DefenceTalk.com, Keeping in view the current spending on defense, it seems highly unlikely that the country would consider cruise missiles for its defense. Pakistan has a defense budget of $3.2 billion for the year 2004-05. Most of the amount from $3.2 billion is being spent over Air Force. The Air Force has recently ordered 7 Erieye AWACS radars from Sweden to neutralize the imbalance of power in the region.
The newly elected Prime minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz, has stated that the only thing which will be concentrated by the government will be its economy and we will make Pakistan, an Asian Tiger. It is possible that the government may reduce spendings on the projects going on in the industries and import limited amount of weapons. The spending over the Fc-1 fighter is an example.
The Sino-Pak fighter, JF-17s total development cost was 150 million out of which, 50% was provided by Pakistan in the late 90s. Before that, it was being predicted that the project will not go as planned due to lack of funds. The economy is still not enough to support costly projects of cruise missiles and induct them in large numbers.
The possibilities
Earlier, it was stated by senior officials that Pakistan is running Anti-ballistic missile projects as an answer to Arrow II missiles its rival is going to induct. The Arrow II missile has a speed of mach 9 and can intercept missiles coming at a speed of 3 km/second.
After the successful tests of Anza I and Anza II SAM missiles, having a range of 4.2 and 5 km respectively, it is believed that the tests may include Anza III which was made for the Pakistani navy.
At the time when the Ghauri series was being tested, the engines of Ghauri III missiles were also tested which shows that KRL is continuously studing the performance of the missile. Ghauri III is a two-stage missile with a range of beyond 3000 km.
Missiles defense
The Shaheen II is the longest range missile bade by NESCOM. It has a range of 2000 km which can be extended to 2500 km by reducing its payload. NESCOM will be starting is production in 2005.
Pakistani officials are also in talks with China for the joint-production of FT-2000 anti-radiation AWACS killer missiles to minimize the IAF threats.
