ASIA PACIFIC
Date Posted: 15-Jan-2009
Jane's Defence Weekly
Pakistan plans to continue Erieye AEW&C aircraft purchase
Farhan Bokhari JDW Correspondent - Islamabad
Pakistan remains committed to buying Saab 2000 Erieye airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft from Sweden despite agreeing in December to procure four air warning and control system aircraft from China, a senior government official has told Jane's .
The official said on 15 January that the USD278 million contract signed with Beijing would not affect the estimated USD1.2 billion Erieye deal, which was first signed in 2005 before being renegotiated in mid-2007.
In recent months, concern has mounted over Pakistan's ability to purchase new military hardware in the face of mounting economic difficulties. Some analysts have also questioned the logic behind purchasing airborne early-warning systems from both China and Sweden, especially given the credit crunch.
However, the government official told Jane's that the Swedish system "was far more advanced than the Chinese aircraft" and would therefore still be purchased.
"[Meanwhile], Pakistan was dedicated to broadening its defence relationship in every field with China," he said.
Pakistan signed an agreement with China in 2006 for long-term co-operation in defence production. Since then, Pakistan has become the first country to sign up for the Chinese airborne early-warning aircraft.
According to one Western defence official, Pakistan is pursuing Chinese defence systems because it believes in China's ability to bridge the gap between its own hardware and that of Western suppliers. "Ultimately, Pakistan sees its investment in China paying off in a very big way," he said.
The Western official also pointed out that China is likely to have offered Islamabad long-term credit with easy repayment terms.
In a related development, senior Pakistan Air Force officials briefed President Asif Ali Zardari on 14 January over the capability of the JF-17 fighter, jointly produced by Pakistan and China.
The briefing took place as tensions remain high between Pakistan and India, following the Mumbai terrorist attack in November 2008.
A press release issued by Pakistan's government after the meeting said: "The meeting was informed that the aircraft will have an edge over its contemporary aircraft - particularly [the] Indian light combat aircraft - in terms of cost, early availability and supportability."
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