Pakistan Military Power 2020-2021

Overview

Locked in a never ending fight with India, Pakistan was forced to become nuclear. Though it has six times less people than India it has been able prove that it is capable of bloodying India's nose. However the sheer amount of manpower at India's disposal has and will cause problems for Pakistan. Pakistan may have a qualitative edge in terms of training and tactics, however it must further expand on this while simultaneously boosting numbers if it is to challenge India in Kashmir.

Capital: Islamabad

Population: 220 million

Defence Budget: 13 billion

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Total Population: 1,204,000

land forces

The Pakistan Army has a lot of manpower as well as a decent amount of tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery. Though supplemented with some modern equipment such as the Al-Khalid tank, the Pakistan Army has a lot of older equipment which need to be replaced.

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Tanks: 2,200

AFV: 7,330

MLRS: 100

SPG: 429

Air force

The Pakistan Air Force is large, with over 1300 aircraft. It has a strange mix of American, French and Chinese/Pakistani fighters and multi role aircraft. It must be said that the performance of the Pakistan Air Force against the Indian Air Force in early 2019 was stellar. It was able to down multiple Indian aircraft without taking a single loss. The experienced F-16 pilots are the greatest asset of the Pakistan Air Force. What isn't great is the Chengdu J-7s and old Mirages, which need to be phased out. Though more than half the fleet needs replacement, the JF-17s and F-16s which number at 183 are great, especially with such exceptional pilots.

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Fighters: 356

Attack: 90

Armed UAVs: 16

Attack Helicopters: 56

Helicopters: 346

Other: 56

Navy

Though Pakistan doesn't have a big coastline, its navy will play a big part in its future. In its tussle with India, clashes will inevitably erupt in the ocean. Pakistan still has a bad taste in its mouth from the 1971 Indo-Paksitani Naval War. However in recent years it has been looking at expanding its naval capabilities. Perhaps the most notable ships in its fleet is the F-22P Zulfiquar-class multi role guided missile frigates. Soon the Yarmook class and the Jinnah class corvettes will join the fleet, further boosting capabilities. It remains to be seen if the Pakistan Navy can emulate its airborne performance in the water. Whatever it does it can not afford a repeat of 1971. 

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Total Vessels: 100

Carriers and LHDs: 0

Destroyers: 0

Frigates: 9

Corvettes: 2

Submarines: 8

Strong points

• Large air force

• Defence industry partnerships

• Manpower

• Willing and able to challenge airborne threats

• Better training than main foe

weak points

• Air force needs to get rid of old jets

• Land forces need more modern tanks to counter India's T-90s

• Land forces will require more equipment all around

• Navy needs more heavy combat vessels

Manpower

1,204,000

Tanks

2.200

AFV

7,330

MLRS

100

SPG

429

Fighters

356

Attack 

90

UCAV

16

Attack helis

56

Helicopters

346

Other

56

Total vessels

100

Carriers & LHD

0

Destroyers

0

Frigates

9

Corvettes

2

Submarines

8