"Made in America"

The News, July 17, 2005
Capital Suggestion

Made in America!
Dr Farrukh Saleem

Pakistan Air Force's 3 squadrons of F-16 multi-role, ground-attack Fighting Falcons are 'Made in America'. PAF's F-16s carry AGM-65 Maverick, the tactical air-to-surface guided missiles with electro-optical imaging, which are 'Made in America'. The Hercules C-130, our military's transport backbone, is 'Made in America'. AIM-9P and AIM-9L, PAF's standard air-to-air all angle heat-seeking missiles, are also 'Made in America'.

On 16 July 2002, the Bush Administration notified Congress that America would be transferring "seven used C-130E transport aircraft" to Pakistan. On 24 September 2003, Congress was told that Pakistan was being supplied "40 Bell 407 helicopters". On 22 July 2004, Bell Helicopters announced that it was delivering "26 Bell 412EP medium twin-engine helicopters to Pakistan."

Moving over to the Pakistan Army, our 450 M-47 and M-48A5 Patton tanks are 'Made in America'. Our Green Dragon Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) are 'Made in America'. Our self-propelled and Towed Howitzers are 'Made in America'. Our AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters with their tube-launched, optically tracked, wire command-link guided missiles are also 'Made in America'.

In 1975, the Pakistan Air Defence Command was formed with its HQ built underground at a depth of 10 meters. The Air Defence Command has three regional commands-Northern, Central and Southern-and eight radar systems. Of the eight, five are long-range and three are low level.

Most of our surveillance system is 'Made in America'. In 1985, TPS-43G, an advanced American radar system, was commissioned (now under upgrading). ANTPQ-36, our weapons locating radar, is 'Made in America'. On 26 July 2002, the Bush Administration notified Congress that America would be transferring to Pakistan "six Aerostats-sophisticated, balloon-mounted surveillance radars."

The Pakistan Army's Stinger and Redeye missiles are 'Made in America'. Better still, Pak Army shall soon be inducting 2,000 TOW anti-tank missiles and TOW-2A heavy anti-armour, fly-to-buy guided missiles (TOW missiles can penetrate bunkers and armours). MP5, the closed bolt action, 800 rounds per minute, high single-shot accuracy submachine gun, is the key weapon with our regular as well as Special Forces.

The Pakistan Navy's P3C Orion, the world's best naval reconnaissance plane, is made by Lockheed. Our P3s have a wingspan of 100 feet and are powered by four Allison T56-A-14 turboprop engines. Our anti-submarine warfare platforms, with electro-optic sensors and near real-time connectivity of reconnaissance data, are 'Made in America' (P3s can also be used as strategic bombers).

On 9 May 2005, the Bush Administration authorised the sale of Harpoon anti-ship missiles (to upgrade our current stockpile). Boeing is the Harpoon contractor, and Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon missile system. Additionally, at least six of the Pakistan Navy's frontline ships are getting the PHALANX Close-In Weapon System (the system will defend the Navy against fast incoming missiles and aircrafts).

To be certain, when, and if, our army decides to move east of the Line of Control (LoC), our invading forces will be led by our columns of 'Made in America' Patton tanks. Not to forget, on the other side of the border are sitting Indian Army's 'Made in America' ANTPQ-37 weapons locating radars that can trace back the path of an incoming projectile and thus locate guns sitting some 30 kilometres away. All along the LoC, the Indian Army is already dependent on sensors; sensors made by Tata under American licensing and technology. India's Special Forces will soon be carrying American GPS systems and laser target designators.

Furthermore, the Indian Navy is now on the verge of buying P3C Orion, Sea Black Hawk helicopters and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft. Indian Air Force's Russian transport aircraft fleet is aging and the IAF is considering buying C-130 Hercules. As far as advance radars are concerned, the IAF has already signed up to buy Phalcon and Greenpine American-origin systems.

In effect, a future Indo-Pak war will lack that all-critical element of surprise, as it would be 'Made in America' versus 'Made in America'. There can be no smokescreens, no masking, no facades, no camouflage, no disguising and very little concealment. Indian and Pakistani generals both know full well that a fully transparent war is not worth fighting. To be sure, America -- as a supplier of killing machines to both sides -- is now more in control of a future Indo-Pak clash than ever before (not too long ago, India's entire fleet of Sea King helicopters was grounded because the U.S. refused to supply spares).

I am further convinced that there are powerful forces on either side of the LoC, and in the United States, that now have a definite stake in peace. Among them are Corporate America, Corporate India, the Fauji Foundation, the CIA, the US Department of Defence and the Department of State.

The writer is an Islamabad-based freelance columnist
Email: farrukh15@hotmail.com