Aerial Eyes: Pakistan’s New AWACS Fleets

S-2000 Rollout

In June 2006, Saab signed a SEK 8.3 billion provisional contract to supply Argus turboprop airborne early warning (AEW&C) systems to Pakistan, based on the Saab 2000 regional turboprop airliner and the Erieye fixed active array radar. The buy capped a 25-year quest by the Pakistani Air force to field AWACS machines, which can survey the airspace for hundreds of miles around, and co-ordinate intercept and strike missions based on what it sees.

The Saab aircraft beat other competitors, including US offers to sell the E-2C Hawkeye system. In 2007, the buy was reduced somewhat for financial reasons, but Pakistan took delivery of at least 4 planes. Then, in 2008, the PAF looked to China for another 4 AWACS. Despite some setbacks, Pakistan had a diverse AWACS fleet with more than 5 aircraft, even as its rival India has struggled to field 3 planes. That was true, until Pakistan’s own deep state policies supporting Salafist Islam came back to bite their AWACS fleet.

Rapid Fire April 10, 2013: OMB Releases FY14 Budget Overview | Oshkosh Job Losses

• The US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is starting to release the FY 2014 president budget request. So far only the long-term overview is available, which outlines the terms of a “grand bargain” to replace the sequester. The general release is expected at 11:15am ET, the Pentagon’s media briefing will follow at 1pm ET, and finally the services during the afternoon. DID’s dedicated article will be updated throughout the day.

• Truck maker Oshkosh will cut 200 salaried jobs and 700 hourly workers by the summer, reducing its defense-focused workforce to 2,800 people.