Arsalan 345
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This Howitzer is just one part of countering Cold Start. We have to first understand how India actually plans to carry out Cold Start. The Indians are training to carry out the New Russian "Battalion Tactical Group" formation method of Blitzkrieg. "Maneuver, Capture, Hold, and Resupply" and the Next unit Leapfrogs them to keep going on and on all the way to the objective. Understand the formation this howitzer and other units will have to counter you have to see what their battle groups look like.
The Cold Start Doctrine Calls for 8 Strike Corps or approximately 18-48 Battalions per corp numbering 25,000 to 50,000 troops per corp. To counter Cold Start this howitzer needs to be integrated into a holistic defense strategy similar to what Nato is doing to counter Russia (where this same Cold Start Strategy is being played out on a larger scale). We should learn from the Decades of Cold War and Post Cold War planning, and take a long hard look as the solutions developed, especially in the US Army's FCS Capabilities.
1. Long Range Sensors on Stealth AZM Drones. Advanced Comint and Signit detection ability can build up a enemy order of battle long before they are in firing range. Equally Pakistan will have to prioritizes securing, making robust and protecting from jamming, its own communications. Elint and EW will be huge parts of the future battle space as we are seeing in Syria today. Upgrading Blue Force Tracking as well as distributing information on the enemy and our plan to counter them needs to be available down to the combatant commanders so they can carry out their part of the plan with their own skills and tactics, and not look to higher headquarters in the fog/chaos of war. This can be a smart phone sized wrist device or eye piece in the helmet, but it should better integrated to speed up the OODA loop.
If war breaks out, the IAF will try to launch massive waves of airstrikes while their army forms up to initiate deep strike attacks. The PAF should counter these strikes, but a dedicated general level command needs to keep the PAF or PA ground units focused on destabilizing the IA formations coming together under a clear picture of the battle space. Striking their C4ISR nodes and Logistics (with cruise missiles, and long range artillery rockets and ballistics missiles) has to be a priority, while defending our own. The PAF should have a reserve force to protect ground installations and army, navy and air force ground vehicles.
2. Manned systems are still able to operate under jamming and should be preferred. Even affordable systems like the Rutan Ares flying CAP missions can carry precision munitions and be launched in large numbers to complicated Indian Attack Helicopters, cruise missiles, precision munitions, as well as striking Indian Units in the battle groups. 4-8 Squadrans (68-136) of Rutan Ares would free up the PAF to launch long range strikes and deal with the IAF. These Ares Squadrans should be part of the Army so they training with the army to better protect them and provide effective covering fire.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaled_Composites_ARES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG9LlHcX8lg
3. To detect Enemy Ground Forces Maneuvering For an attack, unattended ground sensors and small drones can give more precise targeting data for long range artillery or air platforms with smart munitions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFSxB2zbOGs
4. As for the actual PA vehicles like the New IFV or the truck carrying this Howitzer shown at IDEAS 2018, need to be modified for the terrains they will encounter. The PA should look at Hybrid-Electric options as the cost of batteries decreases. They can help lower fuel consumption and make it a lot easier for logistics. Logistics are a huge part of why Pakistan has to fight shorter wars and the lack of supplies could shift a victory into a loss if under supplied forces are overrun. The vehicles will also be operating in a heavily mined area (their mines and our mines) and should therefore be Mine resistant and have a lower signature in all aspects (IR, Noise, etc). Front line vehicles and scouting vehicles will also need some form of passive and active protection suites.
5. Along with the Howitzer, NLOS carriers that look like tanks can also engage enemy formations in a tank battle, and get the first shot first kill to sow chaos in the enemy formation. The Older 600 Type 59s can be turned into missile carriers and Heavy AFVs rather than be used as tanks where they are no longer suited for.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pereh_(missile_carrier)
https://gss0.bdstatic.com/-4o3dSag_xI4khGkpoWK1HF6hhy/baike/c0=baike92,5,5,92,30/sign=c68e1cbcc195d143ce7bec711299e967/d62a6059252dd42aac1df1140a3b5bb5c9eab87d.jpg
These are just a few ways the military can holistically weaken if not neutralize the Indian Cold Start plans. Fear is a huge part of deterrence. So if they want to claim these Howitzers are Nuclear Capable, then let them. The Nasr has prevent war for nearly a decade. Our Defense Industry, and those of our Partners can develop all of these solutions in a few years if we are ready to pay for them.
Peace Through Strength
fantastic post.i think for future battles, we need more advanced drones and EW systems.we must jam their communication before they can launch any attack.also idea of protecting systems against mines is necessary.terrain is difficult.we must analyze our enemy and find their vulnerability.