@Gryphon @Quwa
It is a fantastic choice. Pakistan is really deficient in helicopters when one considers the terrain the country has. Having said that, i consider the lack of any attempt at developing the domestic helicopter industry as a big mistake.
Look at India which bought an European design (Dhruv) and manufacturing technology and created an entire helicopter industry from it. They have now built hundreds of these helicopters and it has proven to be a very successful program and has given their army a quantum leap in operations and logistics at high altitudes in the north. They even created a gunship version of this chopper, basically getting a fire-and-forget ATGM firing attack helicopter literally for free. And now they are building a high-altitude gunship (LCH) based on this helicopter which will be able bring close air support to their troops at altitudes in the north where it becomes a game changer for their troops. Not every mountain post can be provided a MANPAD, and area air defence platforms aren't much use there, and a helicopter is the perfect platform for taking out well dug out posts in the mountains that are unapproachable from the ground.
Such transport helicopters, light or heavy, are cheap (costs around the same as a modern tank) and the benefits of a helicopter industry are massive as a chopper will sell in both the military and civilian market. You can take the same helicopter and sell it to civilian markets worldwide, unlike a fighter like the JF-17, which is guaranteed no sales in any western country, even if it was cheaper than anything else in the market. Helis therefore have massive economies of scale as compared to military jets.
Pakistan should acquire license production rights to a helicopter like the AS-550 Fennec or Kamov Ka-226T, or become a partner to Turkish programs to kick start its rotary wing industry. Just the domestic market for such helicopters (military branches and civilian sales potential) will be in the hundreds. The export market is huge as well. A helicopter design can stay competitive for 30-40 years or more with a simple engine update, it is not like a fighter that needs regular technology updates to stay relevant in the wake of its adversaries evolving capabilities.
There are a few factors why the helicopter industry was not built in Pakistan:
1. Unfortunately in Pakistan, the MBT and APC have been given importance over helicopters (all types: transport and gunships, light and medium). Army felt it necessary to raise more armored and mechanized formations for offensive operations and to hold ground. The R&S (Now LAT) battalions also had a similar concept; hold ground through firepower. HIT was formed to rebuild tanks, APC's etc. In 1990's the design for Al-Khalid MBT started where as Army had realized that M-113 will be its choice for APC so a license was obtained for production. Its not just the heli, a push for manufacturing a howitzer has not seen the light of the day.
2. Army relied on ground transport vehicles for ferrying troops and cargo. It was observed that Supply and Transport (S&T) Battalions could transport ordnance, weapons and troops in large quantity over roads in mountains, deserts, plains etc. For this reason NLC and FWO made roads everywhere inside Pakistan. Every Division has a transport battalion composed of heavy haulers, trucks(different sizes), buses and pickups.
3. It was ironic that a combat force of 400,000 to 500,000 troops just had 20 gunships for carrying out attack role back in 80's and 90's. Even at that time the competition was Gunship Vs Armored Division (third armored division for PA). The Gunship lobby won and the AH-1 was inducted. It was given the role of an Ant-Tank platform from the onset to counter Indian armor threat. The TOW system was already used by infantry and on APC, so induction of weapon system was easy.
Now that Mi-24 has been inducted, T-129 on the way, possibly AH-1Z while AH-1F still serving the forces, shows that Military leadership has understood the importance of gunship in major spheres of combat; COIN as well as conventional.
4. Since the Army relied mostly on vehicle transport, it was the mountain terrain (Kashmir/Siachen) where the need for transport helicopters was felt the most. The lighter ones were considered like AS 315 Lama and Alouette III series, able to carry 4 or 5 troops. For medium lift, SA 300 Puma was considered and it was the primary helicopter for SSG for air assault and infantry for heli drop roles. Mi-17's were used for cargo transport. Mainly, the helicopters were used for med evac, supply, sometimes troop insertion etc.
The mules were observed as a cheaper option for transport in harsh mountain terrain and for far flung posts. The Mona depot provided much needed inventory of mules and the RVFC maintained them. Sometimes mules would take 2-3 days in reaching a post for replenishing supplies but that was considered adequate by the High Command.
5. There were no air borne or air assault formations apart from SSG or SSG (N) that would require helicopters in large numbers. Sea Kings of PN were multirole and SSG (N) used them. The LCB's were raised after 2007. Although there still isn't a Brigade sized air assault/ air borne formation (outside SF) but the number of LCB's have grown.The FC/Rangers was modernized in the same era with own Special Wings. The WOT on western border had instigated the need for QRF(Quick Reaction Force), both ground and air, thus the requirement for helicopters increased. It was after 2001 that all arms of Pakistan military (especially Army) started inducting transport helicopters in large numbers due to the COIN war and SF Ops. Now there are different types of transport helis in inventory. Bell 412, Bell 206, AS 550 and AS 350, SA 330, SA 315, 316 and 319, S 300C, E 280 FX, AW 139 and of course Mi-17. Some are light while other are medium and this inventory can sustain air assault operations. Pakistan can go for license production of AS-350/550 and AW-139.
