🇵🇰-Land Pakistan Army's Air defence System (1 Viewer)

[ghazi]

THE PAKISTAN ARMY'S AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS

In January, the Pakistan Army (PA) conducted an exercise to test its various air defence systems. Based on the details released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media branch of Pakistan's military, the Army test-fired the gamut of its surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, namely: "HIMADS," "LOMADS," "E-SHORAD," and "SHORAD."

Together, these SAMs form the Army's "Comprehensive Layered Integrated Air Defence" (CLIAD) system. CLIAD is the outcome of a decade-long initiative by the Army to build its own multi-layered ground-based air defence system (GBADS). CLIADS enables the Army to efficiently distribute its SAM deployment and management across its hierarchy, from Corps level to Brigade level. This was a significant step for the Army as it operated mostly man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), such as the ANZA-series, until the 2010s.

This step was driven to address growing enemy close air support (CAS) and anti-armour/infantry/artillery air threats as well as the need to acquire more flexibility in land forces maneuvers without entirely relying on the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to intercept enemy aircraft and undertake long-range strikes. In terms of the latter, the Army is building its own stand-off range weapon (SOW) capability through artillery.

This analysis aims to unpack the SAM systems under CLIAD and how the Army will leverage it in the long-term for supporting its maneuvers and protecting its assets/facilities.

Pakistan Army's SAM Systems

HIMADS

The High-to-Medium Air Defence System (HIMADS) is the HQ-9/P long-range SAM. Inducted in 2021, the HQ-9/P has a range of 125 km and, according to the Army, can intercept aircraft and cruise missiles. The HQ-9/P's capacity to intercept cruise missiles is likely limited to a shorter range, possibly under 25 km.
The HQ-9/P's guidance suite likely leverages an inertial navigation system (INS) aided by a targeting radar via datalink and a terminal-stage active radar-homing (ARH) seeker. The system uses the HT-233 phased-array fire control radar.

LOMADS

The Low-to-Medium Air Defence System (LOMAD) seems to consist of two SAM systems – the LY-80 and the LY-80EV. The Army inducted the LY-80 in 2017 and it provides a stated range of 40 km. The LY-80EV is less clear; however, it may be the improved 70 km range variant of the HQ-16 revealed in 2016.

The LY-80 uses a semi-active radar-homing (SARH) guidance system where it depends on an illumination radar to maintain a lock on the target as the missile reaches it. It is unclear if the LY-80EV uses a different guidance configuration (e.g., ARH like the HQ-9/P), though it is possible.

The LY-80/EV leverages the IBIS-150, an S-band passive electronically-scanned array (PESA) surveillance radar with a range of 150 km and multiple L-band fire control radars with ranges of 85 km each.

ESHORAD

The Extended Short-Range Air Defence System (ESHORAD) may be the FM-90 system, which offers a range of 15 km. The FM-90 uses a command guidance system and is primarily designed to intercept low-flying aircraft, drones, and, potentially, missiles/munitions.

SHORAD

The Short-Range Air Defence System (SHORAD) is likely the ANZA-Mk2. Using infrared (IR) homing for guidance, the MANPADS offers a range of up to 5,000 m. The Army may also be using the Saab RBS-70 NG as a SHORAD system. This is a laser-guided SAM with a maximum range of 9,000 m.

The Army also uses the older RBS-70 (range: 9,000 m), FN-6 (range: 6,000 m), FN-16 (range: 6,000 m), Anza-3 (range: 5,000 m), and Anza-2 (range: 5,000 m) for its SHORAD needs.

Potential Deployment and Utilization

To what extent the Army's CLIAD integrates with the PAF's GBADS is unclear. However, there appears to be a level of demarcation between the ranges covered by the Army and the PAF. For example, the PAF's new SAM systems – i.e., the HQ-9BE and HQ-16FE – cover 260 km and 160 km, respectively. This is longer than the reach of the Army's SAMs. Thus, it is possible coverages beyond a certain range and altitude are the responsibility of the PAF, freeing the Army and Navy to build their own capabilities under a threshold…

 

[ghazi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1761846492887691724

 

[ghazi]

April 4, 2024

IN-HOUSE SAM PROJECTS HINT AT PAKISTAN'S AIR DEFENCE GOALS

In May, GIDS (Global Industrial and Defence Solutions) revealed a number of new projects currently under development in Pakistan, notably two new surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. These are the "LOMADS" and the "E-SHROADS" – the latter also has the designation of "FAAZ-SL."

GIDS stated that the solutions it revealed in its future roadmap are currently under development and will "soon" join its product portfolio. GIDS did not disclose when these projects started, nor did it offer specific details regarding availability. However, considering GIDS' primary role of marketing and exporting Pakistani defence products, the reveal of the future roadmap likely carries weight. GIDS is aiming to garner interest in these programs from potential foreign buyers or investors, so these projects are likely substantive, if not viable from a production standpoint.

Moreover, these projects are being managed by Pakistan's larger and more established state-owned-enterprises (SOE), such as NESCOM.

That said, though GIDS is trying to generate interest from the market, each of these projects likely reflects a domestic requirement. Thus, it would not be surprising if the LOMADS and FAAZ-SL are being driven by the future air defence needs of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), for example. For its part, GIDS is simply just a commercial arm; it does not define project requirements or drive them to completion. Rather, the PAF, the Pakistan Army (PA), or Pakistan Navy (PN) define requirements and, in turn, task the likes of the NESCOM, Air Weapons Complex (AWC) and others to handle development.

Basically, while GIDS was given the greenlight to market the LOMADS et.al, these programs were (and still are) driven by the armed forces. Hence, they reflect the direction of Pakistan's defence procurement plans in the coming years just as much as its defence commercial interests.

A Future Image of Pakistan's Air Defence Environment?

According to GIDS, the LOMADS will range a range of 7 km to 100 km, and an altitude coverage of 30 m to 20 km. The LOMADS' missile will have a maximum speed of Mach 5 and, in turn, engage targets flying from Mach 0.1 to Mach 3. Overall, the system will have the capacity to engage 12 targets simultaneously.

Previously, Pakistan had used the term "LOMADS" as the acronym for "low-to-medium-range air defence system." However, the stated range of the product would take it into the realm of a long-range SAM, such as the HQ-9/P. Traditionally, 'LOMADS' would have referred to a 25-60 km-range system, like the LY-80 and Spada 2000-Plus. Thus, this one detail could indicate that the PAF has adjusted how it defines range for its SAMs; moving forward, "long-range" could refer to a SAM with a range of over 100 km.

 

[ghazi]

Oct 17, 2021
Quwa Team -

PAKISTAN ARMY INDUCTS HQ-9/P LONG-RANGE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE SYSTEM

On 14 October 2021, the Pakistan Army (PA) announced that it inducted the Chinese HQ-9/P long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.

According to the tri-services' media arm, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the HQ-9/P joined the PA's 'Comprehensive Layered Integrated Air Defence' (CLIAD) system. The ISPR added that the HQ-9/P offers a range of "over 100 kilometres" with "Single Short Kill Probability."

Analysis
Pakistan was never known for heavily investing in SAM systems, certainly not to the scale of its neighbours India and Iran, or most other major military powers for that matter.

With the exception of a limited HQ-2 deployment in the 1980s, the bulk of Pakistan's SAMs did not offer more than 20-25 km in range. This, in comparison to India's arsenal of Russian-origin S-300s and Buk SAMs, exposed Pakistan's lack of interest in SAMs in the 1990s and 2000s.

This is not to say Pakistan was negligent. Pakistan's coffers are not as full as India's, so it frequently makes trade-offs when prioritizing programs. If anything, Pakistan likely understood the value of strong ground-based air defence (GBAD) development. However, it focused on other areas first.

Pakistan bought offensive, stand-off range weapons (SOW), electronic countermeasures (ECM), airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, and multirole fighter aircraft. Pakistan used each of these key assets in its response to India's Balakot strikes in 2019, and it was pleased with the results.

However, decision-makers across the tri-services earmarked funds for significant air defence investments for both land and sea. The HQ-9/P is the culmination of that initiative. In just the last 10 years, Pakistan's SAM coverages extend beyond 100 km, completely outdoing decades of narrow reach.

But the most interesting aspect of Pakistan's sudden air defence investment is its driver. In the past, air defence was the exclusive domain of the PAF. It had been the PAF that laid-out an air defence ground environment (ADGE) with SAMs, such as the Crotale and Spada-2000 Plus.

However, this new chapter is the story of Pakistan Army Air Defence Command.

The HQ-9/P induction follows several years of reports about Pakistan expressing interest in long-range SAMs. In fact, Pakistan's initial interest in China's long-range SAMs dates to the early 2000s when it sought the FT-2000. The FT-2000 was an export-oriented variant of the HQ-9 tipped with an anti-radiation seeker. It seemed to have been the first export version of the HQ-9. The FT-2000 had a range of 100 km.

Ultimately, Pakistan did not acquire the FT-2000. However, there were signs that a major air defence deal with China was underway in recent years. In 2016, a delegation of two major Chinese defence contractors – China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) and China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CPMIEC) – visited Pakistan. The then Pakistani government said it planned on making a 'decision for induction' based on a 'complete proposal' from CPMIEC.

In December 2018, news reports emerged of Pakistan showing interest in the FD-2000. Quoting a Pakistan Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) official, Russian News Agency TASS reported that the country may acquire three or four FD-2000 systems. While there was no follow-up to this news report, it seemed that Pakistan was working towards inducting a long-range SAM in the near future.

 

[ghazi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1777273076834582862