Amid border conflict with India in eastern Ladakh, China is helping Pakistan to boost its firepower by selling it state-of-the-art defence items, including armed drones.
As per reports, Pakistan is procuring medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) — Cai Hong-4 (CH-4) — from China in bulk.
A 10-member team of Pakistan Army led by Brigadier Mohammad Zafar Iqbal has visited China to review the procurement process.
“The Pakistan Army team went to China for factory acceptance test for items procured from Aerospace Long-March International Trade Company (ALIT), China. Then was led by Brigadier Mohammad Zafar Iqbal,” a source said.
It was also revealed that Iqbal has earlier visited China in December 2019 for the factory acceptance test of the first tranche of Cai Hong-4 for which delivery was to commence in 2020.
The CH-4 has a take-off mass between 1,200-1,300 kgs depending on the variant.
It can also carry a wide range of payloads. The UAV is now in service with military forces including the Iraqi Army and the Royal Jordanian Air Force.
Sources also stated that ALIT has offered Pakistan command and control options, including direct line-of-sight and satellite communications.
Pakistan has planned to deploy these UAVs at the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir to create further unrest in India.
“China is helping Pakistan to do so,” said the source.