Pakistan's Army Rocket Force Command tested the Fatah IV ground-launched cruise missile with an air burst warhead and new imaging infrared seeker — the latest step in Pakistan's conventional deterrence build-up.

Bilal Khan and Arslan Khan unpack what the Fatah IV's evolution from the Harba series means for mass production and scalability, then dive into the Z-10ME attack helicopter's millimetric wave radar evaluation and what it signals about Army Aviation's procurement timeline.

The episode also covers JF-17 Block 3 production realities, the case for Block 4/PFX Alpha as the JF-17's final evolution, and why the PAF's ageing T-37 and K-8 training pipeline may be a more urgent priority than fifth-generation fighter procurement.

In the Q&A segment: the Link 17 data link controversy (can AWACS guide PL-15 missiles?), BrahMos countermeasures, whether Pakistan should repurpose the JF-17 as a LIFT platform, the J-35 timeline, and the future size of the PAF fighter fleet.

Published by Quwa (quwa.org) — the first English-language Pakistan defence analysis publication.

Questions: [email protected]

One year after the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, Pakistan's military procurement picture has fundamentally changed. In this episode, Bilal Khan, Arslan Khan, and Aseem break down the full scope of Pakistan's post-conflict military modernization — from the FATA-3 supersonic cruising missile to Shahed-style drone factories, the Army Rocket Force Command, PAF fighter fleet expansion, satellite reconnaissance, and the decision-making challenge that will determine whether any of it matters.

Topics covered:

— FATA-3 supersonic cruising missile and its HD-1 connection

— Army Rocket Force Command: structure, mandate, and multimodal strike concept

— FATA missile family breakdown (FATA-1 guided MLRS, FATA-2 tactical ballistic, FATA-3 supersonic cruiser, FATA-4 cruise missile)

— Pakistan Navy supersonic missile requirements (CM-302, SMASH)

— Shahed-style loitering munition mass production strategy

— Jet-powered vs piston-powered drones: why simplicity wins

— Turkish drone industry critique and Baykar in Pakistan

— Pakistan Army counter-UAS programs and electronic warfare investment

— Z-10ME attack helicopter and the future of army aviation

— PAF fighter procurement: J-10, JF-17, and the J-35 question

— Fifth-generation fighter timing: J-35, TFX/KAAN, and the KF-21 dark horse

— RAAD cruise missile reconfiguration for conventional strike and anti-ship roles

— Pakistan's satellite and ISTAR buildup (EO, SAR, hyperspectral)

— Kill chain closure: satellites vs munitions stockpiles

— Lessons learned: decision-making speed, pre-delegated authority, and Pakistan's shift from defensive to offensive posture

Defence Uncut is the first dedicated English-language Pakistani defence news commentary podcast. Fo

The Pakistan Navy commissions PNS/M Hangor — the first of eight Hangor-class (S26) AIP submarines derived from China's Yuan-class (Type 039B). We trace the programme from the collapsed Type 214 deal with TKMS through to the current dual-submarine strategy, and discuss how the fleet will reshape Pakistan's maritime posture in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

We also cover the Babur-class corvette and Jinnah-class frigate armament debate, the SMASH anti-ship ballistic missile and Taimoor AS cruise missile tests, the Army Rocket Force Command's first Fatah-II training launch, the Pakistan Army's emerging precision-fire and precision-strike doctrine — including the Nishana PGK, PAKFIRE, and the new Integrated Battlefield Management System — and SUPARCO's PRSC-EO3 satellite completing Pakistan's electro-optical imaging constellation.

The Islamabad talks between the US and Iran ended without an agreement after 21 hours — but the breakdown reveals more than the headlines suggest.

In this episode, Bilal Khan and Arslan Khan analyse what the Islamabad negotiations mean for Pakistan's position in the Iran-US war. They examine why the US wanted to establish contact with the IRGC's post-decapitation leadership, why the nuclear issue was only part of the sticking point, and why Pakistan's proposal for joint naval patrols of the Strait of Hormuz could reshape the region's security architecture.

The episode covers Iran's asymmetric cost strategy and what Pakistan's military can learn from its mosaic defence doctrine, the case for devolving combat authority down to corps and brigade level, Pakistan Navy's geographic advantage in the Arabian Sea, and the argument that Pakistan has been systematically undercharging the Gulf for its security services.

Bilal and Arslan lay out a detailed framework for how Pakistan could position itself as the region's primary security guarantor — from joint F-16 squadrons stationed in Saudi Arabia and Pakistani-operated drone interceptor production lines, to Chinese surplus air defence stockpiles channelled through Pakistan to Gulf buyers. They also discuss the structural failure of the Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Defence Agreement and what needs to change to make it operational.

Defence Uncut is the first dedicated English-language Pakistani defence podcast. New episodes weekly.

Website: quwa.org | Twitter/X: @quwagroup

Defence Uncut is back for Season 2. In this premiere episode, Bilal Khan and Arslan Khan examine the operational lessons emerging from the US-Iran war and what they mean for Pakistan's defence planning.

The discussion covers three interconnected areas: the proven value of low-cost Shahed-class loitering munitions — including why the design succeeded where more complex systems have failed, and what Pakistan's own drone industry can replicate. The more limited returns from Iran's ballistic missile investments — where the 'fear factor' is real but the physical degradation has been minimal. And the naval dynamics of the Strait of Hormuz crisis — particularly what Iran's failure to get its submarines and warships out of port before they were destroyed signals for the Pakistan Navy's own submarine and surface fleet strategy.

We also discuss the counter-drone problem — from high-powered microwave emitters to Ukraine's kinetic Sting interceptors to an unconventional concept involving low-cost experimental jet UAVs for persistent airborne patrols. And we close with the case for a multinational missile consortium among Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia — what Arslan calls an 'Eastern MBDA' — to solve the production scale and stockpile depth challenge that this war has made impossible to ignore.

For deeper analysis beyond the podcast, subscribe to Quwa Plus at https://quwa.org/quwa-premium/plus — two South Asia-focused defence analysis articles per week, 10 years of the Quwa Premium archive, and our new Pulse Check podcast on the institutions and policy behind Pakistan's defence decisions.

Questions or topic suggestions? Email [email protected]

A quiet update to a US Department of Defense contract has added Pakistan to a list of nations slated to receive the advanced AIM-120C8/D AMRAAM, the most capable air-to-air missile in the US export inventory. In this episode, we unpack what this administrative move truly signifies for the Pakistan Air Force.

We explain why this is not yet a finalized sale and break down the intricate political and industrial tracks of the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process that must be navigated before any missiles are delivered.

Furthermore, we analyze the significant capability boost the AIM-120C8/D offers and discuss whether this development could be a precursor to a major upgrade for the PAF's existing F-16s, or perhaps even a landmark deal for new-build F-16 Block 72 fighters.

In this episode of Defense Uncut, hosts Bilal Khan and Aseem Islam analyze the new Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The discussion moves beyond surface-level speculation, such as claims of a "nuclear umbrella," which the hosts argue would be highly destabilizing and unacceptable to the United States.

Instead, they propose the agreement was likely signed with Washington's knowledge, if not at its recommendation. The core of the analysis suggests the pact is a key component of a broader US strategy to disengage from the Middle East in order to focus on China. This move aims to pacify two contentious regions—the Middle East and South Asia—in a single, cost-effective maneuver.

This week on Defence Uncut, we dive deep into the reports that the Indian Air Force is pushing to acquire another 114 Dassault Rafale fighters.

Is this a strategic masterstroke to consolidate the IAF's power, or an overreaction to Pakistan's potential acquisition of the J-35 stealth fighter? Join us as we analyze why this is far more than a platform-vs-platform debate. We break down the critical advantages India holds in its domestic aerospace industry, how a consolidated Rafale and Tejas fleet presents a significant challenge to the PAF, and why Pakistan's focus must shift from matching numbers to strengthening its own network-centric systems and industrial base.

Defence Uncut is the first dedicated English-language podcast for Pakistani defence commentary. Find more of our analysis at Quwa.org.

Pakistan has signed a $406 million deal with China's PIESAT for a constellation of 20+ advanced imaging satellites, a move with massive strategic implications. In this episode, we analyze how this provides the critical situational awareness needed for the new Army Rocket Force Command (ARFC) , why the deal was signed by the Ministry of Food Security instead of SUPARCO , and how it paves the way for a sovereign, dual-use space industry decoupled from previous constraints. We break down the technology, the military doctrine, and the future of Pakistan's ambitions in space.

China's 2025 Victory Day Parade sent a clear message to the world: its military technology is now at the cutting edge.

In this episode, we unpack the most significant weapon systems unveiled, from the highly agile HHQ-9C surface-to-air missile to the game-changing YJ-19 hypersonic cruise missile and a new family of stealth combat drones (UCAVs).

Aerospace engineer Aseem ul-Islam and Quwa's Bilal Khan analyze the engineering behind these platforms, their strategic purpose, and their potential availability for export to countries like Pakistan.

We also explore China's advancements in counter-drone lasers, unmanned turret tanks, and anti-ship ballistic missiles. The episode concludes with an in-depth Q&A session, answering listener questions on everything from Pakistan's air defence strategy to the future of its defence industry.

Learn More:For more in-depth analysis, visit our website at https://www.quwa.org.

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