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New York | Rupee News | July 18th, 2008 | Pakistani arms exports have over taken the Indian exports of arms. Pakistan is now exporting sophisticated equipment andhas become a supplier to Boeing. With the JF-Thunder manufacturing reaching 2nd and third generation planes, the aircraft will also be exported to various countries. The Al-Khalid tank has been part of the Pakistani armored divisions and has been exported to Saudi Arabia.  Pakistan is now making 25-50 planes a year. Each JF-17 Thunder will bring in $25 million and this is a cash cow ready to be milked.

Pakistani plane JF-17 Thunder

•   Pakistan rebounding from volatile events. It evaluated its dangerous geo political situation as well as a belligerent international atmosphere. The sons and daughters of Pakistan pledged “Never again” and developed a comprehensive strategy to be self-sufficient in her defense needs. It created a Nuclear deterrent, indigenous Al Khalid Tanks and
• A missile program that is the envy of South Asia. Neither the mercenaries sent from the across the border, not the blackmail can now harm the fabric of the country.
• Pakistan a US ally faced American sanctions and developed its own JF-17 Thunder fighter which will move towards the 4th generation fighters of the world and opens up an export potential worth billions of Dollars
• Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder Fighter Plane. US sanctions and external existential threats forced Pakistan to go nuclear
• Beyond the Pakistani made JF-17 Thunder Fighter Plane, Chinese made J-10s. When will PAF acquire the J-11s
• Pakistan defense based on missile nuclear deterrent hataf shaheen babar and abdali
• Pakistan’s 500 Al-Khalid tanks have been in production since 2001. Newer generation tanks now being exported via IDEAS 2008

Pakistani defence exports triple to $ 300 million

Islamabad, July 18: Pakistan’s defence exports have tripled to around USD 300 million due to increased sales of arms and ammunition to countries in South Asia, Middle East and Africa, a senior military official has said.

Among the items being exported are ammunition, anti-tank guided missiles, rocket launchers and shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles.

“Our defence exports have been rising substantially because the arms and ammunition we manufacture meet international standards,” Maj Gen Mohammad Farooq, Director General of the Defence Export Promotion Organisation, said.

“We even won a contract in the face of tough competition from developed countries to manufacture parts of Boeing aircraft,”Farooq told a newspaper.

Farooq said the value of arms exports had tripled and this was “very good for Pakistan“.

Arms trade was a complex business and it had to be conducted on a government-to- government basis.

Pakistan is answerable to the world community in terms of ensuring that the weapons do not fall into the wrong hands, he said.

Exports to countries in South Asia, Middle East and Africa had “increased significantly“, he said.

Though there was a time when the state-run defence industry exported only small arms and ammunition, its range had now diversified and developed countries too are purchasing Pakistan’s military hardware, he added.

Pakistan is also manufacturing optical instruments like night vision devices, laser range finders and designators, laser threat sensors, mortars, mine detectors, anti-tank rifles, missile boats, different types of tear gases, security equipment and sporting and hunting guns were also being manufactured in Pakistan.

Certain products were being purchased by developed countries like Italy, France and Spain, Farooq said. Army tents, uniforms and other equipment are also being exported.

Pakistani Al Khalid tank

The Al Khalid tank made by Pakistan could not be exported due to logistical reasons but its parts are being exported, he said.

The Pakistan Army is also phasing out its old T-59 tanks by upgrading them to Al Zararor replacing them withAl Khalid tanks jointly developed with China.

Pakistan has also entered into partnerships andoutsourcing programmes withseveral countries. It is collaborating with China to build an air defence system and manufacturing the Karakoram-8 and JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role modern fighter jet, he said.

There is also a joint venture with South Korea’s Poongsancompany for manufacturing improved artillery ammunition. Pakistan is cooperating with France’s Nexter company to increase the range, accuracy and effectiveness of different weapons.

“France is also helping us make the JF-17 Thunder aircraft andAl Khalid tank more useful by equipping them with advanced (equipment),” he said.

Collaboration with the US had increased in manufacturing armoured personnel carriers with transfer of technology, he said.