The PA’s QW-18 and FN-16 MANPADS are designed to intercept low altitude and ultra-low-altitude airborne targets like attack helicopters, low-flying aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) under visual conditions. But most of these systems are handicapped by defective surface-to-air night aiming sights and IFF transponders. Without these, the MANPADS are literally blind. As many 850 FN-16s (out of the 16 launchers and 1,265 missiles procured) have been declared non-functional by the PA. The Chinese OEM, Wuhan Infrared Co Ltd, instead of quickly replacing or repairing the malfunctioning components, has instead appointed an allied firm, Valiant Technologies, to sort out the mess. Equally serious problems afflict 200 QW-18 MANPADS launchers (along with 1,391 missiles) imported from China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corp (CPMIEC) in 2016. Numerous deficiencies were found during biennial functional testing of both these MANPADS at the Army Base Workshops since July 2019. The PA has asked CPMIEC to replace at least 47 of them along with one base control unit and one training simulator. The story of the 300mm A-100E multiple launch artillery systems is quite similar. Manufactured by the state-run Aerospace Long-March International Trade Co (ALIT), the A-100E, incidentally rejected by the PLAGF, was procured by the PA (two Regiments, or 36 launchers) but during various field trials, the PA found the A-100E wanting in many respects. ALIT was apprised of these problems and asked for immediate repair replacement. The representative of ALIT, after a detailed examination, concluded that the defective MLRS had to be replaced as they were beyond repairs.
Seven New DPSUs Launched
