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Pakistan's helicopter fleet has been ageing and while infusion of new helicopters in the form of UH-60s (potentially), Mi-17s and others, there is a perceived shortage of airframes. This is due to the present war in the tribal areas, where helicopters are at a premium and their shortage is being felt while simultaneously rapidly ageing and depreciating the fleet. It is also due to the extreme topography of Pakistan's north, where an undeclared border conflict continues to consume resources against India.
Helicopters are also an important consideration in terms of the topographic scenario not only in the north but also to the east, where any future conflict with India requires conflicts across rivers and other natural barriers. In contrast to India's huge fleet of growing helicopters including now locally manufactured units, Pakistan has a long-term perceived need of maintaining a semblance of comparability.
One of the key features of the Pakistani helicopter fleet is the diversity of the helicopters available. These include AH-1s, IAR 330, Aerospatiale Alouettes, AS350, UH-1, Bell 412, 206 Jet Ranger, Mi-17s, Z-9s and more. This wide diversity of helicopters with often a small number of units of each type adds a great deal of maintenance and operational issues that adds both expense and consumes significant resources.
The attack helicopter presently in use is also ageing and rapidly losing its operational capability at a time it is needed the most. The AH-1s have been highly successful in FATA and Swat and their dwindling numbers is a serious cause of concern. Pakistan Army (PA) is presently looking at potential replacements including potentially the Z-10 and the Turkish T-129 but funds remain scarce and these deals seem far off. The point remains that even if such a deal goes through, PA will not be able to buy the quantities that the present operational conditions and the long term requirement vis-a-vis the topography in the North and the challenge from the East pose.
Perhaps the answer to this quandary is to replicate the JF-17 and Al-Khalid programs and build an equivalent helicopter plan. One possible solution is to look at importing blue-prints and know-how coupled with joint development. Such a solution could find a partner in China or Turkey. Yet another solution exists.
Given the geo-strategic situation, the US cannot be seen to contribute much post-2014 when their troops leave Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the new Iranian government is showing positive overtures to Pakistan. Iran produces UH-1 / AH-1 helicopters and has the blue prints and production line. While Iranian helicopters are of doubtful quality, if manufacturing of these can be obtained under the table, Pakistan could have an ideal platform to begin helicopter production at minimal cost. Utilizing better technology and higher quality machine tools, Pakistan would produced significantly higher quality aircraft. If technology partnerships can be made with South Africa, China and Turkey in terms of sub-systems and components, the AH-1s and UH-1s could be updated to a competitive offering.
In addition, given the huge market of AH-1s and UH-1s globally, this is one product that can be sold as replenishment, spares or even new procurement. It is after all, much easier to add an existing type rather than procure a new type which are often significantly more complex and costly. The present US AH-1 Super Cobras offered have also evolved significantly and are not equivalent to the original AH-1s so the path is clear to make a meaningful inroad into the international market.
It is often said that with every challenge comes an opportunity. The present challenge in FATA, the decades long war in Siachin, and the new threat posed by India with its wild procurement of advanced helicopters and local production may just be the challenge that can become an opportunity.
Read more: Grande Strategy
Helicopters are also an important consideration in terms of the topographic scenario not only in the north but also to the east, where any future conflict with India requires conflicts across rivers and other natural barriers. In contrast to India's huge fleet of growing helicopters including now locally manufactured units, Pakistan has a long-term perceived need of maintaining a semblance of comparability.
One of the key features of the Pakistani helicopter fleet is the diversity of the helicopters available. These include AH-1s, IAR 330, Aerospatiale Alouettes, AS350, UH-1, Bell 412, 206 Jet Ranger, Mi-17s, Z-9s and more. This wide diversity of helicopters with often a small number of units of each type adds a great deal of maintenance and operational issues that adds both expense and consumes significant resources.
The attack helicopter presently in use is also ageing and rapidly losing its operational capability at a time it is needed the most. The AH-1s have been highly successful in FATA and Swat and their dwindling numbers is a serious cause of concern. Pakistan Army (PA) is presently looking at potential replacements including potentially the Z-10 and the Turkish T-129 but funds remain scarce and these deals seem far off. The point remains that even if such a deal goes through, PA will not be able to buy the quantities that the present operational conditions and the long term requirement vis-a-vis the topography in the North and the challenge from the East pose.
Perhaps the answer to this quandary is to replicate the JF-17 and Al-Khalid programs and build an equivalent helicopter plan. One possible solution is to look at importing blue-prints and know-how coupled with joint development. Such a solution could find a partner in China or Turkey. Yet another solution exists.
Given the geo-strategic situation, the US cannot be seen to contribute much post-2014 when their troops leave Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the new Iranian government is showing positive overtures to Pakistan. Iran produces UH-1 / AH-1 helicopters and has the blue prints and production line. While Iranian helicopters are of doubtful quality, if manufacturing of these can be obtained under the table, Pakistan could have an ideal platform to begin helicopter production at minimal cost. Utilizing better technology and higher quality machine tools, Pakistan would produced significantly higher quality aircraft. If technology partnerships can be made with South Africa, China and Turkey in terms of sub-systems and components, the AH-1s and UH-1s could be updated to a competitive offering.
In addition, given the huge market of AH-1s and UH-1s globally, this is one product that can be sold as replenishment, spares or even new procurement. It is after all, much easier to add an existing type rather than procure a new type which are often significantly more complex and costly. The present US AH-1 Super Cobras offered have also evolved significantly and are not equivalent to the original AH-1s so the path is clear to make a meaningful inroad into the international market.
It is often said that with every challenge comes an opportunity. The present challenge in FATA, the decades long war in Siachin, and the new threat posed by India with its wild procurement of advanced helicopters and local production may just be the challenge that can become an opportunity.
Read more: Grande Strategy
