To ensure Pakistan continues its confrontation with India, Islamabad has received the first batch of Chinese-made vehicle-mounted howitzers to counter India’s K-9 King Kong howitzers. Beijing has also supplied Rawalpindi with NORINCO AR-1 300mm multiple rocket launchers for the Pakistani army to respond to the Indian rocket launchers. The total contract value is approximately $512 million.
The supply of conventional weapons systems, fighter jets, destroyers, and even a preference for DF-17 hypersonic missiles to counter India’s latest acquisition of the S-400 air defense system are all part of Beijing’s long-term strategy to keep the Rawalpindi GHQ in a state of Permanent confrontation of India. This strategy has paid dividends for the Beijing regime in the past, as it forced India to be vigilant along its western border, which is far superior to China, whether in international forums, military or nuclear parity Heavyweight. Since the 1990s, Beijing’s role in developing Pakistan as a nuclear state and in clandestinely supplying delivery systems is well-documented.
According to reports, Pakistan signed a contract with Chinese weapons giant North Industries Corporation in 2019 to provide 236 SH-15 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzers in addition to AR-1 heavy rocket launchers. In addition to artillery, the contract includes the supply and technology transfer of various ammunition, including extended-range and guided artillery shells with a range of 53 kilometers. Apparently, this supply is to increase the firepower of the Pakistani army on the western border, especially to heat up the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir should the existing ceasefire break down or send a message to Kashmir.
China is reportedly supplying Pakistan with DF-17 mobile solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missiles to upgrade Rawalpindi’s ballistic missile systems, as most existing radars have difficulty tracking hypersonic missiles, as are existing surface-to-air missiles Difficult to engage systems include the S-400 system. Mounted on a hypersonic glide vehicle, the DF-17 is said to combine maneuverability and high speed, which presents a significant challenge to conventional missile defense. Since 2014, China has conducted at least nine tests of the DF-17 missile, which it says has a range of 1,950 kilometers and a speed of at least five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5.
While India also tested its scramjet-powered Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV) on September 7, 2020 to launch hypersonic missiles, Chinese supplies will apparently force the DRDO to speed up indigenous projects.
Complete News Source : Hindustan Times
