Armée Pakistanaise / Pakistani Armed Forces (PAF)

Rappel du premier message :

Encore un contrat de perdu pour la France

Citation :

Pakistan Selects German Submarines


Pakistan to buy German subs, ignore French



KARACHI: In a departure from the past practice of acquiring submarines from France, Pakistan will buy three German Type 214 submarines.

Walter Freitag, the chief executive officer of the HDW, the largest conventional submarine maker in the world, told The News on Tuesday in an exclusive interview at the IDEAS 2008 here that his company had finalised technical specifications with the navy to build three Type 214 submarines in Pakistan.

The commercial contract has been finalised up to 95 per cent, he said, hoping the final contract in this regard will be signed soon. This is the first time that a clear picture of the billion-dollar deal that the Pakistan Navy is expected to sign in coming months has emerged. Earlier, during mid-90s, the navy had selected three French Agosta 90-B submarines, which were in addition to the two acquired earlier. The deal had generated a lot of controversy at that time.

This time French firm Armaris had offered to supply Pakistan three updated single-hulled, diesel-electric submarines all-French version of the Franco-Spanish Scorpene boat equipped with air-independent propulsion, a deal totalling about $1.2 billion.

However, Walter Freitag said he did not see that kind of controversy enveloping this project perceived during the 90s. The Pakistan Navy understands submarines and ours are the best, he said, rejecting claims of competitors that the Greek Navy had rejected Type 214.

In the Hellenic Navys case, a neutral surveyor was appointed, who decided that the submarine was technically OK and ready for commissioning, he said. The HDW CEO said the Type 214 was technologically more advanced than those of competitors. We use higher grade steel material, which allows greater diving depth, he said. Also, we have fuel cell AIPs and can integrate Harpoons with the Type 214.

The first submarine would be delivered to the Pakistan Navy in 64 months after signing of the contract while the rest would be completed successively in 12 months. Walter Freitag stated that they would be using facilities at the Karachi Shipyard for building Type 214 and minimal upgrade would be required. He added that the Type 214 was 100 per cent German and there was no chance of embargo on it in any case.

Meanwhile, authoritative sources told The News that the decision to acquire Type 214 over the French submarine was made not only because the submarine was more advanced than the French Marlin, but also because many countries had deployed the Type 214 submarines, so there would be no issue of spares.

They said Turkey would be acquiring six Type 214s, South Korea had ordered six more in addition to three ordered earlier, Portugal had bought two, besides several bought by the German Navy. As such, supportability for the Type 214 for the next 30-35 years would not be a major concern.

http://www.thenews.com.pk

Des frégates Type21, classe Tariq ... on vient qu'il y en a qui sont équipé du Harpoon et d'autres avec des LY60, qui est la copie chinoise de l'Aspide ... initialement, ces frégates avaient des MM38.

Citation :

Navy Fast Attack Craft launched


ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy has become the first maritime force in the region that is equipped with stealth technology after its first Fast Attack Craft (FAC) equipped with missiles was launched on Tuesday. India also launched its FAC on the same day in Kochi.

“The version Pakistan has bought has far better qualities and added features including cost efficiency and multi-role in any combat activity,” said an insider. “The inclusion of the FAC-M in Pakistan navy will enhance its capacity to fight against terrorism and extremism.”

According to the Pakistan Navy, the FAC-M, designated as PNS Azmat was launched at Tianjin (Xingang Chinese Shipyard) in an impressive ceremony where Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Noman Bashir was the chief guest. The vessel will be the first of the Azmat class FAC, scheduled to be delivered to the Pakistan Navy within six months.

The missile craft construction project represents a quantum leap, not only in defence production in the maritime sector of Pakistan, but also addresses a long-standing operational requirement of the Navy. The fast attack craft is equipped with advanced weaponry and sensors, including the C802A surface-to-surface missile, and has stealth features. The FAC in question has a crew of 12 to 14 sailors, less than half that of similar craft. At a unit cost of an estimated $50 million each, a Navy with limited resources could afford both the financial and manpower commitment.

Admiral Noman Bashir, who has brought several innovations in Pakistan, addressed the ceremony marking the launching of FAC-M.

Acknowledging the efforts of Chinese engineers and technicians for the construction

of FAC-M, the chief guest felicitated the China State Shipbuilding Company (CSOC), Xingang Shipyard for their full cooperation and commitment in launching the craft as per schedule and remarked that this was yet another example of the unique and unparallel relations between the two countries.

“The Pakistan-China relationship is unique and does not draw any parallel in the world.

This relationship over the years has matured in all fields, particularly in defence,” he said, adding that the current geo-political situation demands further strengthening of ties between the two countries.

The CNS said that this project represents a quantum leap not only in the defence production in Maritime Sector of Pakistan but also addresses a longstanding operational requirement of Pakistan Navy.

“The collaboration in this project hopefully will open new vistas of cooperation which will be yet another milestone in defence cooperation between China and Pakistan,” he said, adding that the induction of the missile craft will not only supplement Pakistan’s combat potential but also afford the Pakistan Navy the opportunity to distinctly uphold its forward presence in the area of interest, contributing to a balance the power in the region.

The admiral said the environment around us warrants the Pakistan navy to be prepared to counter the forces challenging our sovereignty as well as regional peace and security.

Admiral Noman Bashir said he was confident that the construction of the second fast attack craft in Pakistan will be accomplished successfully with the full cooperation ofChina.

The Indian media has reported that India added a new warship to its fleet with the commissioning of FAC in Kochi to aid in anti-piracy operations in the Arabian Sea. It has been named after an island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago as Kabra.

Vice Admiral Sushil underscored the importance of relatively smaller ships like fast attack craft for a blue water navy, saying the assets were an essential inventory in peacetime for low intensity conflicts and anti-piracy operations.

It is the eighth of a series built with borrowed technology. The main armament of the ship is a 30mm CRN 91 gun. In addition, the ship has been fitted with machineguns of various types and shoulder launched surface-to-air missiles. INS Kabra has a three-officer and 39-sailor crew.

thenews

Un patrouilleur de 500T en construction en Chine pour le Pakistan

Depuis la création de la marine Pakistanaise en 1947, L'arme sous marine était une des principales priorités ! le rôle donné à la marine, et les SM spécialement, durant les guerre avec l'Inde témoigne sur ceci ... C'est ainsi qu'en 1951, le Pakistan fut le premier pays à s'intéresser au concept français, le Daphné ... mais il fallait 15 ans de négociation pour conclure le contrat, signé en 1966, portant sur la construction de 3 SM ( Hangor ( S131 ), Shushuk ( S132 ), Mangro ( S133 ) ), le dernier de ces unités fut ASA en 1970 ! 5 ans après le Pakistan rachète un Daphné portugais, le Cachalote ( S165 ) !
Durant la guerre de 1971, le PNS Hangor ( S131 ) a coulé la frégate indienne Khukri. D'ailleurs, seul le Hangor a été conservé après le désarmement de cette classe en 2006, et transformé en musée.
Mais avant de recevoir ses Daphnés, la marine pakistanaise, loua un SM américain, le USS Diaplo ( SS479 ) classe Trench ( qui sera nommé PNS Ghazi ), afin de former les premiers équipages des sous-marins pakistanais. Reçu en 1964 après une période de remise à niveau en USA, Il a été déployé lors de la guerre indo-pakistanaise de 1965 ... bien qu'il n'a pas eus de succès à couler des navires indiens, cette unité avait joué un rôle dissuasif significatif. Il sera envoyé après en Turquie pour une refonte qui a duré un an.
Le premier SM à être introduit dans la région, a été déployé lord de la guerre de 71 aussi ! en effet, le 14 novembre il a été envoyé à partir de sa base en Pakistan faire des patrouilles de reconnaissance de 12 jours afin de surveiller les mouvements de la marine indienne, et surtout couler le PA INS Virant qui vient d'être déployé près des cotes du Pakistan Oriental ( ce qui deviendra quelques temps après le Bangladech ). Les indiens ont déjà caché leur bijou dans des iles se trouvant à coté de la Birmanie. Le Commandant du Ghazi décide ainsi de miner les environs du port de Vishakapatnam siège de l'EMM à l'Est de l'Inde ... L'opération était comme un suicide, des mines ont été accidentellement explosé, coulant le SM avec ses 93 membres d'équipage ! La marine indienne qui a été présente dans le coin avec son destroyer INS Rajput, affirme que c'est elle qui a coulé le SM ... en effet, l'INS avait lancé des charges explosifs peu avant l'incident. Ce récit semble plus logique, du fait que déjà depuis mi-novembre, les indiens ont intercepté le PNS Ghazi et beaucoup de moyens ont été déployés pour le trouver et le couler, et c'était la mission du Rajput en quittant le port la nuit du 03-12-71 après avoir reçu des signaux de l'existence du submersible dans le coin !
La marine pakistanaise qui a perdu tout contacte avec le Ghazi depuis le 26-11 date prévu pour le retour du SM à Karachi, n'a pas les moyens de justifier mieux son récit, déjà même les débris du SM ont été conservé par les indiens !
Le PNS Hangor fait couler la frégate Khurki le 09-12-71, causant la mort des 190 membres d'équipages, au moment ou l'Inde annoncé le sort, inconnu jusqu’à présent au Pakistan, de l'INS Ghazi. Le même SM ( Seul daphné déployé lors de cette guerre ) mena d'autres opérations du genre, l'INS Kirpan fut ainsi endommagé par la même unité quelques temps après.
Les conséquences de cette guerre était humiliantes pour la Pakistan, en plus de la perte de la moitié de ses forces ( plus d'un tiers de ses forces navales ), Il a perdu la moitié de sa population et une grande partie de son territoire, une centaine de milliers de prisonniers de guerre ... Bien que la défaite avait impacté négativement l'image de l'armée chez la population, et lui a fait perdre le pouvoir sur le Pakistan ... le développement de ses moyens SM n'a pas été interrompu !
Conçu spécialement après une demande des SudAfricain, l'Agosta était une version amélioré des Daphné et plus adapté au patrouille océanique, capacité perdue chez les pakistanais après le naufrage du PNS Ghazi ... La France, ayant des problèmes avec les délais de livraison de ses SNA choisissait elle aussi de se doter des Agosta d'ailleurs.
2 SM furent commandés par les SudAf en 1975, ils étaient presque terminé en 1977 au début de l'embargo sur les armes à destination de l'AfSud ... Le pakistan les reprendra une année après, Le Hashmat ( S135 ) et le Hurmat ( S136 ). Ils ont reçu une modernisation entre 85 et 89 pour pouvoir tirer des SubHarpoon qui ne l'ont jamais reçu !
En 1992, le Pakistan entame des négociations avec DCN pour la construction de 3 Agosta 90B, version amélioré avec une coque plus résistante, un équipage réduit, et qui pouvait recevoir le MESMA, le système AIP français. Le contrat est signé en 1994, et portait sur la construction du PNS Khalid ( S137 ) en France, l'Assemblage du PNS Saad ( S138 ) au Pakistan et la fabrication du PNS Hamza ( S139 ) localement, à part la partie avant et arrière qui ont été fabriqué à Cherbourg. Le premier est ASA en 1999, le 2° en 2003 alors que la 3° unité a connu un grand retard ( 6ans de constructions contre 3ans pour les autres ) et ceux à cause d l'attentat de 2002 sur Karachi et qui a causé la mort de 11 techniciens français.
Le PNS Hamza a été doté du MESMA, l'PNS Khalid devrait le recevoir en cet année, alors que l'PNS Saad en sera doté en 2015. Avec le MESMA, les Agosta ont une autonomie en plongé profonde de 2000nm à 3.5nds, contre 350 avec motorisation électrique !
Ces SM sont dotés aussi des SM39 à coté des torpilles F17Mk2 et DM2 A4, Ils sont aussi dotés du CMS de DCNS, le SUBTICS
Le Pakistan ne compte pas s'arrêter là, alors que les négociations pour l'Achat de 3 U214 semblent ne donnaient aucun résultat, le Pakistan se dirige vers son Ami d'Asie, la Chine. Il semble qu'il est intéressé par le nouveau SM chinois, Qing, et compte avoir 6 unités !! Mais Il faut savoir que le Pakistan s'est déjà dirigé vers la Chine pour recevoir des SM, alors que l'Inde voulant acquérir le SNLE type Charlie I de la Russie, le Pakistan demanda un Han au chinois ... demande qui sera interrompu après le retour du Charlie en Russie.

Et Voici des photos prises à Karachi cet été la première montre 2 Agosta90B et la 2° un Agosta70 ( classe Hashmat ) et un Agosta90B en arrière plan.



Le Pakistan dispose aussi de plusieurs SM de poche d'origine italienne, notamment des MG110 de COS.M.OS livrés en 88, dont une unité semble être perdu des années après ( 95 ). Le Pakistan utilise ce genre de SM depuis les 70, mais il y a pas d'informations détaillées sur le sujet.

Fremo a écrit:

Le Pakistan ne compte pas s'arrêter là, alors que les négociations pour l'Achat de 3 U214 semblent ne donnaient aucun résultat, le Pakistan se dirige vers son Ami d'Asie, la Chine. Il semble qu'il est intéressé par le nouveau SM chinois, Qing, et compte avoir 6 unités !! Mais Il faut savoir que le Pakistan s'est déjà dirigé vers la Chine pour recevoir des SM, alors que l'Inde voulant acquérir le SNLE type Charlie I de la Russie, le Pakistan demanda un Han au chinois ... demande qui sera interrompu après le retour du Charlie en Russie.

Qing,Han ou Huan
ici ca parle de deal finalisé de Huan

Citation :

PAKISTAN
Pakistan and China reportedly ”finalized” a deal on building six YUAN class submarines (with AIP).
(rmks: not unexpected, yet unconfirmed for the time being)

dailleurs il parrait que le deal des 3 U214 n´est pas encore out,mais fortement brouillé par la situation econo/politique et la concurrence francais,ce qui ressort de ce site allemand
http://www.waffenexporte.org/category/deutsche_ruestungsindustrie/

apres l´inde les veut aussi..

Yakuza a écrit:

Qing,Han ou Huan
ici ca parle de deal finalisé de Huan

Le Han ( Type91 ) est un SM nuc chinois, ca s'est passé au début des années 90. Le Qing ( Appremment le même dont parle ton article ) c'est celui là :

http://asian-defence.blogspot.com/2011/06/pakistan-navy-to-get-6-qing-class.html





Remarques aussi que le deal des 6 Qing ( Type 043 de toute façon ) vient après l'accord de 2008 concernant l'Achat des U214, qui n'a pas aboutit à une signature d'un contrat jusqu'ici. L'Opposition politique Allemande ainsi que Pakistanaise semble être dérrière le retard ... de toute façon faut attendre les prochains mois pour voir.

Si l'Inde est intéressé par les U214, je n'ai pas des informations précises là dessus, mais la grande satisfaction vis-à-vis des U209 peut expliquer ceci ... Jusqu'ici l'Inde veut soit des Scorpène, versions plus grandes avec AIP qui seront fabriqués entièrement en Inde, ou les St-Petersburg. Tant que ce dérnière connait des grands problèmes qui retardent jusqu'ici la construction des unités déstinés à la Russie ... Le Scorpène reste le plus favorable ! chercher des engins chez les allemands, je ne sais pas vraiment l'utilité. D'ailleurs, si jamais le deal paki se concrétise, il y aura pas des U214 chez les indiens il me semble.

Le n° de coque indique que c'est un PLM

sa a l'air d'une contre-façon pas solide

Tes sources et arguments

joli mixage russe ricain




cool le fait d'avoir un pilote par avion
pour 810926 c'est le commandant ali naeem

Citation :

ITT Develops a Podded Version of the AIDEWS Electronic Countermeasure System


The new AIDEWS based EW pod from ITT will fit the size, weight and form factor of the ALQ-131 which has been flying with F-16s for decades. Photo: Northrop Grumman


The ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT) has been awarded a $49 million Foreign Military Sales contract to provide a pod-variant version of the Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare System (AIDEWS) for the Pakistani Air Force F-16s. The new pod will use a variant of the digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) -based electronic-countermeasure system based on the ALQ-211 Electronic Warfare (EW) jamming system employed with several types of rotary wing aircraft and the F-16 fighter. The system provides fighter pilots with situational awareness and protection against radar-based threats, including modern surface-to-air and air-to-air weapon systems.

The podded version of AIDEWS will be delivered to the Pakistani Air Force. It will have the form factor of the ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pod currently flying on U.S. Air Force and international F-16s. This export version of the pod incorporates the same hardware configuration from ITT’s AIDEWS, currently flying with five international customers. The new contract will provide for the flight qualification of the pod-mounted variant of AIDEWS for the F-16. AIDEWS has been selected to equip F-16 fighters operating with by six international air forces; ITT has already delivered 134 AIDEWS systems, out of 160 systems ordered.

defense-update

Citation :

Thunders at High Mark 2010 fire power demo

Ils avaient recu un lot de 12 Mirage III BL/EL, flambant neuf du Liban,avec a peine qqe heures de vol est pour un petit prix.

Citation :

Azmat Class Fast Attack Craft for the Pakistan Navy

10/09/2011
Meinhaj Hussain, m.hussain@grandestrategy.com

The Pakistan Navy is slated to receive its first Azmat Class Fast Attack Craft (FAC) from China in within 6 months. These boats are not to be confused with the older Azmat class which are less than half the tonnage and are significantly less capable ships. The Azmat class will be the first stealth FACs in the Subcontinent. They will be superior in every way to the Indian Navy counterparts. To date however, only two such ships have been ordered. A follow on order for two more are also likely.

Of the two boats ordered, one is being built in China and another is being built in Pakistan. These boats are well-armed although somewhat lacking in air defense, a typical problem with smaller boats of this type. The ships are designed to have both a defensive and offensive capability. Herein lies the advantage of these boats - with many Indian ports within 200 miles of Pakistan, the Azmat Class's 500 nautical mile range and 110 mile C-802 range makes these boats an effective threat along with her traditional defensive coastal role. The ship is further equiped with a modern networked C4I system that will be a force multiplier in terms of network-centric warfare, utilizing the sensors of other ships, aircraft and PN assets.

The PLAN Type 022 Houbei Class

A question is often asked why the PN did not by the Type 022 Houbei Class FACs. While these boats are faster and stealthy, they have significantly less range and are also more dependent on external guidance and sensors. Their hull design is also not as suited for poor weather conditions at sea. These imply that they would be less effective for the Pakistan Navy. The Type 022 are also significantly smaller boats. In comparison, the 022 pursues closely the Soviet doctrine of missile boats which also require large numbers. In comparison, the Azmat Class is closer to an OPV (Offshore Petrol Vehicle) suitable for a wide variety of roles as an OPV and a missile boat. In fact, this author speculates that they may later even utilize ship-launched UAVs.



One notable characteristic of the Azmat Class is that it uses nearly half the crew for a similar sized / category ship. This shows how advanced automation has reached Chinese naval development and will significantly lower the cost of operating these boats. They also would lower the casualty count in case of war.

The Azmat Class is considered slower than some contemporary missile boats, although of similar speed to Corvettes and OPVs. The length of the ship in relation to the bow wave creates an optimal speed when the latter is nearly the same length as the former. At this speed the drag is lower, giving the ship greater endurance. 30 knots is thus a compromise and a an ideal "sweet spot" for a ship that is 60 meters in length. Further, this represents only open source information and it may be the ship can run faster when needed at wartime.

10 Barreled CIWS on Shi-Lang

The CIWS for the ship remains a mystery. It is believed that this is represented by two 25mm automated guns. The author's unqualified and non-technical wish is to have a more effective CIWS, perhaps the 10 barreled CIWS recently shown on China's new aircraft carrier, the Shi-Lang. The author admits that this may be wishful thinking considering the size of the Azmat Class.However, if the traditional main gun is seen as dispensable, such a CIWS may serve in the "A" position up front.













At $50 million, the Azmat Class is a moderately priced ship that is well-balanced in her traits and able to play multiple roles, a quality rare for her class. The ship provides both stealth and automation that breaks new standards. Capable of both defensive and offensive operations, the Azmat class will play a small but important role in the Pakistan Navy.

grandestrategy

RIP

Citation :

Pakistan fighter jet crashes, pilot dies: air force


ISLAMABAD: A French-built Pakistani fighter jet crashed during a training flight on Wednesday, killing the pilot, the air force said.

The Mirage-V aircraft, on a "routine operational training mission crashed due to technical malfunction" near the town of Uthal in sparsely populated southwestern Balochistan province, it said in a statement.

"The pilot embraced martyrdom. No loss of civilian life or property has been reported on ground," it said and added that an inquiry had been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident

http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=24982&title=Pakistan-fighter-jet-crashes,-pilot-dies:-air-force

Citation :

Marine Pakistanaise déployée dans le Golfe d'Oman.
La Marine Pakistanaise a déployé sa nouvelle frégate 'PNS Alamgir' dans le cadre de la Task Force 150 visant à sécuriser le Golfe d'Oman.
Cette frégate, ex-US Navy USS McInerney, est entrée en service début 2011, avec le Pakistan.
Le navire embarque 1 hélico Z-9C Haitun "25" dont c'est le 1er déploiement opérationnel.
AFM Novembre 2011.

L'hélico Z-9C "25".

Citation :

Un hélicoptère militaire indien intercepté au Pakistan
http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/article/2011/10/23/un-helicoptere-militaire-indien-intercepte-au-pakistan_1592647_3216.html

Citation :

Pakistan obtains hi-tech warfare suite pod to upgrade F-16 fighter aircraft

Karachi, Oct 25(ANI): Pakistan has bought the American ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite (AIDEWS) pod for their fighter aircraft, according to a media report.

Pakistan will receive the ALQ-211 (V) 9 (Version 9), which costs about 3.5 million dollars per pod, The News reports.

The ALQ-211 allows the aircraft to detect radar, jamming and laser signals hitting the aircraft, as well as the presence of chemical weapons.

It also provides some jamming of its own, and assistance on where the signal is coming from, so that the pilot can move the aircraft away from the threat, said a report published in a US magazine.

The ALQ-211 is also installed in helicopters, but not as a pod. Rather, the individual components are installed in the helicopter where space is available.

Components of the ALQ-211 are programmable, so that the system can quickly be updated for newly discovered enemy equipment. (ANI)

truthdive

L'amitié turco-pakistanaise pour toujours! Heureux qu'on s'entraîne avec nos frères pakistanais. Deux pays, mais un seul coeur!

Citation :

Pakistan to build indigenous Fast Attack Craft


Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW) will construct a second indigenous Fast Attack Craft (FAC) for the Pakistan Navy, chief of staff Navy vice-admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar said.

"We hope to complete the project of the 'Attack Craft' with missile carrier by April next year," Dogar added.

The Azmat Class FAC will be propelled by four diesel engines, cruise at a speed of 30 knots and will be equipped with advanced weapons and sensors.

The craft will be built in collaboration with the China Shipbuilding and Offshore Company (CSOC) under a contract signed for the construction of two modern missile craft.

The Pakistan Navy recently announced the first naval craft, which is currently being built in China and will be delivered in April 2012.

naval-technology

Citation :

Special Service Group Navy SSG(N) Pakistan Army

Citation :

Pakistan trains 8,000 to protect nuclear arsenal


ISLAMABAD (AP) – Pakistan is training 8,000 additional people to protect the country's nuclear arsenal, which the U.S. fears could be vulnerable to penetration by Islamist militants at war with the West, the Pakistani military said.

Those fears were heightened by a recent U.S. magazine article that quoted unnamed Pakistani and American officials as saying Pakistan transports nuclear weapons components around the country in delivery vans with little security to avoid detection — a claim denied by Islamabad.

Pakistan insists its nuclear arsenal is well-defended, and the widespread fear among many Pakistanis is that the main threat stems not from al-Qaeda or the Taliban, but from suspected U.S. plans to seize the country's weapons. These fears were heightened by the covert U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May.

Washington has insisted it has no plans to seize Pakistan's weapons. But the recent article in The Atlantic magazine quoted unnamed American military and intelligence officials as saying the U.S. has trained extensively for potential missions in Pakistan to secure nuclear weapons or material that fall into the wrong hands.

Pakistan rarely reveals details about its nuclear program or the security around it. The announcement by the Pakistani military that it is training an additional 8,000 people to protect the nuclear arsenal could be seen as a response to the magazine article.

"This (group) comprises hand-picked officers and men, who are physically robust, mentally sharp and equipped with modern weapons and equipment," said the Pakistani military in a written statement Sunday.

The statement was released in conjunction with the graduation of 700 of these security personnel. The ceremony was attended by Maj. Gen. Muhammad Tahir, head of security for the Strategic Plans Division — the arm of the Pakistani military tasked with protecting the nuclear arsenal.

usatoday