How Pakistan could effectively cripple Indian’s air force with rocket artillery, and what is needed.

[Slav Defence]

This writing is my short opinion, and research based article for the Best Writer completion. I don't expect to win, and that was not my complete goal here I am just trying to give my opinion on a underutilized strategic weapon. This is my first real article here that I gave a good effort on so go easy on me please.


Long range multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) are somewhat underappreciated systems that can be used effectively in a suppressive role and are a much cheaper alternative then cruise missiles yet allow much more payload delivered on target. Pakistan could in theory use rocket artillery with ranges varying from 100 to 400km acquired from nations that are recent suppliers of Pakistan that produce these systems namely, Turkey, and China.[1][2] Assuming Pakistan could use its MLRS in an offensive role like how America used its Tomahawk cruise missiles in the early stages of the Iraq war, and more recently in the April 2017 strikes on Syrian airbases thereby rendering roughly 20% of the Syrian air force destroyed. [3]


Currently Pakistan has A-100 which lacks range, and accuracy to hit more then a few airbases without coming very close to the LOC and within striking range of well-placed strikes. I have taken the liberty of making a map of the Western Air Command to the best of my knowledge with public sources with the range of the A-100 overlapped. As you can see at most Pakistan can take out a few airbases with concentrated strikes of 50+ rockets absolutely decimating targets with a large 200kg fragmentation warhead that will decimate aircraft runways and allow PAF aircraft to destroy the aircraft on the ground.[4]

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One solution to this problem would be Pakistan acquiring longer range MLRS such as the A300 manufactured by China and currently used by the PLA army. The A-300 has a maximum range of 290 kilometers, a 150kg warhead roughly 1/3 the explosives of the Tomahawk and is not bound by MTCR rules which China follows.[5] This range would allow destruction, or a significant disruption in operation of airbases which would allow Pakistani fighters to operate much more easily inside of India without a major fighter threat for at least a few weeks as India is forced to make new airbases and operate further inside of India. I have again taken the liberty of making a map with the A300 launched from or near Lahore overlain over Indian airbases. As is evident, only about five bases would survive assuming a success rate of 100%, this scenario is only about the Western air command, but it can be applied to the South Western Air command as well. The other five airbases could be taken out by cruise missiles in Pakistani service such as the Babur.[6]

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@Slav Defence @Irfan Baloch @WebMaster @WAJsal @Horus

Excellent, well done!!
Thread set as featured!!!

regards

 

[Darth Vader]

Instead of using these for Airports.
Best Scenario is Pakistani Army using these to attack large formations of Indian forces.

Pakistan can use cluster anti - air fields bomb for that specific role providing precision and achieving object with less use of resources.

Few Dedicated moving units will wreck hovac on enemy

 

[khail007]

not sure where you heard that, there is significant backscatter from rocket exhaust plumes. Modern radars can pick up and trace the launching platform quite easily.

Sir, in those days I was in South (KSA). I could not provide you the audios/videos of those days but I myself is sure of it.

 

[dbc]

Sir, in those days I was in South (KSA). I could not provide you the audios/videos of those days but I myself is sure of it.

This was a long time ago, sensors have improved much since then.

Poor weather conditions and Iraqi deception techniques made it extremely difficult for coalition forces to detect and attack the dispersed TELs before they launched their missiles. Instead, air commanders focused on destroying the vehicles after they had launched their Scuds. Toward this end, the coalition mounted combat air controls over so-called “kill boxes” where TELs were suspected.17 The kill boxes were located in two areas—western Iraq near the Jordanian border, where the Scuds were fired at Israel, and southern Iraq, where they were aimed at Saudi Arabia.18 Air commanders hoped that keeping aircraft on station over the kill boxes would allow F-15E and F-16L strike aircraft to hit the TELs after they had launched their weapons but before they had time to flee to safety. 19 However, sensors aboard orbiting coalition aircraft, including LANTIRN (Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared System for Night) and a synthetic aperture radar, were unable to identify and acquire the TELs, whose infrared and radar signatures were virtually indistinguishable from trucks and other electromagnetic “clutter” in the Iraqi desert and were relatively easy to mask.20 The maddeningly elusive nature of the Iraqi targets is illustrated dramatically by the fact that on the 42 occasions during the war when orbiting strikers visually sighted mobile TELs, in only eight instances were they able to acquire the targets sufficiently well to release ordnance.

https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1408/MR1408.ch3.pdf

 

[Genghis khan1]

If you are shooting and scooting you can’t barrage attack Indian bases can you? Cruise missiles, PGM, cluster munitions are all superior options. Heck PAF Mirages successfully attacked an Indian base last year with a PGMs so the whole premise of shutting down an enemy base with rocket attacks is flawed.

Let suppose OP premise is correct and there is a base in range. MLRS would be the best
Course of action for any commander. MLRS have different types of munition to include cluster. Single Volley of only 6 rockets can cover an area of one km radius. Depends upon model, Chinese MLRS have 8 to 10 tubes per MLRS. No sane commander will waste expensive cruise missiles, pull limited
air assets away from other missions and Run a relatively expensive mission, while risking them getting down by SaMs or enemy air cover, when he can level an airbase with few volleys of cluster munitions MLRS.

 

[Rehan khan 1]

nah! You can locate it in 5 seconds..

MLRs have wheels under it. shoot and scoot right?

 

[dbc]

MLRs have wheels under it. shoot and scoot right?

Of course, but to get a barrage effect you have to sustain fire - so its a lot of shooting and scooting, rinse and repeat. There are more effective ways to take out a base.

 

[313ghazi]

MRLS could be useful, but I think they're most useful role would be to attack Radars, control towers, SAMs and other static targets in the first volley of a conflict. Let them fire their AD at massive barrages of inexpensive rockets, and follow up with PAF and cruise missiles to to take out higher value targets.

 

[Pakistani Fighter]

you can jam GPS signal with 10$ equipment from AliBaba.

Beidou??

 

[Rehan khan 1]

Of course, but to get a barrage effect you have to sustain fire - so its a lot of shooting and scooting, rinse and repeat. There are more effective ways to take out a base.

you can buy more systems for barrage. these could also be used for saturation attack on s-400. these systems are cheaper than single brahmose missile or single s-400 missile. there are many ways to attack bases but this one is going to be more effective and with low loss anticipation.

 

[dbc]

Beidou??

All operate in the same L1/E1 band so yes even Beidou (COMPASS)

 

[notorious_eagle]

Come on mate. We are talking about Indians, with out date equipment and very dubious missiles.

Stop being so overconfident. They still have superior equipment compared to us, and they have the Smerch, which is as good as they get.

What retaliation, give me an example of things India could do and long range weaponry it has? This is full blown war scenario, not a minor skirmish. India would have do something drastic first in order for this to be done.

Launch a ballistic missile and let it get interpreted the wrong way and be ready for nuclear war.

They have the SMERCH. An absolute hammer of a weapon to have in your arsenal. In fact, PA didn't have an answer to this system for the longest time till the introduction of A-100. They could have literally decimated PA's Armoured Formations without any threat of counter battery fire.

Best Scenario is Pakistani Army using these to attack large formations of Indian forces.

Based on PA's current training, this is exactly what they will use the A-100 for, to target Indian Armoured Formations. PGM's and Cruise Missiles are far more accurate and deadly to target Air Bases.

 

[StormBreaker]

This writing is my short opinion, and research based article for the Best Writer completion. I don't expect to win, and that was not my complete goal here I am just trying to give my opinion on a underutilized strategic weapon. This is my first real article here that I gave a good effort on so go easy on me please.


Long range multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) are somewhat underappreciated systems that can be used effectively in a suppressive role and are a much cheaper alternative then cruise missiles yet allow much more payload delivered on target. Pakistan could in theory use rocket artillery with ranges varying from 100 to 400km acquired from nations that are recent suppliers of Pakistan that produce these systems namely, Turkey, and China.[1][2] Assuming Pakistan could use its MLRS in an offensive role like how America used its Tomahawk cruise missiles in the early stages of the Iraq war, and more recently in the April 2017 strikes on Syrian airbases thereby rendering roughly 20% of the Syrian air force destroyed. [3]


Currently Pakistan has A-100 which lacks range, and accuracy to hit more then a few airbases without coming very close to the LOC and within striking range of well-placed strikes. I have taken the liberty of making a map of the Western Air Command to the best of my knowledge with public sources with the range of the A-100 overlapped. As you can see at most Pakistan can take out a few airbases with concentrated strikes of 50+ rockets absolutely decimating targets with a large 200kg fragmentation warhead that will decimate aircraft runways and allow PAF aircraft to destroy the aircraft on the ground.[4]

View attachment 621095

One solution to this problem would be Pakistan acquiring longer range MLRS such as the A300 manufactured by China and currently used by the PLA army. The A-300 has a maximum range of 290 kilometers, a 150kg warhead roughly 1/3 the explosives of the Tomahawk and is not bound by MTCR rules which China follows.[5] This range would allow destruction, or a significant disruption in operation of airbases which would allow Pakistani fighters to operate much more easily inside of India without a major fighter threat for at least a few weeks as India is forced to make new airbases and operate further inside of India. I have again taken the liberty of making a map with the A300 launched from or near Lahore overlain over Indian airbases. As is evident, only about five bases would survive assuming a success rate of 100%, this scenario is only about the Western air command, but it can be applied to the South Western Air command as well. The other five airbases could be taken out by cruise missiles in Pakistani service such as the Babur.[6]

View attachment 621096


@Slav Defence @Irfan Baloch @WebMaster @WAJsal @Horus

Good, Now here is an assignment for you,

Think of yourself as some Indian planner, How would you counter such situation and make it impossible or tough ?

Hoping to get a reply, take your time

 

[Rehan khan 1]

Good, Now here is an assignment for you,

Think of yourself as some Indian planner, How would you counter such situation and make it impossible or tough ?

Hoping to get a reply, take your time

probably take them out in preemptive strike or use drones and human intelligence for air or artillery attack.

 

[Pakistani Fighter]

target Indian Armoured Formations

NASR with Sub Munitions could be more effective