Pakistan Pakistan Defence industry News and Discussions

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After huge success with Juggad MG3 mount, presenting to you the ultimate drone killing mutation device by Pakistan Army.

"3x tripod mounted 12.7mm HMGs"
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Demand Tracker: Is Pakistan Replacing Its Alouette III Helicopters With Airbus H125s? - Quwa

The PAF and PN appear to be inducting Airbus H125 light utility helicopters, but France has reported no helicopter exports to Pakistan since 2021. This brief examines where the airframes could be coming from and why a CDF-led common helicopter program could deliver the scale and offsets that...

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Through 2026, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Navy (PN) have inducted an undisclosed number of Airbus Helicopters H125 light utility helicopters.

The first known PAF example – serialled 26-001 – was photographed in March 2026, while there have been rumours (currently unverified) of at least one PN unit.


Though it is possible that the PAF and/or PN have begun inducting the H125, Quwa was unable to verify whether there were new orders from Airbus Helicopters or, alternatively, transfers of ex-civilian airframes from other countries.

The latest reported export of helicopters matching the H125M’s weight class from France to Pakistan occurred in 2021. France reported exporting three helicopters in that class (i.e., a total of 4,364 kg or 1,455 kg per unit) to Pakistan for USD $12.3 million.


However, from 2022 to 2025, France did not report any helicopter exports to Pakistan at any weight class. Likewise, no other country or source has reported the sale of mothballed H125 helicopters to Pakistan either.

Therefore, the apparent PAF and PN H125 inductions raise the question about the sourcing of these helicopters.

First, the general condition of Pakistan’s defence relations with France and Germany is anemic, as both Paris and Berlin have committed to securing market share in the Indian defence market and, as such, have withheld export licenses to Pakistan.

The suppliers or governments of these countries want to avoid friction with New Delhi and, as such, mostly avoid selling items that could be deemed too sensitive to Pakistan.

 

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https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2104550851281092660

 

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Demand Tracker: Pakistan Army Light Armoured Vehicle Procurement (Sept. 2026) - Quwa

Dongfeng armoured vehicles and MaxxPro MRAPs are in use with the Pakistan Army in KPK, but HIT Hisaar and MHIL Liger fielding lags. Quwa tracks why.

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LAV & MRAP Adoption Across Army & Paramilitary Units​

A handful of Chinese Dongfeng armoured vehicles appear to be in use with the Army and various paramilitary forces, including, at least, the Frontier Constabulary (FC).

View footage on X

A Dongfeng EQ2091XFB armoured vehicle has been observed in use with both the Army and FC. The Army is also operating Dongfeng CSK-181 LAVs.

A 2022 Army Recognition report, citing a social media post, claimed that the Army had acquired around 300 Dongfeng Mengshi CSK-182 vehicles – a shorter variant of the CSK-181 – from 2021. However, the footage reviewed for this tracker does not show Dongfeng types in comparable numbers.

 

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Somalia reportedly agrees to get Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets as defense ties deepen - Hiiraan Online

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia has reportedly reached an agreement with Pakistan to acquire JF-17 Thunder fighter jets as part of an effort to rebuild its air force, though neither government has publicly confirmed a final procurement deal.

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Somalia reportedly agrees to get Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets as defense ties deepen - Hiiraan Online

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia has reportedly reached an agreement with Pakistan to acquire JF-17 Thunder fighter jets as part of an effort to rebuild its air force, though neither government has publicly confirmed a final procurement deal.

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Somalia’s Reported JF-17 Deal Signals Horn of Africa Airpower Shift - Defence Security Asia

Somalia reportedly agreed to acquire Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighters, potentially restoring sovereign combat aviation and adding a new dimension to Horn of Africa security, although the contract and delivery terms remain unconfirmed. Somalia’s reported JF-17 Thunder deal with Pakistan could...

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Unpacking Pakistan’s Pivot to Low-Cost, High-Speed Attack Drones - Quwa

Pakistan’s Fatah-4, Sarfarosh and jet attack drones examined alongside Russia’s Geran-4 and Geran-5, Ukrainian interceptors and India’s air defence.

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One of the lessons Pakistan appears to be drawing from the Russia–Ukraine War is the importance of having large stocks of subsonic, turbojet-powered cruise missiles and one-way attack (OWA) drones. Quwa’s recent assessments of the Fatah-4 and Fatah-4-ER, for example, identified an apparent shift towards simpler, scalable and lower-cost cruise missile designs.

In tandem, Pakistani private-sector firms and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are working on turbojet-powered OWAs, including Sarfarosh, KaGeM V3, Delta Baaz, HiMark-25 TJ and Nimbus 2K. Quwa’s six-month assessment of Pakistan’s one-way effector market traced the emergence of dedicated jet-powered designs alongside the country’s existing missile programs.


Pakistan is also investing in piston-powered loitering munitions analogous to the Shahed-136. However, its parallel interest in jet-powered weapons is notable, particularly as Russia’s use of these systems becomes a central topic of study and the wider market for expendable long-range strike weapons continues expanding.

Russia’s Geran-4 and Geran-5 are assuming a growing proportion of its strike mix in Ukraine. At a parliamentary hearing on 06 October 2026, Ukrainian Air Force deputy commander Yurii Cherevashenko said jets represented approximately 40% of the UAVs Russia was employing against Ukraine, and forecast that their share could reach 80%.

 

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https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2110626261035065378

 

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Pakistan finances its arms procurement through a combination of heavy state budget allocations, strategic partnerships (primarily with China), deferred payment structures, and military-managed commercial enterprises. [1, 2]

Key Mechanisms of Financing

• National Defense Budget:
  For the fiscal year 2026–2027, Pakistan allocated approximately PKR 3 trillion (~$10.8 billion) to defense—an 18% increase over the previous year—driven by security challenges on its eastern and western borders. A substantial portion of this budget directly covers hardware acquisition, modernization, and operational readiness. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Chinese Credit Lines and Favorable Terms:
  China is Pakistan’s primary arms supplier (providing platforms like JF-17 fighters and modern naval/missile systems). Beijing frequently facilitates these deals through state-backed soft loans, favorable credit terms, and deferred payment mechanisms rather than upfront cash demands. [1, 2]
• Joint Production and Tech Transfers:
  To lower import costs, Pakistan partners with nations like China and Turkey for co-production and licensed assembly of defense equipment (such as the JF-17 Thunder). This shifts a portion of the manufacturing domestic and spreads out hard-currency outflows. [1]
• Deferred Payments and Staggered Contracts:
  Major military acquisitions are rarely paid for upfront. Pakistan negotiates multi-year installment schedules, export credit arrangements, and government-to-government agreements that stretch fiscal impacts across long timelines. [1]
• Military-Owned Commercial Conglomerates:
  Commercial entities controlled by the armed forces—such as the Fauji Foundation, Shaheen Foundation, and Army Welfare Trust—operate massive business portfolios spanning cement, fertilizer, banking, and real estate. The profits from these commercial enterprises help subsidize welfare, housing, and indirect support systems for military personnel, easing pressure on the federal budget. [1]
• Historical and External Military Aid:
  While direct Western military assistance (such as U.S. Coalition Support Funds) has declined sharply compared to past decades, strategic alignments and occasional regional or bilateral financial backstops help offset broader economic pressures. [1]

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Somalia’s Reported JF-17 Deal Signals Horn of Africa Airpower Shift - Defence Security Asia

Somalia reportedly agreed to acquire Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder fighters, potentially restoring sovereign combat aviation and adding a new dimension to Horn of Africa security, although the contract and delivery terms remain unconfirmed. Somalia’s reported JF-17 Thunder deal with Pakistan could...

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Somalia may have just purchased JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan, once rumoured to be able to carry nuclear-capable cruise missiles

Recent reports show that Somalia, considered one of Africa’s most fragile states, has agreed to purchase Pakistan/Chinese-made JF-17 Thunder fighter jets

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