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| Chinese YLC-18A Long Range 3D Low Altitude Blind Compensation Radar (Image Source: Pak Defense) |
The China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation has sold six YLC-18A radars to the Pakistan Air Force or PAF. Now begins the next chapter: coproduction in Pakistan. The YLC-18A radars are particularly necessary for the PAF. They are very mobile medium-range radars for detecting low-altitude planes or drones or even, cruise missiles. They have 3D capabilities.
The radars will be coproduced at the Aviation Production Factory at Kamra. About 30 radars are likely to be made.
China and Pakistan are also working to upgrade radars. There is a proposal to upgrade 10 YLC-6 radars to the newer YLC-18 version. China remains Pakistan’s closest defence ally. Apart from China, the only country that regularly sells weapons to Pakistan is probably Turkey. The $450 million F-16 package has come from the United States and upset India, but the Americans are at pains to say it is a sustenance package.
