nomi007
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- Jan 11, 2010
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“Certainly, there should be an going replacement of the Cobra fleet, but unless this can be arranged on a no-cost or much-reduced cost basis, Pakistan is going to find it very difficult indeed to find the money, with the IMF breathing down its neck, and a rather negative US Congress,” Cloughley said.
Pakistan has two options. Turkey is offering the TAI T-129, and the US could provide the AH-1Z.
Turkey has offered three T-129s at no cost, and possible local assembly, but Pakistan would have to buy the rest, perhaps 40 or so helicopters, to replace the Cobra fleet. So it is uncertain if Pakistan could afford the deal.
According to analyst Haris Khan of the Pakistan Military Consortium think tank, Turkey has already helped Pakistan support its Cobra fleet.
“Initially there was a problem with acquiring spare parts from the US, but later the majority of parts were procured from Turkey,” he said.
Both sides seem willing to capitalize on this, but Pakistan’s financial woes have hampered progress.
Efforts to secure replacement gunships from the US have for years focused on the AH-1Z, but the US Marine Corps is given priority over any foreign order.
It is thought that a number could be acquired by Pakistan through access to US funding, but official sources here have been unwilling to discuss if such an offer has been made, as has been speculated.
Opting for an offer of AH-1Zs would definitely be the more affordable choice for Pakistan, but could come at a cost of alienating fraternal ally Turkey.
Khan is clear where the next step for Pakistan lies however.
“The next and immediate step should to accept the three gifted T-129s from Turkey, along with the spare parts, and start moving in the direction of setting up an assembly line for these potent helicopters,” he said.
Purely on technical and operational terms, he said an AH-1Z deal would be a good idea however.
“If this notification comes to fruit Pakistan will have two options; either to buy brand new AH-1Zs or procure the stored airframes of AH-1 F/S/W and convert them into AH-1Z,” he said.Cobra Crash Serious Blow For Pakistan Army | Defense News | defensenews.com
Pakistan has two options. Turkey is offering the TAI T-129, and the US could provide the AH-1Z.
Turkey has offered three T-129s at no cost, and possible local assembly, but Pakistan would have to buy the rest, perhaps 40 or so helicopters, to replace the Cobra fleet. So it is uncertain if Pakistan could afford the deal.
According to analyst Haris Khan of the Pakistan Military Consortium think tank, Turkey has already helped Pakistan support its Cobra fleet.
“Initially there was a problem with acquiring spare parts from the US, but later the majority of parts were procured from Turkey,” he said.
Both sides seem willing to capitalize on this, but Pakistan’s financial woes have hampered progress.
Efforts to secure replacement gunships from the US have for years focused on the AH-1Z, but the US Marine Corps is given priority over any foreign order.
It is thought that a number could be acquired by Pakistan through access to US funding, but official sources here have been unwilling to discuss if such an offer has been made, as has been speculated.
Opting for an offer of AH-1Zs would definitely be the more affordable choice for Pakistan, but could come at a cost of alienating fraternal ally Turkey.
Khan is clear where the next step for Pakistan lies however.
“The next and immediate step should to accept the three gifted T-129s from Turkey, along with the spare parts, and start moving in the direction of setting up an assembly line for these potent helicopters,” he said.
Purely on technical and operational terms, he said an AH-1Z deal would be a good idea however.
“If this notification comes to fruit Pakistan will have two options; either to buy brand new AH-1Zs or procure the stored airframes of AH-1 F/S/W and convert them into AH-1Z,” he said.Cobra Crash Serious Blow For Pakistan Army | Defense News | defensenews.com
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