Military
Friday, March 4, 2011 7:42 PM Posted by ZAKIR{F}KHURRAM Labels: Military
Al-Khalid, Type 98, and T-90 Dominate World Tank Market
Al-Khalid, Type 98, and T-90 Dominate World Tank Market
Forecast International | Mar 26, 2008
NEWTOWN: In its annual analysis, "The Market for Tanks," the Forecast International Weapons Group expects that the international market will produce over 6,900 main battle tanks, worth nearly $27.9 billion, through 2017. However, while increased modernization and retrofit remains transparent to our analysis of new-production tanks, this factor remains a significant component of the international market.
Dean Lockwood, Weapons Systems Analyst at Forecast International and author of the analysis, noted, “In 2007, U.S. Department of Defense contract awards for the maintenance, RESET, and upgrade of the existing M1 Abrams inventories carried a total value of over $1.223 billion.” That was equivalent to nearly 33.25 percent of the total value of all new-production main battle tanks entering the international market in 2007 (over $3.68 billion - Defence Talk.com).
Last year, the Chinese Type 98 program maintained its position as the single largest new-production program. Yet, with a total value of $402.62 million (for 118 new-production tanks), the Type 98 program was worth less than 33 percent what the U.S. DoD spent on the M1 Abrams in 2007.
The expense associated with the modernization and retrofit of high-end main battle tanks pales in comparison with the prospect of new tank procurement. Thus, we expect that new production of high-end tanks will remain relatively low, accounting for 14.03 percent of all production and worth 22.25 percent of the market, during the forecast period.
In terms of sheer numbers, we expect that Pakistan’s Al Khalid, the Type 98 of the People’s Republic of China, and the Russian Federation’s T-90 (including India’s licensed T-90S production program) will continue to dominate the market, accounting for 60.38 percent of all new tanks rolling out worldwide, worth 52.82 percent of the market, through 2017.
In the international market for main battle tanks, the days of U.S. and European domination over new production appear to be long gone. Nevertheless, the established U.S. and European players continue to make their presence felt. The 120mm Rh 120 smoothbore ordnance, the state-of-the-art Leopard 2, and the combat-proven M1 Abrams continue to set the standard for main battle tank design worldwide.
Second only to the infantryman in terms of combat effectiveness, the “mailed fist” of heavy armor remains the arm of decision on the modern battlefield. Further, as Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-present) evolved from a war of movement into a security operation, the main battle tank has proven surprisingly adaptable. According to Lockwood, “In the congested streets of Iraqi cities, the Abrams serves as a significant force multiplier, fully up to meeting the challenges of an asymmetric warfare environment.”
Forecast International, Inc. is a leading provider of Market Intelligence and Analysis in the areas of aerospace, defense, power systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, CT, USA, Forecast International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and market assessments utilized by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military organizations, and governments worldwide.
Pakistan-Turkey to undertake joint defence productions
ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): Pakistan and Turkey agreed to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields particularly in the area of defence.Both the brotherly countries highlighted the need for undertaking Joint Defence Productions benefitting the two brotherly nations in terms of improving and strengthening their defence capability.A unanimous agreement focussing the joint defence productions was reached at a meeting held between Minister for Defence Ch. Ahmad Mukhtar and his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul, in Ankara on Tuesday, says a fax message received from Ankara.
The meeting reviewed the ongoing projects in the defence sector that includes the overhauling of F-16 aircraft. It was agreed to strengthen the existing high level cooperation forum that provides a better platform for improving our relations in various fields.
The minister also thanked his Turkish counterpart for providing assistance for the rehabilitation of flood victims of Pakistan.
Pak. Army successfully tests anti-tank guided missile in Jhelum
JHELUM: Pakistan Army has successfully tested a completely indigenous anti-tank guided missile on Sunday.
According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, this test was conducted at Tilla Firing Range in Jhelum.
The tested anti-tank guided missile hit hundred percent successfully on the target and proven its proficiency above the expectations.
After this successful test of the guided missile, Pakistan Army has taken an edge over the rivals in the conventional war fare. SAMAA
KAYANI IS "DESPERATE" FOR HELICOPTERS
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
1. (C) Summary and Action Request. In a two hour conversation with Ambassador May 23, Chief of Army Staff General Kayani told Ambassador he was "desperate" for helicopter support as he had only five MI-17s operational. Kayani insisted that Pakistani technicians were capable of doing required helicopter maintenance. There are two ways for the Pakistani military to acquire additional helicopters relatively quickly: (1) a lease, and we understand a waiver to enable the USG to lease MI-17s now needs only congressional notification; and (2) procurement through Pakistan's FMF account, which also requires a waiver. We expect Pakistan to prefer the first option. Post acknowledges the frustration of dealing with the Pakistani military, but it is critical to our interests that they receive help as soon as possible to clear Swat and move on the Waziristans, the heart of cross-border operations against U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Post recommends that we request expedited congressional notification of the MI-17 waiver. In the meantime, we continue to seek Cobra helicopter spare parts. End Summary and Action Request.
2. (C) In a two hour conversation May 23 (septel) Chief of Army Staff General Kayani told Ambassador he was "desperate" for helicopter support. He said he could not move against North and South Waziristan until he had more lift. At that moment, he said he had five MI-17s operational. (This is a lower number than others have told us.) As has been previously reported, Kayani wanted U.S. support to lease MI-17 helicopters, and he needed spare parts for the Cobra helicopters. Ambassador said she wanted to "clear the air" about some of the offers of U.S. assistance that had gone unanswered, such as the helicopter maintenance contract and the ISR platform.
3. (C) Kayani said he did not need U.S. help on maintenance: the Cobras were twenty-five years old and had been maintained by Pakistani technicians. But he needed the U.S. Government to stop the constant stream of leaks from Washington. These always made it appear as if he were taking steps in response to U.S. demands. He said he had been successfully moving troops from the eastern border, but this was undermined by the drumbeat in the U.S. press that he was taking this action in response to U.S. demands. The U.S., he said, is always trying to press on him sophisticated U.S. systems, which the Pakistani military had neither the ability nor the funds to manage. Domestic political support for current combat operations would be eroded by a bigger U.S. military presence, he said.
4. (C) Embassy understands that the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA) waiver that enables the USG potentially to procure or lease MI-17s has just been approved by the Department, and the only remaining hurdle is the Congressional notification. The notification process needs to be expedited. The Mission is considering options to assist Pakistan Army in procuring or leasing MI-17s. If the supplemental is passed, our preferred option is to use the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capabilities Fund (PCCF) to lease nine MI-17s. A U.S. controlled lease of this kind allows us to include necessary maintenance (which any contractor is likely to stipulate) and provides leverage over use of the helicopters in order to ensure the helicopters are applied in counter-insurgency activities. The nine MI-17s the Pakistanis have requested would be leased for the duration of ongoing overhauls of nine Pakistan Army MI-17s and would, in effect, be a 1-for-1 backfill of those helicopters in overhaul.
5. (C) Alternately, if the supplemental is not passed in time, the Mission can advise the GOP to use its FMF to buy or lease MI-17 helicopters. If the GOP chooses to use its FMF for this purpose, the Mission will need to obtain an Offshore Procurement (OSP) waiver from DOD, with State Department and Department of Treasury concurrence, and an agreement with the GOP specifying the conditions on how they intend to use these new MI-17 helicopters, The terms of the agreement will specify use of the helicopters in support of counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency (COIN) operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the Northwest Frontier Province, and portions of Balochistan. Further, if a purchase, the agreement will require a comprehensive
ISLAMABAD 00001119 002 OF 002
maintenance and logistics package in conjunction with the helicopters.
6. (C) Finally, we will require access to the helicopters above and beyond normal End Use Monitoring standards in order to certify the helicopters' use in COIN operations. The Mission's assessment is that because the Pakistan military has not forecast the use of FMF for helicopter procurement, the opportunity cost of using FMF to procure helicopters makes it unlikely that the GOP would choose to do so quickly. In any case, we are fully prepared to assist the Pakistan Army to address the maintenance issues of the MI-17 helicopters if it so desires. If, as General Kayani indicates, only five MI-17s are operational, we can produce the equivalent of 'new' helicopters by assisting the Pakistan Army to repair the helicopters that are non-operational.
7. (C) Other helicopters in Pakistan's aviation fleet face equally troubling operational readiness and availability issues. We are searching for and acquiring specific critical spare items for Cobra helicopters as quickly as possible, and have provided an agreement to resume work on eight Pakistani Cobras now in the U.S. Despite the urgency of the existing situation in the NWFP and FATA, we are waiting for the GOP to sign letters of agreement on Cobra spare parts.
8. (C) Comment: Embassy is aware that U.S. engagement with the Pakistani military has been frustrating. Transparency is often non-existent. Offers of assistance go unanswered or are overruled at headquarters, even as Pakistan's maintenance and training are inadequate. Still, the success of our own troop surge in Afghanistan and the stability of Pakistan's government depend on rolling back the terrorist threat in Swat and eliminating the terrorist safehavens in the Waziristans. The inability of the GOP to control North and South Waziristan has enabled terrorists to operate throughout the country. Kayani confided to an American visitor recently that he would not be able to move to Waziristan until late summer. While that movement will not be determined solely by the availability of helicopter support, it is certainly the case that the availability of helicopters will be a key factor in making the decision to go.
PATTERSON
US embassy cables: Pakistan army chief 'desperate' for US military support | World news | guardian.co.uk
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Al-Khalid, Type 98, and T-90 Dominate World Tank Market
Forecast International | Mar 26, 2008
NEWTOWN: In its annual analysis, "The Market for Tanks," the Forecast International Weapons Group expects that the international market will produce over 6,900 main battle tanks, worth nearly $27.9 billion, through 2017. However, while increased modernization and retrofit remains transparent to our analysis of new-production tanks, this factor remains a significant component of the international market.
Dean Lockwood, Weapons Systems Analyst at Forecast International and author of the analysis, noted, “In 2007, U.S. Department of Defense contract awards for the maintenance, RESET, and upgrade of the existing M1 Abrams inventories carried a total value of over $1.223 billion.” That was equivalent to nearly 33.25 percent of the total value of all new-production main battle tanks entering the international market in 2007 (over $3.68 billion - Defence Talk.com).
Last year, the Chinese Type 98 program maintained its position as the single largest new-production program. Yet, with a total value of $402.62 million (for 118 new-production tanks), the Type 98 program was worth less than 33 percent what the U.S. DoD spent on the M1 Abrams in 2007.
The expense associated with the modernization and retrofit of high-end main battle tanks pales in comparison with the prospect of new tank procurement. Thus, we expect that new production of high-end tanks will remain relatively low, accounting for 14.03 percent of all production and worth 22.25 percent of the market, during the forecast period.
In terms of sheer numbers, we expect that Pakistan’s Al Khalid, the Type 98 of the People’s Republic of China, and the Russian Federation’s T-90 (including India’s licensed T-90S production program) will continue to dominate the market, accounting for 60.38 percent of all new tanks rolling out worldwide, worth 52.82 percent of the market, through 2017.
In the international market for main battle tanks, the days of U.S. and European domination over new production appear to be long gone. Nevertheless, the established U.S. and European players continue to make their presence felt. The 120mm Rh 120 smoothbore ordnance, the state-of-the-art Leopard 2, and the combat-proven M1 Abrams continue to set the standard for main battle tank design worldwide.
Second only to the infantryman in terms of combat effectiveness, the “mailed fist” of heavy armor remains the arm of decision on the modern battlefield. Further, as Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-present) evolved from a war of movement into a security operation, the main battle tank has proven surprisingly adaptable. According to Lockwood, “In the congested streets of Iraqi cities, the Abrams serves as a significant force multiplier, fully up to meeting the challenges of an asymmetric warfare environment.”
Forecast International, Inc. is a leading provider of Market Intelligence and Analysis in the areas of aerospace, defense, power systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, CT, USA, Forecast International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and market assessments utilized by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military organizations, and governments worldwide.
Pakistan-Turkey to undertake joint defence productions
ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): Pakistan and Turkey agreed to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields particularly in the area of defence.Both the brotherly countries highlighted the need for undertaking Joint Defence Productions benefitting the two brotherly nations in terms of improving and strengthening their defence capability.A unanimous agreement focussing the joint defence productions was reached at a meeting held between Minister for Defence Ch. Ahmad Mukhtar and his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul, in Ankara on Tuesday, says a fax message received from Ankara.
The meeting reviewed the ongoing projects in the defence sector that includes the overhauling of F-16 aircraft. It was agreed to strengthen the existing high level cooperation forum that provides a better platform for improving our relations in various fields.
The minister also thanked his Turkish counterpart for providing assistance for the rehabilitation of flood victims of Pakistan.
Pak. Army successfully tests anti-tank guided missile in Jhelum
JHELUM: Pakistan Army has successfully tested a completely indigenous anti-tank guided missile on Sunday.
According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, this test was conducted at Tilla Firing Range in Jhelum.
The tested anti-tank guided missile hit hundred percent successfully on the target and proven its proficiency above the expectations.
After this successful test of the guided missile, Pakistan Army has taken an edge over the rivals in the conventional war fare. SAMAA
KAYANI IS "DESPERATE" FOR HELICOPTERS
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)
1. (C) Summary and Action Request. In a two hour conversation with Ambassador May 23, Chief of Army Staff General Kayani told Ambassador he was "desperate" for helicopter support as he had only five MI-17s operational. Kayani insisted that Pakistani technicians were capable of doing required helicopter maintenance. There are two ways for the Pakistani military to acquire additional helicopters relatively quickly: (1) a lease, and we understand a waiver to enable the USG to lease MI-17s now needs only congressional notification; and (2) procurement through Pakistan's FMF account, which also requires a waiver. We expect Pakistan to prefer the first option. Post acknowledges the frustration of dealing with the Pakistani military, but it is critical to our interests that they receive help as soon as possible to clear Swat and move on the Waziristans, the heart of cross-border operations against U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Post recommends that we request expedited congressional notification of the MI-17 waiver. In the meantime, we continue to seek Cobra helicopter spare parts. End Summary and Action Request.
2. (C) In a two hour conversation May 23 (septel) Chief of Army Staff General Kayani told Ambassador he was "desperate" for helicopter support. He said he could not move against North and South Waziristan until he had more lift. At that moment, he said he had five MI-17s operational. (This is a lower number than others have told us.) As has been previously reported, Kayani wanted U.S. support to lease MI-17 helicopters, and he needed spare parts for the Cobra helicopters. Ambassador said she wanted to "clear the air" about some of the offers of U.S. assistance that had gone unanswered, such as the helicopter maintenance contract and the ISR platform.
3. (C) Kayani said he did not need U.S. help on maintenance: the Cobras were twenty-five years old and had been maintained by Pakistani technicians. But he needed the U.S. Government to stop the constant stream of leaks from Washington. These always made it appear as if he were taking steps in response to U.S. demands. He said he had been successfully moving troops from the eastern border, but this was undermined by the drumbeat in the U.S. press that he was taking this action in response to U.S. demands. The U.S., he said, is always trying to press on him sophisticated U.S. systems, which the Pakistani military had neither the ability nor the funds to manage. Domestic political support for current combat operations would be eroded by a bigger U.S. military presence, he said.
4. (C) Embassy understands that the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA) waiver that enables the USG potentially to procure or lease MI-17s has just been approved by the Department, and the only remaining hurdle is the Congressional notification. The notification process needs to be expedited. The Mission is considering options to assist Pakistan Army in procuring or leasing MI-17s. If the supplemental is passed, our preferred option is to use the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capabilities Fund (PCCF) to lease nine MI-17s. A U.S. controlled lease of this kind allows us to include necessary maintenance (which any contractor is likely to stipulate) and provides leverage over use of the helicopters in order to ensure the helicopters are applied in counter-insurgency activities. The nine MI-17s the Pakistanis have requested would be leased for the duration of ongoing overhauls of nine Pakistan Army MI-17s and would, in effect, be a 1-for-1 backfill of those helicopters in overhaul.
5. (C) Alternately, if the supplemental is not passed in time, the Mission can advise the GOP to use its FMF to buy or lease MI-17 helicopters. If the GOP chooses to use its FMF for this purpose, the Mission will need to obtain an Offshore Procurement (OSP) waiver from DOD, with State Department and Department of Treasury concurrence, and an agreement with the GOP specifying the conditions on how they intend to use these new MI-17 helicopters, The terms of the agreement will specify use of the helicopters in support of counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency (COIN) operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the Northwest Frontier Province, and portions of Balochistan. Further, if a purchase, the agreement will require a comprehensive
ISLAMABAD 00001119 002 OF 002
maintenance and logistics package in conjunction with the helicopters.
6. (C) Finally, we will require access to the helicopters above and beyond normal End Use Monitoring standards in order to certify the helicopters' use in COIN operations. The Mission's assessment is that because the Pakistan military has not forecast the use of FMF for helicopter procurement, the opportunity cost of using FMF to procure helicopters makes it unlikely that the GOP would choose to do so quickly. In any case, we are fully prepared to assist the Pakistan Army to address the maintenance issues of the MI-17 helicopters if it so desires. If, as General Kayani indicates, only five MI-17s are operational, we can produce the equivalent of 'new' helicopters by assisting the Pakistan Army to repair the helicopters that are non-operational.
7. (C) Other helicopters in Pakistan's aviation fleet face equally troubling operational readiness and availability issues. We are searching for and acquiring specific critical spare items for Cobra helicopters as quickly as possible, and have provided an agreement to resume work on eight Pakistani Cobras now in the U.S. Despite the urgency of the existing situation in the NWFP and FATA, we are waiting for the GOP to sign letters of agreement on Cobra spare parts.
8. (C) Comment: Embassy is aware that U.S. engagement with the Pakistani military has been frustrating. Transparency is often non-existent. Offers of assistance go unanswered or are overruled at headquarters, even as Pakistan's maintenance and training are inadequate. Still, the success of our own troop surge in Afghanistan and the stability of Pakistan's government depend on rolling back the terrorist threat in Swat and eliminating the terrorist safehavens in the Waziristans. The inability of the GOP to control North and South Waziristan has enabled terrorists to operate throughout the country. Kayani confided to an American visitor recently that he would not be able to move to Waziristan until late summer. While that movement will not be determined solely by the availability of helicopter support, it is certainly the case that the availability of helicopters will be a key factor in making the decision to go.
PATTERSON
US embassy cables: Pakistan army chief 'desperate' for US military support | World news | guardian.co.uk
You might also like:
Russia Rebuffed on Missile Offer
PNS Saif Arrives at Karachi Port
US takes up Pakistan military wish-list
FIA includes Musharraf to accused list in Benazir case
Gunmen torch Nato tanker in Sibbi
LinkWithin
