Pakistan Army Aviation Corps - Updated

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[fatman17]

Pakistan Wins Approval To Purchase Mi-35 Helo

Nov. 13, 2014 - 09:11PM |
By USMAN ANSARI

Pakistan hopes to soon complete a deal to acquire Mi-35 helicopter gunships after winning Russian approval for the sale. (Russian Helicopters)

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s attempts to acquire new helicopter gunships appear to be nearing success with news that a deal for Mi-35 Hind helicopters has been approved.

Speaking to Radio Pakistan on Wednesday, Russia’s ambassador to Pakistan, Alexy Dedov, said the deal had been approved but political and commercial negotiations continued.

Pakistan has sought new helicopter gunships for the best part of a decade to replace AH-1F Cobras, which have been fast wearing out due to the pace of operations against the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and its allies in and around the Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan.

Analyst Haris Khan of the Pakistan Military Consortium think tank said Pak-Russian ties have been growing closer and more defense deals are likely.

“Ever since former President Musharraf and President Putin developed a rapport, the Pak-Russo relationship has taken a mutually beneficial path. Recently, Russian Navy ships have docked at Karachi and both the navies have indulged in naval exercises. Both Russia and China have also actively supported Pakistan to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full member,” Khan said.

“In the coming weeks, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu will be visiting Islamabad and more than likely the deal would be finalized. There is also a possibility of other military equipment that Pakistanis are interested in buying”, he added.

Similarly, Salma Malik, assistant professor in the Department of Defence & Strategic Studies, at Islamabad’s Quaid-i-Azam University, says there are political considerations that have come into play, and ultimately both sides benefit.

“This is not the first time Pakistan and Russia [formerly as the Soviet Union] have entered into high-level cooperation. Unfortunately like the past, this too is in the context of balancing relations vis a vis India. However, this time round the added dimension, which is positive for us, is the financial dividend and alternate military purchase option such a deal brings to both Russia and Pakistan, respectively,” she said.

She believes geo-political considerations have also pushed Russia to court Pakistan.

“Also in the backdrop of the Afghan scenario, however grudgingly, the international powers have to accept and acknowledge Pakistan’s role in a peaceful and stable future, which is beneficial to all, and with lesser friends in the international circuit [because of the] Ukrainian issue, Moscow would not like to lose out on any footholds it can reach in case of a breakout of a new Cold War.”

Though the Defence Ministry here did not reply to requests for clarification on details of the deal, the variant being negotiated for is the Mi-35M all weather day/night capable version.

Analyst, author and former Australian defense attache to Pakistan, Brian Cloughley, welcomes the deal despite the obvious cost issues for Pakistan, and highlights how it will bring Pakistan and Russia closer.

“It certainly seems that the deal will go ahead, but of course the financial details are most important. It is highly likely that Russia will offer very attractive terms and also lock Pakistan into a long-term agreement, which will be no bad thing for either country,” he said.

Adding, “It’s politically even more significant than it is militarily important,” as it would help Pakistan “even more on the international stage, and gradually remove it from US dominance, which has grown increasingly intense in the past five years.”

In purely military terms he believes the Hind will be warmly welcomed.

“Certainly it’s going to help Pakistan enormously, by putting in place a [comparatively] cheap, well-proven [general purpose], but mainly attack helicopter,” he said.

“For COIN and such against militants it is a viable platform,” Khan said. “It is heavily armored, has weapons for its own defense and to a certain degree offense, and is a combination of armored gunship and troop transport which has no equal in the world.”

There were generally considered to be three long-term alternatives to the AH-1F.

The Turkish TAI T-129 nearly secured an order from Pakistan but a potential deal was scuppered due to financial difficulties despite very generous terms offered by Turkey.

It had been seen as a strong contender by analysts, however, and was deemed to be ideally suited to Pakistan’s topography and climate.

The Chinese CAIC WZ-10 was also thought to be an increasingly strong option, not least because of the generous financial terms the Chinese would have been able to offer.

Despite it being a relatively new type, Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for Military Aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, believed an export is possible.

“The Chinese military appears now to be building experience with its Z-10 units, including mixed type exercises. Developing the tactics and procedures to gain the most from what at least seems a reasonably capable attack helicopter is an ongoing process,” he said.

“While comparatively early in terms of its service life, an export at this point would not be impossible,” he added.

What many had considered a natural option, and which had been much discussed over the years, the US AH-1Z Viper, is seen as increasingly unlikely despite some support from the US State Department.
Cloughley said the Hind is Pakistan’s only likely acquisition.

“The Cobra was getting too expensive to run, and replacements weren’t likely to be approved by Congress, even if Pakistan could afford them. Don’t think the 129 is in there,” he said. ■
Email: uansari@defensenews.com.

 

[fatman17]

Air Platforms
Russia, Pakistan close in on Mi-35 deal
Farhan Bokhari, Islamabad - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
13 November 2014


Russia has apparently decided to go ahead with the sale of Mi-35 attack helicopters, similar to this Afghan model, to Pakistan despite Indian opposition. Source: AP Photos

Russia has "politically approved" a deal for Moscow to sell a batch of Mil Mi-35 'Hind E' heavy attack helicopters to Pakistan, Russia's ambassador told Radio Pakistan, the state owned broadcaster, on 12 November.

Although Alexey Dedov did not reveal the number of platforms under discussion, a senior Pakistani government official confirmed to IHS Jane's that the purchase of up to 20 helicopters was under discussion. "This is a big breakthrough for Pakistan. Russia has decided to ignore India's pressure and proceed with this deal with Pakistan," said the official.

Pakistan has previously been discouraged from securing any major defence contracts with Russia due to objections from India, which is one of Moscow's most important arms customers.

"Times have changed. The Russians have realised that Pakistan genuinely needs this equipment for a very legitimate reason," said the Pakistani government official. Since June, the Pakistan Army has relied in part on Mil Mi-17 'Hip' helicopters in its military campaign against the Taliban in the north Waziristan region along the Afghan border.

COMMENT
Analysts said the Pakistan Army, which is the defence forces' main helicopter operator, has chosen the Mi-35 because of its satisfaction with Russian helicopters that it has used previously, notably the Mi-17. Pakistan first received Mi-17s in 1994; most recently the United States donated four reconditioned platforms in 2009.

"Our helicopter pilots are very comfortable with Russian helicopters. We have chosen the Mi-35 based on our prior experience with Russian helicopters, which has been very good" said retired Brigadier Farooq Hameed Khan, a former senior Pakistan Army officer who trained as a helicopter pilot.

In recent years, Pakistani officials have become increasingly confident over prospects for future purchase of Russia's military hardware. For example, the JF-17 'Thunder' fighter, which is co-produced by the Pakistan Air Force and China's Chengdu Aviation Corporation, is powered by the Russian-manufactured RD-93 engine.

Related article: India unhappy at Russia's Mi-35 sale to Pakistan

 

[fatman17]

Harbin Z-19 Light Attack Helicopter, China

Key Data

• Type Light attack and reconnaissance helicopter
• Developer Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG)
• Operator People's Liberation Army Air Force
• Crew Two
• Cruising Speed 245km
• Maximum Range 700km

Z-19 is a light attack and reconnaissance helicopter developed and manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG), for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

It is based on the Harbin Z-9W military utility helicopter, which is a license-built variant of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin multi-purpose helicopter.

The Z-19 can primarily conduct attack, armed reconnaissance and scout missions. It is capable of destroying enemy tanks and other land-based targets.

In May 2010. the helicopter performed its first flight and was introduced at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, held at the Airshow China held in Zhuhai in November 2012.

Z-19 attack helicopter design and features

The Z-19 light attack and reconnaissance helicopter features a conventional, stealthy design integrating a trimmed forward fuselage and a tandem cockpit. It also has a low acoustic signature and can execute operations under difficult weather and environmental conditions.
A four-bladed main rotor, which has a diameter of 11.9m comes fitted into the fuselage, as does a fenestron tail rotor and two stubby wings. The fuselage is also equipped with non-retractable front-landing gears for safe take-off and landing.
The helicopter has a length of 12m and height of approximately 4.01m. Maximum take-off weight is 4,500kg, whereas the empty weight is 2,350kg.
A crew of two operate the helicopter. This includes a pilot, who is seated in the front of the cockpit and a gunner, accommodated at the rear. Crash-resistant seats and armour plates come with the cockpit to offer protection for the personnel. An infrared-suppressing exhaust system is also installed for protection against infrared-guided threats.

Avionics on board Z-19 helicopter
The Harbin Z-19 light attack helicopter features a gyro-stabilised sensor turret fixed under the nose. This turret houses forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera systems, laser range finder/designator and a TV.
The helicopter is also equipped with the latest mast-mounted active millimetre-wave (MMW) radar to find and engage targets over long ranges and comes with advanced helmet mounted sight (HMS) and fly-by-wire controls.

Z-19 helicopter weaponry
"Powered by a solid fuel rocket, the 25kg missile can reach speeds up to 220m/s."
Four hard-points can be found under the wings of the Harbin Z-19. These wings can carry TY-90 (TianYan-90) short-range air-to-air missiles, gun pods, rocket pods, and pod-mounted 23mm main automatic cannons as well as HJ-8 wire-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system developed by NORINCO.
The TY-90 air-to-air missile measures 1.86m in length and 90mm in diameter. It weighs 20kg, which includes a 3kg warhead and it can reach a top speed of Mach 2. Targets can be struck by the helicopter within a range of 500m to 6km.
The HJ-8 ATGM has an overall length of 1.56m and diameter of 120mm. Powered by a solid fuel rocket, the 25kg missile can reach speeds up to 220m/s. The maximum operational range of the missile is 6km.

Engine and performance of the light attack helicopter
Two WZ-8A Turboshaft engines power the Z-19 light gunship helicopter and generate a take-off power of 632kW each.
The power-plant provides a cruising speed of about 245km/h and a maximum speed of approximately 280km/h. The helicopter has a maximum range of 700km, can climb at a rate of 9m/s and operate at a ceiling of 2,400m. It can perform airborne operations for more than three hours.

The Global Military Rotorcraft Market 2011-2021
This project forms part of our recent analysis and forecasts of the global military rotorcraft market available from our business information platform Strategic Defence Intelligence.

 

[fatman17]

 

[nomi007]

PAA (Pakistan ARMY Aviation) SA-330 Puma utility helicopter.

SA-330 Puma is four bladed chopper and powered by 2x Turboshaft engines and it is usually used for medium transport role.SA-330 can carry upto 20 troops.Currently Pakistan has 55+ units of SA330 Puma choppers.
Pakistan also operates IAR-330 Romanian made variant of SA-330 Puma choppers.

 

[nomi007]

 

[ACE OF THE AIR]

View attachment 154671

it is missing nuclear capability...

 

[special]

it is missing nuclear capability...

nuclear capability!!!!!!1???????? it is a copper... not a fighter jet to have nuclear capability

 

[ACE OF THE AIR]

nuclear capability!!!!!!1???????? it is a copper... not a fighter jet to have nuclear capability

Just wait and watch.

 

[Imran Khan]

nuclear capability!!!!!!1???????? it is a copper... not a fighter jet to have nuclear capability

bhai jis mulk main auto rickshaw nuclear ho sakta hai wahan chopper ky cheez hai

 

[Manticore]

https://i.imgur.com/aSPHBrc.png

 

[special]

Just wait and watch.

wait till when??end of this century??

 

[special]

bhai jis mulk main auto rickshaw nuclear ho sakta hai wahan chopper ky cheez hai

 

[ACE OF THE AIR]

wait till when??end of this century??

Not really it is all planed to be done within few years. As for your doubts that it can not be done just search and you will find that PAF modified a C130 to bomb supply lines during 65 war.