3 weeks ago

Pakistan's China-backed western build-up, Saudi-Turkey pact, India's air shield

Pakistan's China-backed western build-up, Saudi-Turkey pact, India's air shield
Weekly Defence Dispatch: Pakistan's China-backed western build-up, a Saudi-Turkey pact, India's air shield takes shape, · firstpost.com

This story is about countries getting ready to defend themselves using armies, ships, planes and rockets.

Pakistan and India are neighbours who often do not trust each other.

This week, Pakistan placed big Chinese-built guns near its border with India, kept a new submarine in the city of Karachi, and set up an air defence system at a coastal area called Sir Creek.

Pakistan also signed a promise of help with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, covering joint exercises, technology sharing and intelligence sharing.

India is joining its radars, missiles and lasers into one big shield called Mission Sudarshan Chakra so it can spot threats like drones and rockets early.

A ship flying India's flag was hit by a group called the Houthis in the Red Sea and sank, but all 14 sailors were rescued.

India is also planning to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets from France, with most of them built inside India.

Countries make these moves to feel safer, even though they often make their neighbours worried too.

This week showed how quickly defence plans and alliances across the region are changing.

Key facts

SH-15 howitzers
Nearly 250 Chinese-built guns positioned facing India
Trilateral defence pact
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed in Jeddah, covering joint exercises, technology transfer and intelligence sharing
Mission Sudarshan Chakra
India's multi-layer air defence network announced three months after Operation Sindoor
Sunk Indian-flagged vessel
MSV Faize Noore Oliya in the Red Sea, August 4; all 14 crew rescued
Rafale fighter deal
Final French offer for 114 jets worth about Rs 3.25 lakh crore; 94 to be built in India
BrahMos-ER procurement
Indian Army set to buy 150 missiles in a roughly Rs 10,000 crore deal
Vietnam BrahMos order
$629 million for six coastal batteries
Logistic drone fleet
2,715 drones sought by the Army for LAC and LoC resupply

Sources

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