing to economic outcomes or better the world in any tangible way.
His tallies hit a wall when he reckons with the inevitable pain of the affair. Pain has to be part of the equation, but the recognition of it as inherent in the pleasures of relations--whether it's a pet, a child, or a lover--devastate the entire notion of trying to make this existential equation make sense.
"You can't measure it, because the pain comes after and it lasts longer. So the question is, Why doesn't that pain make you say, I won't do it again? When the pain is so bad that you have to say that, but you don't."
The story reaches this tragic epiphany, but then, to support the cliche that life is nothing but a cruel joke, Davis ends with this denoument. "So I'm just thinking about it, how you can go in with $600, more like $1,000, and how you can come out with an old shirt."
Another of my favorites in this collection is "The House Plans," an odd fable of sorts that also strives to arrive at a tangible value for a pursuit. In this case, the narrator wants to build the house of his dreams on a fairly abject piece of land that he sees beauty in.
The narrator sacrifices so much of his life to purchase the land, which has a ramshackle, practically uninhabitable house on it, and he proceeds to draw up extravagant blue prints--his work of art. By the time he finishes the blue prints, however, he doesn't have the money to build the house, so it becomes only a dream, one that he shares with a local hunter who randomly comes by--except that the narrator can't understand the hunter's country accent and the hunter can't understand the narrator's city accent.
It's a fable of the artist, who is unable to communicate with the world, or even his audience, except through his art or dreams. The hunter understands the blue prints, which become their only sustenance as other houses, cheap and gaudy and hastily built, start to crowd the landscape. They don't even have food at the end of the story, but they are happy.
Her stories read very much like she describes her process in an interview in Salon: "I don't write something unless I feel impelled to write it. In other words, I don't have a regular schedule and sit down every day and say, 'Well, what do I do today?' It's more that an idea or a sentence will come to me like 'What was he really feeling yesterday while he was walking through my yard and saying nice things about my flowers? Maybe underneath he was really distressed by the overgrown garden.' And that will make me go on from there."
In an interview with Francine Prose in Bomb, Davis talks about how she began "Break It Down." "I started doing these very short stories to break myself out of the rut of not writing or resisting writing. I told myself: You have to write two tiny stories every day. It didn't matter how silly they were, I just had to finish two one-paragraph stories."
I just read the review of Davis's new book in the New York Times: Varieties of Disturbance. She might be best known for her translations of Proust (not her brief marriage to Paul Auster, with whom she had a son). McSweeney's provides a nice bibliography of her work, as well as links to reviews and interviews.
Labels: experimental fiction, short story
Barking Kitten said...
I liked this one a lot, too....Samuel Johnson is Indignant is also amazing, as is The End of the Story, her only novel. She has an amazing, unique way with loing sentences.
Ugh. Too tired to type correctly!


I have quite a few things on my plate right now, but I'm about 50% done with what I have to do. So far I've gotten one face up 95% done and a pair of ears 100% done.
I was originally done with the face up, but when I sent pictures for approval I was asked to add a small growing in mustache to the upper lip. So I'll take his eyelashes off again and add the mustache to finish him up. That should be easy.
Here is a before and after picture. He had the fullset DZ Yuu scar face up. It took forever to get the paint out of the eyelid creases, but after 30 minutes or so of scrubbing he was clean and ready for a new face up. It's amazing how different a face up can make the same doll look.
This is the pair of ears I finished. That's all done with pastels, no acrylics or airbrush used. The ears were originally a creamy white. I still have another pair of larger fox ears to blush for this commissioner and then I'm done.
I also have another head to face up and a pair of ears to blush. It's a 5star Doll Emma with ZM Small Kitty Ears.
Then I have another commission arriving, an Illusion Spirit Annabelle. She's going to be a snow princess so she'll be fun to work on.
I photographed the ZM ears I've blushed so far. They're blushed in the same manner because they were for the same doll, but when he upgraded to larger ears I didn't bother wiping the little ones.
The large ears are actually a reject pair. The mold was breaking at that point so I got them for free. All I had to do was clean them up and glue in magnets. The inside of them are really porous, but that's okay. I love them either way, and so does my doll Val who wears them. The picture below (as lousy as it is) shows how large the ears are. He is a 70cm doll, and very pleased with himself.
I'm too handsome for this world.


This is a repost of my previous bid request.
Due to unexpected circumstances, the designer who has been assigned to handle design part did not respond to me.
I have a coder working on the programming part of the project.
I am looking for a good designer with 3D designing capabilities.
and of course, obstacles in these environments.
There will be 4 different dino species.
in the future. So that I can commercialize the product.
I will give necessary credits in the credits section of the game.
The designer will handle **all the artwork** associated with the project.
before. Design decisions are given in platform section, due to character limitations.
To make things faster, please include some samples.
am 100% satisfied with the current coder. I am looking for the designer.** Consider this for the bidding.
1. Your experience in game development.
2. Screenshots or sketches (see above).
4. The tool that you are going to use.
5. Availability through MSN, Y! IM, e-mail, etc.
Terrain texture is preferably GIF and texture for dino will be JPG, due to number of color considerations.
DinoRace Forum which is specially designed for this project at [[url removed, login to view]] will be used as much as possible for communication.
Dino in the project will move like a train on a railway; the path will be specific as much as possible. So, for the designer, certain details could be ignored.
Hugo - Evil Mirror is suggested as a sample game for designer to look at.