Turkey, Pakistan expand defence industry collaboration efforts
Author:Jon Grevatt, Bangkok
Last posted:2013-Oct-09
Pakistan and Turkey are expanding efforts to collaborate in defence production activities, including the setting up of industrial joint ventures.
The defence industrial focus is a feature of the ninth annual "high-level military dialogue" between the two countries, which is taking place in Ankara on 8-9 October, said the Embassy of Pakistan in Turkey.
A statement said the dialogue had highlighted a requirement for an "upgraded and high-tech system [related to] defence production according contemporary needs".
The embassy added that Pakistan's Defence Secretary Lieutenant General Asif Yasin Malik and Turkey's Deputy Chief of General Staff General Yasar Guler, who co-chaired the dialogue, agreed to enhance defence industrial collaboration and to "work towards" opportunities for defence joint ventures.
Existing defence industry collaboration between Pakistan and Turkey is focused on tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), through which the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) is manufacturing parts for Turkish Aerospace Industries' family of Anka UAVs. PAC handed over the initial batch of UAV parts in May 2013. Additionally, in the past Turkey has upgraded Pakistan's F-16 fighter aircraft and supplied the country with Kaan 33 fast attack craft, AH-1F/S Cobra attack helicopter parts, and artillery simulators.
Another aspect of the bilateral collaboration is both countries' apparent willingness to partner with China in military production programmes. Pakistan and China have collaborated on a number of high-profile projects, most notably the joint development and production of the JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft (also known as the FC-1 Xiaolong).
Turkey, on the other hand, is set to undertake its first collaborative programme with China after selecting in September the HQ-9 surface-to-air missile to meet its requirement for an air-defence system. A key part of this programme, and a factor that positioned China ahead of its Western rivals in the selection process, was Beijing's readiness to transfer to Turkey technologies that enable localised production.
JDW
Pakistan, South Korea look to collaborate on defence production.
Author:Farhan Bokhari, Islamabad
Last posted:2013-Oct-17
Pakistan is seeking to upgrade the navy's Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works by expanding co-operation with South Korea, a senior Pakistani government official stated on 17 October.
Although details have yet to be decided, the official said a major focus of the programme will be on "enhanced facilities to produce smaller boats like fast attack craft".
The official's comments followed a 10 October meeting between Song Jong-hawan, the South Korean ambassador to Islamabad, and Rana Tanvir Hussain, Pakistan's minister for defence production.
According to a report subsequently carried by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan, South Korean company Poon Song has shown interest in upgrading the Pakistan Ordinance Factory (POF). The factory, which is run by the Pakistan Army at Wah, north of Islamabad, is the main production facility for most of the army's small arms.
The government official stated that the army was keen to upgrade the POF and use South Korean technology, not least because the Pakistani rupee has depreciated by almost 8% against the US dollar since the election of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in May.
The official described this as causing "new and unwelcome pressure" on military imports while other Pakistani officials have said they will consider sources of materiel other than those requiring payment in one of the main Western currencies.
"If we can find the same quality of goods from a non-Western source where the currency devaluation does not eat in to our budget, that's very welcome and that's why South Korea appeals to us," the official added.
COMMENT
While Pakistan's economic pressures, notably the recent devaluation of the rupee, are forcing Islamabad to consider sources of defence hardware other than the United States - such as South Korea - where currency exchange is relatively feasible, it will likely continue to depend on countries like the United States for hi-tech weapon systems, such as future purchases of fighter aircraft.
JDW