Upgraded Harpoons and Sidewinders to Pakistan

[VisionHawk]

US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that the Bush administration has authorised the sale to Pakistan of 40 AGM-84L air-launched and 20 RGM-84L surface-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and up to 300 AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The missiles will upgrade Pakistani stockpiles that already contain older versions of each missile.

The deal for the Harpoon missiles is worth up to $180 million, and the prime contractors on the deal would be Boeing's St. Louis, MO operation and Delex Systems of Vienna, VA. The deal for the AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles is worth up to $46 million, and the prime contractor would be Raytheon Systems in Tucson, AZ.

The DSCA noted that the deal will allow Pakistan to fly armed surveillance aircraft along its western border with Afghanistan and Iran. We at DID found this assertion odd, since the Harpoon missile upgrade is irrelevant for these purposes and the Sidewinder upgrade does not significantly change the balance of power vis-a-vis the Iranian Air Force. As such, we interpret this as a veiled allusion to the fact that the missile sale was Pakistan's quid pro quo for continued armed aerial surveillance of the Afghani border, which remains a focus of Taliban and al-Qaeda infiltration. Since the missiles simply replace earlier versions rather than providing a major capability upgrade like the thrust-vectoring AIM-9X, the sale also minimizes diplomatic issues with India. :evil:

 

[VisionHawk]

The missiles will upgrade stockpiles of older versions of each missile, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in statements issued on Monday.

Pakistan is seeking 40 AGM-84L air-launched Harpoons and 20 RGM-84L surface-launched versions of the missile in a deal worth up to $180 million, the military said. The Pakistani navy uses an older version of the missile, and the US statement said the newer missiles are less likely to hit non-combatant targets in a naval engagement.

The prime contractors on the deal are the Boeing Co.'s St. Louis, Missouri, operation and Delex Systems of Vienna, Virginia.

In addition, Pakistan wants to buy up to 300 AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, which fighter aircraft use against other planes. The deal is worth up to $46 million and the prime contractor is Raytheon Systems in Tucson, Arizona.

The deal will allow Pakistan to fly armed surveillance aircraft along its western border, the military said. Afghanistan and Iran are west of Pakistan.

"The Pakistani air force currently lacks this self-defence capability. These missiles are needed to allow Pakistan to defend its borders, participate in coalition operations and exercises and operate a modern Air Force," the military statement says.