Thorough Pro
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EzioAltaïr;3393074 said:
It uses the same mechanism as G3 but chambered for 5.56 NATO.
PWI | Pakistan Weapons Industry
- Thread starter Imran Khan
- Start date
It uses the same mechanism as G3 but chambered for 5.56 NATO.
Foo_Fighter
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Oh, indeed good work done by Pakistan and Imran alike. Being self sufficient in every field is a requirements in today's Globlization and it's good to see our neighbor country is doing everything to achieve that in various fields and especially defence as highlighted in this thread.
Do not want to sound troll but these are the signs of healthy competition and I do believe Pakistan does make huge leaps towards self sufficiency in various fields so India starts feeling the heat of Healthy Competition and vice-vera, hence uplifting the image and capability of the while Sub Continent!
Once again good job Pakistan and Imran Bhai.
regards,
FF
Do not want to sound troll but these are the signs of healthy competition and I do believe Pakistan does make huge leaps towards self sufficiency in various fields so India starts feeling the heat of Healthy Competition and vice-vera, hence uplifting the image and capability of the while Sub Continent!
Once again good job Pakistan and Imran Bhai.
regards,
FF
RazPaK
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This art cannot be rivaled by India, no matter how many years your country takes.
Foo_Fighter
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Ok sir, I'll take your words as seriously as God's message himself. If you really wish to discuss/debate logically, then please do not tarnish ones capability down. Do you not read that I am pretty excited about this development and I wish Pakistan to achieve similar feats in other fields as well. Mate, hate is like a black hole, it sucks the all the light of positivity around it. Try to appreciate each other... that's where Healthy Competition comes from.
Anyways I am sorry to the mods for my off topic rant, but I had to reply. BTW can some senior members please tell me what are the current R&D and collaborations on Defense weapons Pakistan is currently engaged in? If there is a thread I am sorry, please direct me.
Nishan_101
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It was and its still a better option for the POF to join with Germans on doing a JV with Heckler & Koch for producing different wepaons that are needed by their and our military as well. They can also help us in upgrading the facility as well as making some R&D centers in Pakistan.
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Hi Antibody, where did you get this pic from? This is my shotgun with my son's toy mp5. Here are some other from the same shoot
he is sherlock holmes...was hidding their....u didn't noticed him......
fatman17
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The Way of the Gun: The legendary gunsmiths of Darra Adam Khel
The skills of the gunsmi*ths of Darra Adam Khel are the stuff of legend. But how much is fictio*n and how much is fact?.
By Riaz Ahmad
Published: November 4, 2012
In his 1922 book, Story of the North West Frontier Province, author JM Ewart writes: “That gap in the low hills (south of Peshawar city) marks the Kohat Pass, which really has a better claim to being a historic highway of invasion than the Khyber itself. By it, across a neck of Afridi country, runs the Frontier Road to Kohat and Bannu, to Dera Ismail Khan and Razmak.
The villages of the pass are famed for a strange industry — the manufacture entirely by hand of rifles and ammunitions, especially rifles, to the eye so like the products of European arsenals as to deceive all but experts. For these, since they are comparatively cheap and serviceable, there is a ready sale all along the border.”
Going by what Ewart wrote, it seems that Darra Adam Khel’s armament industry and black market was well-established and well-known even a century ago. In 1920, there was no centralised market, but scattered units located away from the main highway which passes through the region.
It was only after independence that a market, in the true sense of the word, emerged.
No one, however, knows about when arms manufacturing in Darra actually started, but it is claimed that it was established by Hindustani karegaran who came to Darra, most likely from Punjab. The local people not only provided them with shelter but also allowed them to set up workshops.
For themselves, the locals chose the more profitable and far easier job of becoming arms dealers and to this day, 99 per cent of the gunsmiths are non-locals but almost 100 per cent of arms dealers and shopkeepers are locals who enjoy a complete monopoly over the trade.
But why did some people, who were very skilled gunsmiths, come to this far flung part of the subcontinent? Locals claim that the first gunsmith who came to Darra Adam Khel was in fact a deserter from the British Army, possibly around the time of the 1857 rebellion, who came to Akhor village where he was accorded a red carpet welcome.
The tribesmen of those days, much like the tribesmen of today, loved their guns and were delighted to have at their disposal the skills of this British gunsmith. Even in the lawless tribal areas, the law of demand and supply remains inviolable, and Darra became a famous weapons manufacturing center within the short span of a few years.
The British called the guns produced by these Hindustanis the ‘pass-made’ guns while in his book The Way of the Pathans James Pain refers to them as ‘Afridi’ guns.
Today, most of the local people prefer imported arms for their superior quality, but if you have a tight budget, it’s advisable to find one of the skilled gunsmiths of Darra and get a gun made on order.
“If you want a hand gun for self defense then you should purchase a TT pistol from Malang, who is a very skilled gunsmith,” one of my friends from Mattani told me. “But you have to wait for at least two months because the man already has hundreds of orders.”
He added that if I wanted something fancier, then I should look up Nawabzada Ustad, who is known for producing exact copies of the world-famed and highly prized Holland & Holland double barrel shotguns. “But his gun would cost you Rs200,000 a piece and you have to wait for at least three months,” he cautioned.
Now equipped with all this advice I headed to Darra Adam Khel. Every vehicle had to undergo strict checking by Frontier Corps personnel and because of the lengthy question and answer session, there was a long line of vehicles at the very first entry point just outside Darra.
Once I got there, I was met with disappointment.
“Boy, do you want a gun for hunting? Well, Nawabzada is no longer here. As you know he is from Mardan and he has now established a shop in Mardan”.
These were the remarks of an old man who introduced himself as Shah Jehan Ustad inside the Malik Market of Darra. Seeing my disappointment, but obviously excited by the prospect of finding a customer, he went on to interrogate me every bit as forcefully as the FC had.
“Do you have a large salary? How much do you make? Not everyone can afford Nawabzada’s guns, you know. They are excellent but very expensive.”
As he spoke, he quickly offered me a chair and sat me down, telling me that the famous Nawabzada had left Darra for good after the 2007 military operation when the entire market was forced to close down for almost a year. Many of the gunsmiths had to relocate. While Nawabzada still owns his old shop in Malik Market, the shutters are down permanently.
“You know I have worked here since 1965, when I came here all the way from Mardan as a teenager. Nawab’s father was my cousin and he was the first man who copied the world famous double barreled Holland & Holland shotguns. He transferred his skill to his two sons who have now left Darra for good,” claimed Shah Jehan.
This old man and all his family, including his son and first and second cousins, produced only double barrel shotguns. “I’ve made these guns from day one, but these are hard times for me. Only enthusiasts or very rich people buy these guns which cost at least Rs50,000 a piece at minimum.” He went on to complain that he barely managed to sell one gun a month as there was also stiff competition in the market.
“Pakistan is a small market and my quality is not of international standard. We use locally produced steel which is not really of weapon grade. We also lack technical knowhow so our guns are not that durable despite the fact that Darra’s weapon-making units are as old as the Holland & Holland company itself,” he said with a mixture of pride and regret.
It was strange for me to learn that there are over 2,500 skilled gunsmiths, originally hailing from the Attock district of Punjab, who have worked in Darra for generations, while another prominent gunsmith community hails from Azakhel, Nowshera.
Contrary to popular belief, only about one per cent of the gunsmiths are locals. The people from Attock speak excellent Pashto, albeit with a Peshawari accent, and are considered to be among the most skilled of gunsmiths.
“I came to Darra in my childhood as one of our neighbours was already working here. I earn around Rs20,000 a month by colouring (browning) the guns but other people from Punjab make guns and work in different factories in Darra,” said Saadullah, a resident of Attock.
We met a local gunsmith, Farid Shah from Zarghoon Khel, Darra. This man has a workshop set inside his small shop and has a single helper. “I produce Kalashinkov (AK-47) rifles and 12 gauge shotgun rifles in the Kalashinkov design,” said Farid Shah.
Replying to a question about the quality of his guns, he simply said that his guns were no match for the Russian, Chinese or Pakistani guns produced in Wah Ordnance Factories.
“A gun made manually from ordinary steel manually cannot match a gun produced in a well equipped factory from weapon grade steel using computerised machines,” claimed Farid, adding that his guns were bulky and since there is no standardisation in the workshops, it is not possible to replace parts.
Hence, if something goes wrong the entire gun has to be thrown away.
“This gun costs Rs12,000 a piece and takes 10 days to complete. But we cannot produce quality automatic weapons. Locals know it that is why no one would buy a Darra made AK-47 rifle in Peshawar or the rest of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
These are sent to Lahore and Karachi instead,” he said, adding that despite their inferior quality, the Darra AK-47 was in great demand in Punjab because original Kalashnikovs cost Rs100,000 a piece.
Clearly disdainful of the standards of his Punjabi clientele, he goes on to say that a Pathan would ask for a guarantee before purchasing a gun and would most likely go for a serviceable hand gun or shot gun.
Their weapons of choice are either TT pistols, pump action shotguns, double barrels or a Beretta 9mm pistol, as those designs had proved successful over the years. Non-locals, and in particular Punjabis, go more for the ‘look’ of the weapon rather than how reliable it is.
“People from other parts of the country come here with pictures of pistols or automatic rifles and insist that we produce it for them despite the fact that we cannot simply copy a gun from a picture!” he added.
Modernisation of the Darra workshops is possible but the biggest hurdle faced by these units is that the entire industry is not regulated, or even legal for that matter.
Recently, a local investor got a license from the K-P home department and established a unit after making a total investment of Rs8 million but the license was cancelled after eight months following an objection by the law department.
“I got a license from the home department and when my unit started production my license was cancelled,” said the owner of the unit Shah Nawaz Afridi, adding that he was going to court against it.
“Ours is an illegal market and that is the biggest hurdle. But no one allows us to go legal as is evident from the home department’s decision,” he said with anger, adding that if licenses were issued to Darra units it would help the government because the arms trade could then be regulated.
“Look at the example of Turkey. A hundred years ago it didn’t have a single arms manufacturing unit but today they have dozens of well equipped units that are producing guns of local design and earning the country a good name and a lot of cash by exporting their products,” he said, adding that in Darra, guns were produced by hand using centuries-old techniques that were now obsolete.
“A TT gun produced in Darra costs Rs9,000 a piece and it is not of international standard, but a world class TT pistol produced in China is wholesaled at $50 a piece and I blame the government and its flawed policies for it,” he argued, adding that Darra is considered a problem by every government and is blamed for providing arms to terrorists in Karachi and anywhere else in the country.
“There is a myth that gunsmiths of Darra can produce even atom bombs. In fact they cannot even produce a serviceable AK-47 automatic rifle!” he says, referring to the famed gun that is the weapon of choice for insurgents and terrorists the world over. “You can’t be a terrorist by using weapons of this poor quality,” he says with finality.
Among Shah Nawaz Afridi’s pet peeves is that the government simply has not had the imagination to harness the potential of these weapon makers.
“Take Faisalabad, for example. It is a small city which has become the hub of the textile industry; the government established a textile engineering college to support the industry, thus making it one of the most industrialised cities in the country.”
In contrast, he says, Darra’s skilled gunmakers have been completely ignored. “They could have established an engineering college in Darra to support the local industry to help it become world class, but that did not happen.”
He even has an argument to counter those who say that weapons manufacturing should not be encouraged.
“If you want these gunsmiths not to produce guns, you should train them to manufacture auto parts or other useful things. They could be trained to produce air rifles, but do you know not a single unit in Darra produces air rifles despite the fact that a world class airgun is sold at $500 a piece on the international market as compared to $50 in the case of a TT pistol?”
Shah Nawaz added that the gunsmiths of Darra lacked the required type of steel which is light in weight and high in strength, and has undergone heat treatment techniques, surface treatment and parkarisation.
The latter is a technique used to protect a gun’s surface from corrosion and wear and tear. Once he starts listing all the things the local gunmakers lack, it is difficult to get him to stop.
“There is no standardisation in our manufacturing units so everyone produces guns whose parts are not interchangeable. This means you cannot export them and if you do, it would only earn you a bad name,” he said.
Shah Nawaz explained that every new government put a ban on arms licenses after coming into power and the nine years of Pervez Musharraf were the worst for them.
“If there is no license no one will buy my hand guns. And if there is no local market then how can I survive?” asks arms dealer Hassan Gul, adding that terrorists and criminals don’t use licensed weapons in any case.
The Musharraf government only banned licenses in order to fool the people into thinking they were acting against crime and terrorism, he said as he sat back into his chair.
Still, Gul and his handgun business has better prospects than others like the forlorn shotgun maker Shah Jehan. The price of a TT pistol has jumped to Rs8,000 or Rs9,000 as compared to Rs4,000 to Rs5,000.
“Pistols sell like hot cakes because there is a ban of the display of weapon in the country, and you can carry a pistol in your pocket. Today, 80 per cent of Darra’s workshops produce TTs or other types of pistols,” said Gul, adding that in the past 10 years a number of factories had start copying expensive 9mm pistols like the Glock-17, Beretta, Smith and Wesson, and the Czech made CZ-75.
So not all of the legends about Darra Adam Khel are true; they can’t build F-16s and nuclear weapons. But a lot of the bad press is also unjustified, in that the arms makers are not really fuelling terrorism either.
What does exist, however, is a pool of talented gunsmiths who, if given the technical training and the chance, could possibly spearhead the economic revival of an entire region.
Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, November 4th, 2012.
The skills of the gunsmi*ths of Darra Adam Khel are the stuff of legend. But how much is fictio*n and how much is fact?.
By Riaz Ahmad
Published: November 4, 2012
In his 1922 book, Story of the North West Frontier Province, author JM Ewart writes: “That gap in the low hills (south of Peshawar city) marks the Kohat Pass, which really has a better claim to being a historic highway of invasion than the Khyber itself. By it, across a neck of Afridi country, runs the Frontier Road to Kohat and Bannu, to Dera Ismail Khan and Razmak.
The villages of the pass are famed for a strange industry — the manufacture entirely by hand of rifles and ammunitions, especially rifles, to the eye so like the products of European arsenals as to deceive all but experts. For these, since they are comparatively cheap and serviceable, there is a ready sale all along the border.”
Going by what Ewart wrote, it seems that Darra Adam Khel’s armament industry and black market was well-established and well-known even a century ago. In 1920, there was no centralised market, but scattered units located away from the main highway which passes through the region.
It was only after independence that a market, in the true sense of the word, emerged.
No one, however, knows about when arms manufacturing in Darra actually started, but it is claimed that it was established by Hindustani karegaran who came to Darra, most likely from Punjab. The local people not only provided them with shelter but also allowed them to set up workshops.
For themselves, the locals chose the more profitable and far easier job of becoming arms dealers and to this day, 99 per cent of the gunsmiths are non-locals but almost 100 per cent of arms dealers and shopkeepers are locals who enjoy a complete monopoly over the trade.
But why did some people, who were very skilled gunsmiths, come to this far flung part of the subcontinent? Locals claim that the first gunsmith who came to Darra Adam Khel was in fact a deserter from the British Army, possibly around the time of the 1857 rebellion, who came to Akhor village where he was accorded a red carpet welcome.
The tribesmen of those days, much like the tribesmen of today, loved their guns and were delighted to have at their disposal the skills of this British gunsmith. Even in the lawless tribal areas, the law of demand and supply remains inviolable, and Darra became a famous weapons manufacturing center within the short span of a few years.
The British called the guns produced by these Hindustanis the ‘pass-made’ guns while in his book The Way of the Pathans James Pain refers to them as ‘Afridi’ guns.
Today, most of the local people prefer imported arms for their superior quality, but if you have a tight budget, it’s advisable to find one of the skilled gunsmiths of Darra and get a gun made on order.
“If you want a hand gun for self defense then you should purchase a TT pistol from Malang, who is a very skilled gunsmith,” one of my friends from Mattani told me. “But you have to wait for at least two months because the man already has hundreds of orders.”
He added that if I wanted something fancier, then I should look up Nawabzada Ustad, who is known for producing exact copies of the world-famed and highly prized Holland & Holland double barrel shotguns. “But his gun would cost you Rs200,000 a piece and you have to wait for at least three months,” he cautioned.
Now equipped with all this advice I headed to Darra Adam Khel. Every vehicle had to undergo strict checking by Frontier Corps personnel and because of the lengthy question and answer session, there was a long line of vehicles at the very first entry point just outside Darra.
Once I got there, I was met with disappointment.
“Boy, do you want a gun for hunting? Well, Nawabzada is no longer here. As you know he is from Mardan and he has now established a shop in Mardan”.
These were the remarks of an old man who introduced himself as Shah Jehan Ustad inside the Malik Market of Darra. Seeing my disappointment, but obviously excited by the prospect of finding a customer, he went on to interrogate me every bit as forcefully as the FC had.
“Do you have a large salary? How much do you make? Not everyone can afford Nawabzada’s guns, you know. They are excellent but very expensive.”
As he spoke, he quickly offered me a chair and sat me down, telling me that the famous Nawabzada had left Darra for good after the 2007 military operation when the entire market was forced to close down for almost a year. Many of the gunsmiths had to relocate. While Nawabzada still owns his old shop in Malik Market, the shutters are down permanently.
“You know I have worked here since 1965, when I came here all the way from Mardan as a teenager. Nawab’s father was my cousin and he was the first man who copied the world famous double barreled Holland & Holland shotguns. He transferred his skill to his two sons who have now left Darra for good,” claimed Shah Jehan.
This old man and all his family, including his son and first and second cousins, produced only double barrel shotguns. “I’ve made these guns from day one, but these are hard times for me. Only enthusiasts or very rich people buy these guns which cost at least Rs50,000 a piece at minimum.” He went on to complain that he barely managed to sell one gun a month as there was also stiff competition in the market.
“Pakistan is a small market and my quality is not of international standard. We use locally produced steel which is not really of weapon grade. We also lack technical knowhow so our guns are not that durable despite the fact that Darra’s weapon-making units are as old as the Holland & Holland company itself,” he said with a mixture of pride and regret.
It was strange for me to learn that there are over 2,500 skilled gunsmiths, originally hailing from the Attock district of Punjab, who have worked in Darra for generations, while another prominent gunsmith community hails from Azakhel, Nowshera.
Contrary to popular belief, only about one per cent of the gunsmiths are locals. The people from Attock speak excellent Pashto, albeit with a Peshawari accent, and are considered to be among the most skilled of gunsmiths.
“I came to Darra in my childhood as one of our neighbours was already working here. I earn around Rs20,000 a month by colouring (browning) the guns but other people from Punjab make guns and work in different factories in Darra,” said Saadullah, a resident of Attock.
We met a local gunsmith, Farid Shah from Zarghoon Khel, Darra. This man has a workshop set inside his small shop and has a single helper. “I produce Kalashinkov (AK-47) rifles and 12 gauge shotgun rifles in the Kalashinkov design,” said Farid Shah.
Replying to a question about the quality of his guns, he simply said that his guns were no match for the Russian, Chinese or Pakistani guns produced in Wah Ordnance Factories.
“A gun made manually from ordinary steel manually cannot match a gun produced in a well equipped factory from weapon grade steel using computerised machines,” claimed Farid, adding that his guns were bulky and since there is no standardisation in the workshops, it is not possible to replace parts.
Hence, if something goes wrong the entire gun has to be thrown away.
“This gun costs Rs12,000 a piece and takes 10 days to complete. But we cannot produce quality automatic weapons. Locals know it that is why no one would buy a Darra made AK-47 rifle in Peshawar or the rest of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
These are sent to Lahore and Karachi instead,” he said, adding that despite their inferior quality, the Darra AK-47 was in great demand in Punjab because original Kalashnikovs cost Rs100,000 a piece.
Clearly disdainful of the standards of his Punjabi clientele, he goes on to say that a Pathan would ask for a guarantee before purchasing a gun and would most likely go for a serviceable hand gun or shot gun.
Their weapons of choice are either TT pistols, pump action shotguns, double barrels or a Beretta 9mm pistol, as those designs had proved successful over the years. Non-locals, and in particular Punjabis, go more for the ‘look’ of the weapon rather than how reliable it is.
“People from other parts of the country come here with pictures of pistols or automatic rifles and insist that we produce it for them despite the fact that we cannot simply copy a gun from a picture!” he added.
Modernisation of the Darra workshops is possible but the biggest hurdle faced by these units is that the entire industry is not regulated, or even legal for that matter.
Recently, a local investor got a license from the K-P home department and established a unit after making a total investment of Rs8 million but the license was cancelled after eight months following an objection by the law department.
“I got a license from the home department and when my unit started production my license was cancelled,” said the owner of the unit Shah Nawaz Afridi, adding that he was going to court against it.
“Ours is an illegal market and that is the biggest hurdle. But no one allows us to go legal as is evident from the home department’s decision,” he said with anger, adding that if licenses were issued to Darra units it would help the government because the arms trade could then be regulated.
“Look at the example of Turkey. A hundred years ago it didn’t have a single arms manufacturing unit but today they have dozens of well equipped units that are producing guns of local design and earning the country a good name and a lot of cash by exporting their products,” he said, adding that in Darra, guns were produced by hand using centuries-old techniques that were now obsolete.
“A TT gun produced in Darra costs Rs9,000 a piece and it is not of international standard, but a world class TT pistol produced in China is wholesaled at $50 a piece and I blame the government and its flawed policies for it,” he argued, adding that Darra is considered a problem by every government and is blamed for providing arms to terrorists in Karachi and anywhere else in the country.
“There is a myth that gunsmiths of Darra can produce even atom bombs. In fact they cannot even produce a serviceable AK-47 automatic rifle!” he says, referring to the famed gun that is the weapon of choice for insurgents and terrorists the world over. “You can’t be a terrorist by using weapons of this poor quality,” he says with finality.
Among Shah Nawaz Afridi’s pet peeves is that the government simply has not had the imagination to harness the potential of these weapon makers.
“Take Faisalabad, for example. It is a small city which has become the hub of the textile industry; the government established a textile engineering college to support the industry, thus making it one of the most industrialised cities in the country.”
In contrast, he says, Darra’s skilled gunmakers have been completely ignored. “They could have established an engineering college in Darra to support the local industry to help it become world class, but that did not happen.”
He even has an argument to counter those who say that weapons manufacturing should not be encouraged.
“If you want these gunsmiths not to produce guns, you should train them to manufacture auto parts or other useful things. They could be trained to produce air rifles, but do you know not a single unit in Darra produces air rifles despite the fact that a world class airgun is sold at $500 a piece on the international market as compared to $50 in the case of a TT pistol?”
Shah Nawaz added that the gunsmiths of Darra lacked the required type of steel which is light in weight and high in strength, and has undergone heat treatment techniques, surface treatment and parkarisation.
The latter is a technique used to protect a gun’s surface from corrosion and wear and tear. Once he starts listing all the things the local gunmakers lack, it is difficult to get him to stop.
“There is no standardisation in our manufacturing units so everyone produces guns whose parts are not interchangeable. This means you cannot export them and if you do, it would only earn you a bad name,” he said.
Shah Nawaz explained that every new government put a ban on arms licenses after coming into power and the nine years of Pervez Musharraf were the worst for them.
“If there is no license no one will buy my hand guns. And if there is no local market then how can I survive?” asks arms dealer Hassan Gul, adding that terrorists and criminals don’t use licensed weapons in any case.
The Musharraf government only banned licenses in order to fool the people into thinking they were acting against crime and terrorism, he said as he sat back into his chair.
Still, Gul and his handgun business has better prospects than others like the forlorn shotgun maker Shah Jehan. The price of a TT pistol has jumped to Rs8,000 or Rs9,000 as compared to Rs4,000 to Rs5,000.
“Pistols sell like hot cakes because there is a ban of the display of weapon in the country, and you can carry a pistol in your pocket. Today, 80 per cent of Darra’s workshops produce TTs or other types of pistols,” said Gul, adding that in the past 10 years a number of factories had start copying expensive 9mm pistols like the Glock-17, Beretta, Smith and Wesson, and the Czech made CZ-75.
So not all of the legends about Darra Adam Khel are true; they can’t build F-16s and nuclear weapons. But a lot of the bad press is also unjustified, in that the arms makers are not really fuelling terrorism either.
What does exist, however, is a pool of talented gunsmiths who, if given the technical training and the chance, could possibly spearhead the economic revival of an entire region.
Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, November 4th, 2012.
intelaadil@gmail.com
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I think we should also focus on Non-military armoured vehicles in Pakistan.
snakeeagle
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30 bore.biter to handle biter to shoot
fatman17
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Pakistan Arms Industry
Armament Research & Development Establishment
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), since its inception in 1974 has been undertaking research and development in the field of arms and ammunitions and has contributed significantly in establishing development and production base through collaboration with public and private sectors. Major accomplishments of ARDE are weapons and tank ammunition.
Defence Science & Technology Organization
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
The Defence Science & Technology Organization (DESTO) is the premier defence Research and Development organization of Defence Production Division, Ministry of Defence, Government of Pakistan. DESTO conducts research and development around weapons and weapon systems and renders professional advice on the application of science and technology.
DESTO’s research and development environment covers a wide spectrum of fields, under the broad disciplines of aerodynamics, propulsion, defence electronics, computer systems, engineering, propellants, explosives, materials and chemical & biological defence etc. Besides providing scientific and technical support to other research & development as well as production establishments of Ministry of Defence, DESTO’s multi-disciplinary infrastructure and technology base is available to public sector industry under commercial arrangements.
While the DESTO Headquarters are located at Chaklala for providing policy advice, liaison and organizational management, DESTO’s R&D infrastructure is located at the following different physical locations:
DESTO Laboratories Complex, Chattar
DESTO Laboratories, Karachi
DESTO Laboratories, Chaklala
Institute of Optronics
Ministry of Defence, Chaklala-Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Institute of Optronics (IOP) has established state-of-the-art military specifications production and testing facilities of night vision devices, based on Image Intensifier Tubes. The Night Vision Systems, without turning the night into day, vastly improve the ability of the Armed Forces to undertake a number of vital functions related to force effectiveness. Command and control, surveillance, movements both tactical and logistical and accuracy of firepower are some of the areas of activities in which the Night Vision Devices are playing a formidable and vital role.
Institute of Optronics is playing a key role in this field and has established Military Specifications production and testing facilities of following night vision devices, based on second generation Image Intensifier Tubes:
Individual Served Night Vision Weapon Sight (Equivalent to AN / PVS - 4A)
Crew Served Night Vision Weapon Sight (Equivalent to AN / TVS - 5A)
High Performance Night Vision Goggles (Equivalent to AN / PVS - 5C)
High Performance Night Vision Binoculars (Equivalent to NVB - 4A and NVB - 5A)
Driver’s Night Vision Periscope (DNVP - 1A)
Aviator’s Night Vision Goggle
An indigenization programme to progressively develop and manufacture components in Pakistan for night vision systems is being vigorously pursued. The future plans of this institute include the establishment of facilities for night vision devices based on Thermal Imaging Techniques for all types of armoured vehicles and helicopters.
Besides meeting the night vision requirements of the Armed Forces of Pakistan, this institute has exported these to friendly countries.
Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Ltd.
Karachi, Pakistan
KSEW is ISO - 9002 Certified for Shipbuilding, Submarine & Warship Construction and General Engineering Works. The present services are:
Shipbuilding of all types of vessels and craft of upto 26,000 TDW
Small submarines and warship / support craft like Missile Craft, Patrol Craft, Diving Boats, Towed Array Barge, Floating Docks, Berthing / Pusher Tugs, Oil / Water carriers, boats etc.
Underwater repairs of ships of upto 26,000 TDW and above water repairs to any type or size
Wide variety of engineering plants and machinery like tankages, pressure vessels, LPG storage tanks, overhead, luffing and other types of electrically operated cranes, equipment of oil, gas, petrochemical industries, steel structures for dams, barrages, thermal power plants and similar other industrial plants, components for cement mills, complete sugar plants, Firetube boilers, watertube boilers etc.
Iron castings of upto 15 tons a piece, steel castings of upto 3 tons a piece and non-ferrous / alloy castings of upto 750 kg a piece
Physical, chemical, metallographic and non-destructive testing of various raw materials, components etc. Testing according to requirements of ISO - 9000 and international classification societies standards also undertaken
Margalla Electronics
Islamabad, Pakistan
Margalla Electronics (ME) was created in 1984 as a self reliance project under the Defence Production Division to support the Defence Services in the field of electronics. The support includes:
Repair and rebuild of electronic equipment used by the services
Applied research to improve equipment performance and reliability
Original design and production
Within a short span of time ME has accumulated sophisticated skills and hardware necessary for assembling, testing, and repairing of various types of military electronics products. ME has co-produced and fielded sophisticated state-of-the-art radar systems and communications equipment jointly with various international companies.
Military Vehicles Research And Development Establishment
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Military Vehicles Research and Development Establishment’s (MVRDE) creation in 1972 owes itself to the national resolve to explore and build upon our indigenous technical and industrial potential. MVRDE is thus fully involved in mobilizing, orientating and developing our public and private industrial sector to achieve progressive self-reliance in defence equipment.
MVRDE is a multi-disciplinary organization capable of conducting research and development pertaining to military vehicles, engineers equipment and defence-related mechanical systems. Its infrastructure encompasses a wide spectrum of facilities under following broad categories:
R & D Sections
To carry out design, development and product up gradation in following categories:
Armoured Vehicles - Tanks, APCs, ARVs
Wheeled Vehicles - GS and special Purpose
Engineers Equipment - Earthmoving machinery, Cranes etc.
National Development Complex
Islamabad, Pakistan
National Development Complex (NDC) was created with an objective of developing an infrastructure for indigenous weapons development, provision of technical services, and achieving self-reliance in diverse technologies related to these areas. NDC is delivering reliable and state-of-the-art weapon systems and military hardware at competitive prices. Since its creation, NDC has made remarkable progress in developing and producing a diverse range of defence products.
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
Kamra District Attock, Pakistan
The conception of idea to establish Pakistan Aeronautical Complex dates back to the early seventies. The rationale behind this idea was both economic and strategic. The aim before the policy makers was to create an indigenous production facility in which aircraft and engines could be overhauled and repaired without sending them abroad and doling out large sums of foreign exchange. Later years saw expansion in the role of PAC in terms of aircraft and engines production, upgrade programmes and joint ventures.
Since inauguration of the first of its four factories in 1978, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex has not looked back. In the two decades, it has vastly expanded the scope of work, commenced new and more challenging projects, created a veritable centre of excellence in military aviation and information technology, and above all, realised the original goal of self-reliance. Eversince its inception, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex has become the backbone of Pakistan Air Force in maintenance; supporting its major weapon systems by providing rebuild services for aircraft, engines and components; providing spare support, structural repairs and major rectification. Manufacture of Mushshak aircraft and collobaration with China in K-8 jet trainer programme are landmark achievements of PAC which have lent tremendous creditability to this industry. More recently PAC has also ventured into the area of system upgrades and manufacture of airborne avionics systems in partnership with some foreign collobarations. Having acquired necessary resources and expertise. PAC is fast expanding its role and making all-out efforts to turn itself into a self-supporting outfit. Already, it is ensuring that the country spends least amount of foreign exchange on maintenance of the PAF fleet of fighter and trainer aircraft. Except for import of certain essential spares, rest everything is produced or repaired locally.
In PAC, quality of products and services occupies the fundamental importance. Quality received tremendous boost recently when the four factories of this complex were certified to ISO-9000 quality management system by the leading international auditing firms. This has enormously enhanced the prestige and the credentials of this complex with the aviation circles around the world. They now consider us serious contenders for joint ventures and partnerships. With this, PAC is now committed to a standard which can neither be lowered nor compromised in future.
Pakistan Navy Dockyard
Karachi, Pakistan
PN Dockyard since its inception in 1952 has been undertaking repair works, modernization and rebuild of PN Ships, Submarines and Crafts. Pakistan Navy Dockyard is providing technical assistance, rebuild and repair of a wide range and diversity of equipment of PN Fleet and has undertaken fleet modernization and up gradation programmes with success. PN Dockyard has developed capability to undertake ambitious and indigenous construction projects like Missiles Boats, Mines Counter Measure Vessel (MCMV) and AGOSTA 90 - B Submarine.
Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF)
Wah Cantonnement, Pakistan
During the Second World War, British used the sub-continent as a spring-board and a logistics base to conduct its campaigns in the Eastern Theatre. Towards this end they developed massive logistics infrastructure, including sixteen Ordnance Factories.
In 1947 at the time of independence, Pakistan could not get even a single Ordnance Factory. First Prime Minister conceived a Plan in December 1947 and decided to establish an Ordnance Factory. The second Prime Minister inaugurated Civil Works for four Factories at Wah in December 1951, 36 kilometers north of present Federal Capital Islamabad.
During Wars of 1965 & 1971 un-justified and unilateral arms embargo jolted Pakistan and serious thought was given to self-reliance.
POF of the late fifties was producing .303 Rifle, its ammunition, 25 Pounder Artillery ammunition, 40 mm Anti Aircraft ammunition, M36 hand grenade, 2”and 3” Mortar Bombs and 500 lbs and 750 lbs Aircraft Bombs.
It was a turning point in the history of POF as it went through modernization and expansion over the next two and half decades. Today POF is a gigantic industrial complex with fourteen factories and eight subsidiaries employing a total work force of over 33,000.
Dr A Q Khan Research Laboratories
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Al - Technique Corporation of Pakistan (pvt) Ltd
Islamabad, Pakistan
Established in 1986, Al Technique Corporation of Pakistan, (ATCOP) has quickly established itself as Pakistan’s premier organization in the field of LASERs and modern optics. Situated some 20 Km outside Islamabad in the picturesque Potohar plateau, its Electro Optics Division has pioneered the growth of LASER sciences and electronics technology in the country.
With a work space of 7500 sq. m. and a staff of nearly 400 highly trained personnel (with over 70 engineers and scientists), ATCOP has set up a broad array of technical facilities and expertise making it one of the most integrated facility in the country. It is self - sustaining in the five major technical areas of:
LASER and Optics
Design of Components / Complete Systems
Measurement & Evaluation
Electronics
Mechanics
Testing
ATCOP is therefore engaged in R & D and production of electro optics and LASER systems as well as in V / UHF communication, with nearly 30% of its annual turnover of US$ 5.0 million being spent on R & D or collaboration with universities.
AL-Sons Industries (PVT) LTD
Karachi, Pakistan
Alsons is the pioneer precision engineering private industry that was set up Pakistan in 1953. Its first product was Clocks. Progressive innovations and high tech tooling enabled Alsons to manufacture specialized engineering high tech products. Alsons Group has three factories of which two are in Karachi and one is in Islamabad.
Following are the three companies under Alsons Group management :
Alsons Industries (Pvt.) Ltd.
Defence Products
Alsons Auto Parts (Pvt.) Ltd.
Automotive Products
Two Feeder Units
Plastic Injection Molding and Precision Machining Parts
Since 1968, Alsons is engaged in manufacturing of highly precision engineering products for Armed Forces of Pakistan. The modern and fully integrated manufacturing plant, with built-up area of 10,000 sq. meters and 450 employees, is equipped with most advanced CNC turning centers provides an wide range of production and assembly technology. It has its own R & D.
Al Mustafa Engineers
Lahore, Pakistan
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC)
Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, Kamra District Attock
Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT)
APC Factory, Taxila Cantt
Machinecrafts (Private) Limited
Lahore, Pakistan
Alsons Industries (Pvt) Ltd
Karachi, Pakistan
Military Vehicle Research and Development Establishment
Alsons Industries (Pvt) Ltd
Karachi, Pakistan
Service Industries Limited
Lahore, Pakistan
Daudsons Armoury
Peshawar, Pakistan
Armament Research & Development Establishment
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), since its inception in 1974 has been undertaking research and development in the field of arms and ammunitions and has contributed significantly in establishing development and production base through collaboration with public and private sectors. Major accomplishments of ARDE are weapons and tank ammunition.
Defence Science & Technology Organization
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
The Defence Science & Technology Organization (DESTO) is the premier defence Research and Development organization of Defence Production Division, Ministry of Defence, Government of Pakistan. DESTO conducts research and development around weapons and weapon systems and renders professional advice on the application of science and technology.
DESTO’s research and development environment covers a wide spectrum of fields, under the broad disciplines of aerodynamics, propulsion, defence electronics, computer systems, engineering, propellants, explosives, materials and chemical & biological defence etc. Besides providing scientific and technical support to other research & development as well as production establishments of Ministry of Defence, DESTO’s multi-disciplinary infrastructure and technology base is available to public sector industry under commercial arrangements.
While the DESTO Headquarters are located at Chaklala for providing policy advice, liaison and organizational management, DESTO’s R&D infrastructure is located at the following different physical locations:
DESTO Laboratories Complex, Chattar
DESTO Laboratories, Karachi
DESTO Laboratories, Chaklala
Institute of Optronics
Ministry of Defence, Chaklala-Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Institute of Optronics (IOP) has established state-of-the-art military specifications production and testing facilities of night vision devices, based on Image Intensifier Tubes. The Night Vision Systems, without turning the night into day, vastly improve the ability of the Armed Forces to undertake a number of vital functions related to force effectiveness. Command and control, surveillance, movements both tactical and logistical and accuracy of firepower are some of the areas of activities in which the Night Vision Devices are playing a formidable and vital role.
Institute of Optronics is playing a key role in this field and has established Military Specifications production and testing facilities of following night vision devices, based on second generation Image Intensifier Tubes:
Individual Served Night Vision Weapon Sight (Equivalent to AN / PVS - 4A)
Crew Served Night Vision Weapon Sight (Equivalent to AN / TVS - 5A)
High Performance Night Vision Goggles (Equivalent to AN / PVS - 5C)
High Performance Night Vision Binoculars (Equivalent to NVB - 4A and NVB - 5A)
Driver’s Night Vision Periscope (DNVP - 1A)
Aviator’s Night Vision Goggle
An indigenization programme to progressively develop and manufacture components in Pakistan for night vision systems is being vigorously pursued. The future plans of this institute include the establishment of facilities for night vision devices based on Thermal Imaging Techniques for all types of armoured vehicles and helicopters.
Besides meeting the night vision requirements of the Armed Forces of Pakistan, this institute has exported these to friendly countries.
Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Ltd.
Karachi, Pakistan
KSEW is ISO - 9002 Certified for Shipbuilding, Submarine & Warship Construction and General Engineering Works. The present services are:
Shipbuilding of all types of vessels and craft of upto 26,000 TDW
Small submarines and warship / support craft like Missile Craft, Patrol Craft, Diving Boats, Towed Array Barge, Floating Docks, Berthing / Pusher Tugs, Oil / Water carriers, boats etc.
Underwater repairs of ships of upto 26,000 TDW and above water repairs to any type or size
Wide variety of engineering plants and machinery like tankages, pressure vessels, LPG storage tanks, overhead, luffing and other types of electrically operated cranes, equipment of oil, gas, petrochemical industries, steel structures for dams, barrages, thermal power plants and similar other industrial plants, components for cement mills, complete sugar plants, Firetube boilers, watertube boilers etc.
Iron castings of upto 15 tons a piece, steel castings of upto 3 tons a piece and non-ferrous / alloy castings of upto 750 kg a piece
Physical, chemical, metallographic and non-destructive testing of various raw materials, components etc. Testing according to requirements of ISO - 9000 and international classification societies standards also undertaken
Margalla Electronics
Islamabad, Pakistan
Margalla Electronics (ME) was created in 1984 as a self reliance project under the Defence Production Division to support the Defence Services in the field of electronics. The support includes:
Repair and rebuild of electronic equipment used by the services
Applied research to improve equipment performance and reliability
Original design and production
Within a short span of time ME has accumulated sophisticated skills and hardware necessary for assembling, testing, and repairing of various types of military electronics products. ME has co-produced and fielded sophisticated state-of-the-art radar systems and communications equipment jointly with various international companies.
Military Vehicles Research And Development Establishment
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Military Vehicles Research and Development Establishment’s (MVRDE) creation in 1972 owes itself to the national resolve to explore and build upon our indigenous technical and industrial potential. MVRDE is thus fully involved in mobilizing, orientating and developing our public and private industrial sector to achieve progressive self-reliance in defence equipment.
MVRDE is a multi-disciplinary organization capable of conducting research and development pertaining to military vehicles, engineers equipment and defence-related mechanical systems. Its infrastructure encompasses a wide spectrum of facilities under following broad categories:
R & D Sections
To carry out design, development and product up gradation in following categories:
Armoured Vehicles - Tanks, APCs, ARVs
Wheeled Vehicles - GS and special Purpose
Engineers Equipment - Earthmoving machinery, Cranes etc.
National Development Complex
Islamabad, Pakistan
National Development Complex (NDC) was created with an objective of developing an infrastructure for indigenous weapons development, provision of technical services, and achieving self-reliance in diverse technologies related to these areas. NDC is delivering reliable and state-of-the-art weapon systems and military hardware at competitive prices. Since its creation, NDC has made remarkable progress in developing and producing a diverse range of defence products.
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
Kamra District Attock, Pakistan
The conception of idea to establish Pakistan Aeronautical Complex dates back to the early seventies. The rationale behind this idea was both economic and strategic. The aim before the policy makers was to create an indigenous production facility in which aircraft and engines could be overhauled and repaired without sending them abroad and doling out large sums of foreign exchange. Later years saw expansion in the role of PAC in terms of aircraft and engines production, upgrade programmes and joint ventures.
Since inauguration of the first of its four factories in 1978, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex has not looked back. In the two decades, it has vastly expanded the scope of work, commenced new and more challenging projects, created a veritable centre of excellence in military aviation and information technology, and above all, realised the original goal of self-reliance. Eversince its inception, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex has become the backbone of Pakistan Air Force in maintenance; supporting its major weapon systems by providing rebuild services for aircraft, engines and components; providing spare support, structural repairs and major rectification. Manufacture of Mushshak aircraft and collobaration with China in K-8 jet trainer programme are landmark achievements of PAC which have lent tremendous creditability to this industry. More recently PAC has also ventured into the area of system upgrades and manufacture of airborne avionics systems in partnership with some foreign collobarations. Having acquired necessary resources and expertise. PAC is fast expanding its role and making all-out efforts to turn itself into a self-supporting outfit. Already, it is ensuring that the country spends least amount of foreign exchange on maintenance of the PAF fleet of fighter and trainer aircraft. Except for import of certain essential spares, rest everything is produced or repaired locally.
In PAC, quality of products and services occupies the fundamental importance. Quality received tremendous boost recently when the four factories of this complex were certified to ISO-9000 quality management system by the leading international auditing firms. This has enormously enhanced the prestige and the credentials of this complex with the aviation circles around the world. They now consider us serious contenders for joint ventures and partnerships. With this, PAC is now committed to a standard which can neither be lowered nor compromised in future.
Pakistan Navy Dockyard
Karachi, Pakistan
PN Dockyard since its inception in 1952 has been undertaking repair works, modernization and rebuild of PN Ships, Submarines and Crafts. Pakistan Navy Dockyard is providing technical assistance, rebuild and repair of a wide range and diversity of equipment of PN Fleet and has undertaken fleet modernization and up gradation programmes with success. PN Dockyard has developed capability to undertake ambitious and indigenous construction projects like Missiles Boats, Mines Counter Measure Vessel (MCMV) and AGOSTA 90 - B Submarine.
Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF)
Wah Cantonnement, Pakistan
During the Second World War, British used the sub-continent as a spring-board and a logistics base to conduct its campaigns in the Eastern Theatre. Towards this end they developed massive logistics infrastructure, including sixteen Ordnance Factories.
In 1947 at the time of independence, Pakistan could not get even a single Ordnance Factory. First Prime Minister conceived a Plan in December 1947 and decided to establish an Ordnance Factory. The second Prime Minister inaugurated Civil Works for four Factories at Wah in December 1951, 36 kilometers north of present Federal Capital Islamabad.
During Wars of 1965 & 1971 un-justified and unilateral arms embargo jolted Pakistan and serious thought was given to self-reliance.
POF of the late fifties was producing .303 Rifle, its ammunition, 25 Pounder Artillery ammunition, 40 mm Anti Aircraft ammunition, M36 hand grenade, 2”and 3” Mortar Bombs and 500 lbs and 750 lbs Aircraft Bombs.
It was a turning point in the history of POF as it went through modernization and expansion over the next two and half decades. Today POF is a gigantic industrial complex with fourteen factories and eight subsidiaries employing a total work force of over 33,000.
Dr A Q Khan Research Laboratories
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Al - Technique Corporation of Pakistan (pvt) Ltd
Islamabad, Pakistan
Established in 1986, Al Technique Corporation of Pakistan, (ATCOP) has quickly established itself as Pakistan’s premier organization in the field of LASERs and modern optics. Situated some 20 Km outside Islamabad in the picturesque Potohar plateau, its Electro Optics Division has pioneered the growth of LASER sciences and electronics technology in the country.
With a work space of 7500 sq. m. and a staff of nearly 400 highly trained personnel (with over 70 engineers and scientists), ATCOP has set up a broad array of technical facilities and expertise making it one of the most integrated facility in the country. It is self - sustaining in the five major technical areas of:
LASER and Optics
Design of Components / Complete Systems
Measurement & Evaluation
Electronics
Mechanics
Testing
ATCOP is therefore engaged in R & D and production of electro optics and LASER systems as well as in V / UHF communication, with nearly 30% of its annual turnover of US$ 5.0 million being spent on R & D or collaboration with universities.
AL-Sons Industries (PVT) LTD
Karachi, Pakistan
Alsons is the pioneer precision engineering private industry that was set up Pakistan in 1953. Its first product was Clocks. Progressive innovations and high tech tooling enabled Alsons to manufacture specialized engineering high tech products. Alsons Group has three factories of which two are in Karachi and one is in Islamabad.
Following are the three companies under Alsons Group management :
Alsons Industries (Pvt.) Ltd.
Defence Products
Alsons Auto Parts (Pvt.) Ltd.
Automotive Products
Two Feeder Units
Plastic Injection Molding and Precision Machining Parts
Since 1968, Alsons is engaged in manufacturing of highly precision engineering products for Armed Forces of Pakistan. The modern and fully integrated manufacturing plant, with built-up area of 10,000 sq. meters and 450 employees, is equipped with most advanced CNC turning centers provides an wide range of production and assembly technology. It has its own R & D.
Al Mustafa Engineers
Lahore, Pakistan
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC)
Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, Kamra District Attock
Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT)
APC Factory, Taxila Cantt
Machinecrafts (Private) Limited
Lahore, Pakistan
Alsons Industries (Pvt) Ltd
Karachi, Pakistan
Military Vehicle Research and Development Establishment
Alsons Industries (Pvt) Ltd
Karachi, Pakistan
Service Industries Limited
Lahore, Pakistan
Daudsons Armoury
Peshawar, Pakistan
Jango
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Dr. Strangelove
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I thought we imported NVG's for helicopter pilots.
almost in all ideas there were night vision devices by pakistan
so it maybe true
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