Swiss government halts delivery of anti-aircraft systems to Pakistan

[HAIDER]

BERN, Switzerland: Switzerland has indefinitely postponed the delivery of anti-aircraft systems to Pakistan because of the current situation in the South Asian country, the Economics Ministry said Wednesday.

The decision concerns 21 vehicle-mounted air defense batteries known as Skyguard — a deal approved in December and worth 136 million Swiss francs (US$121 million; €83 million). Six of the weapons have already been delivered, the ministry said in a statement.

The Swiss government postponed further deliveries after President Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule on Nov. 3, including "the suspension of the constitution in Pakistan, the removal of top judges and the closure of private television stations," said Othmar Wyss, spokesman for the ministry's office in charge of export control and sanctions.

The crackdown in Pakistan has caused concern in the West, which considers the nuclear-armed nation a vital ally in the fight against Islamic extremism. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte planned to travel Friday to Pakistan to underscore U.S. concerns about the situation.

Neither the Swiss maker of the Skyguard system, Oerlikon Contraves, nor its German parent company Rheinmetall AG would comment on the Swiss government decision Wednesday.
Pacifist groups in Switzerland recently collected 100,000 signatures for a petition to force the government to examine a proposed ban on all arms exports from the Alpine republic. Any law would need to be approved in a popular referendum
Swiss government halts delivery of anti-aircraft systems to Pakistan - International Herald Tribune

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Well that sucks. Hopefully only till after the elections though.

 

[HAIDER]

Skyguard III / 35 mm Twin Gun Ahead Air Defence Systems

Provide full low-level air defence in object defence against the modern air threat

The Skyguard III 35 mm Ahead gun air defence systems comply fully with the evolving threat and subsequent customer requirements, as well as new technologies now available led to the development of a comprehensive GBAD Battle management system (BMS). They represent advanced technology, are highly automated, provide great fire power, offer wide versatility in deployment, and are economically a sound and affordable solution; all provided for by Rheinmetall Defence.

In recent, present and any future military conflict, air attacks represent one of the major threats to ground troops as well as to civilians and to vital military and non-military infrastructures. Tactical aircraft, attack helicopters, cruise missiles, remotely-piloted air vehicles and precision-guided munitions form the group of these attackers.

The combination of the new Skyguard III fire control unit (FCU) with the 35 mm twin gun types GDF provides its user an advanced and most effective air defence system. Replacement of no longer current fire control equipment with today's most modern Skyguard III FCU results in a significant improvement in performance of such upgraded fire units. The gun types GDF-001/002/003 or 005 require, based on their respective technical standard, modifications which may also include Ahead, the anti-missile capability.

The 35 mm Ahead system from Oerlikon Contraves, a subsidiary of Rheinmetall Defence, is the only gun-based low-level air defence system, thoroughly tested, successfully demonstrated and readily available for defeating these threats effectively. A short burst of Ahead rounds produces a continuous saturation in the expected target position with a cloud of lethal subprojectiles. The protection levels of today's and future targets can be penetrated by the heavy metal, spin-stabilized subprojectiles.

The Ahead system is designed to fit 35 mm twin gun/Skyguard air defence systems which are in use in rather large quantities in many countries worldwide. Modifications of fielded 35 mm twin gun/Skyguard fire units, for up-grading them to include the Ahead anti-missile capability, depending on their standard of build, may be done in the customer country.

The fielded 35 mm twin gun/Skyguard fire units must be modernized to cope with the new specific characteristics of 21st century air threats. This 35 mm twin gun/Skyguard III modernization program also includes all necessary fire control functions for Ahead engagement against small, fast and steep attacking missile targets in respect to elevation coverage, detection range and ECCM.

35 mm twin gun/Skyguard III fire units in a tactical deployment can be integrated into a C4I system and/or networked together to form a network. For such a network up to three Skyguard III fire units can be located at separation distances of up to 3 km. By means of a fast exchange of search and track data, a common air situation is built up and instantaneously shared among all the netted fire units. The evaluation of the common air situation enables an optimised battle management of the available trackers and weapons and provides an overall protection shield. The data transfer is based on near real-time data exchange.

For optimal anti-missile defence, networking of the fire units for full airspace coverage including the zenith is a must within an air defence lay-out arrangement. Skyguard III is a multi-role air defence command and fire control system. The existing high fire control performance in the classical low level air defence is extended to counter, in addition the whole missile threat spectrum.

Application of the latest technology in the field of electronics ensures logistic support for another life cycle period.

Oerlikon Contraves is in a position to supply from one single source a layered low level air defence system which is also inclusive of anti-missile capability. Complete modules for fire control, guns, and ammunition are optimally brought together. The technical-tactical integration of a missile launcher results in a striking improvement in the efficiency of inner layer concept of the 35 mm Ahead twin gun/Skyguard III systems.

The actual and future air threat demands for a 35 mm air defence system to defend vulnerable points and objects.

Source: http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/index.p...3990〈=3

 

[CaptainKidd]

Well the system is totaly defensive in nature and there was no need to ban it. I dont know why swiss Gov did this.

 

[JK!]

Posted it in air force section but send the six we have to china to upgrade theirs then aquire this:

Type 90 Twin-35mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - SinoDefence.com

 

[fatman17]

guys dont fret - all 21 systems will be delivered after the elections. the swiss cannot afford to suspend this order. the defence exports are very minor when compared to US/UK/France etc. and they need the FX (US 120mill)

 

[blain2]

Posted it in air force section but send the six we have to china to upgrade theirs then aquire this:

Type 90 Twin-35mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - SinoDefence.com

Type-90 is based on this exact Oerlikon 35mm AAG that Pakistan has and is trying to get more of from the Swiss.

 

[amunhotep]

i think the supply will be delayed only till emergecy lasts. thereore there it will not hae any long-term strategic impact.

the swiss cannot afford to suspend this order. the defence exports are very minor when compared to US/UK/France etc. and they need the FX (US 120mill)

i don't think that the swiss will be losing much sleep over only $120-million man

 

[BATMAN]

recently Swiss president has visited India, what else you can expect!!
Welcome to Indian influence. Looks like Indian embassy in Switzerland is very active.
Can any one find any statisitcs how many Indians move abroad since 9/11 and how much foreign investment and remittances to India, increased since than?

 

[JK!]

Type-90 is based on this exact Oerlikon 35mm AAG that Pakistan has and is trying to get more of from the Swiss.

so why not from china?

They combine the system with PL9 SAMs as well.

 

[fatman17]

recently Swiss president has visited India, what else you can expect!!
Welcome to Indian influence. Looks like Indian embassy in Switzerland is very active.
Can any one find any statisitcs how many Indians move abroad since 9/11 and how much foreign investment and remittances to India, increased since than?

its not because of any special indian effort - it has to do with swiss laws regarding areas of conflict (external or internal)

 

[blain2]

so why not from china?

They combine the system with PL9 SAMs as well.

Because when you can go to the OEM and get a good deal then why not?

 

[amunhotep]

so why not from china?

They combine the system with PL9 SAMs as well.

why not the TY-90 (YITIAN) ??

it's capabilities are similar to those of the sky guard

moreover it's highly mobile

 

[JK!]

why not the TY-90 (YITIAN) ??

it's capabilities are similar to those of the sky guard

moreover it's highly mobile

Not really,

TY 90 is a bit like linebacker of the US army and I prefer the range of PL9s

 

[IceCold]

Pardon me for lacking the required knowledge, but i fail to understand what kind of airdefence can these 135mm guns provide against highly mobile modern jets of the 21st century. Also what we lacked was a hight altitude airdefence system instead of looking for one we seem to be waisting quite valuable time and money on guns. Anyhow since swiss seems to be reluctant, chinese option seems better not to forget we always have the option to develop it under license.