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Economic Times
18-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
After Indian missile blitz, Pakistan weighs shifting Army HQ from Chaklala to Islamabad: Reports
Pakistan is weighing a relocation of its Army General Headquarters (GHQ) from Chaklala, Rawalpindi, to Islamabad after Indian precision strikes hit the Nur Khan airbase on May 10. Satellite imagery confirmed structural damage, raising alarms within Pakistan's military. The Nur Khan base—adjacent to GHQ—houses critical air force assets and nuclear command systems. Sources suggest the move is intended to reduce vulnerability, but Indian officials view it as a sign of strategic weakness amid an escalating standoff between the two nuclear neighbours. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Satellite images confirm damage at critical base Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads General Munir moved to bunker, VIP security tightened Strategic shockwaves: More than a tactical strike Indian officials: GHQ move a sign of desperation Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pakistan is reportedly considering relocating its Army General Headquarters (GHQ) from Chaklala in Rawalpindi to Islamabad. This decision follows Indian Air Force strikes on the Nur Khan airbase on 10 May, which caused visible structural damage. Intelligence sources confirmed the plan and linked it directly to the rising security concerns surrounding the existing GHQ Khan airbase, situated just 10 kilometres from Islamabad, is a strategic military site. It sits beside Pakistan's GHQ and is responsible for housing vital transport aircraft, surveillance systems, and refuelling Indian Air Force precision strikes on Nur Khan Airbase in Pakistan's Rawalpindi on May 10, Pakistan is now considering relocating its Army General Headquarters (GHQ) from Chaklala, Rawalpindi, to Islamabad. Army Chief residence also to be moved accordingly, tweeted OSINT visuals from MIZAZVISION, a Chinese firm, and India's Kawa Space, showed serious damage to the base. Images captured broken fuel trucks, a collapsed warehouse roof, and debris strewn near the main told News18, 'The deep penetration of Indian drones in Rawalpindi came a major shock. To avoid concentrating leadership and assets in one vulnerable location, the army is thinking of shifting Chinese-supplied HQ-9 and LY-80 systems."Air Marshal A.K. Bharti also presented "before and after" imagery during a press briefing, clearly depicting the impact at Nur Khan airfield. The base had been neutralised in a way that, as sources describe, "severed critical links between the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) leadership and its operational units."Following the strikes, reports confirmed that Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was moved to a fortified bunker within GHQ in the early hours of Saturday. This movement came amidst concerns about further Indian strikes. Sources say the potential new location for GHQ could be in Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, areas offering natural defences like mountainous GHQ's current location in Rawalpindi is highly populated and lacks such geographical protection. "The Pakistan army thinks the Indian side has signalled by sending drones near the stadium. This raised alarms about gaps in radar coverage and electronic warfare capabilities. MIZAZVISION and Kawa Space confirmed damage to the infrastructure, including fuel depots and drone hangars," sources Nur Khan base has long been a critical asset for Pakistan. It includes Saab Erieye surveillance planes, IL-78 refuelling aircraft, and C-130 transporters. It also houses PAF College Chaklala and supports drone warfare close proximity to Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division—the body responsible for securing an estimated 170 or more nuclear warheads—adds to the strategic sensitivity. Indian missiles, including BrahMos, HAMMER, and SCALP, struck 11 Pakistani bases in what was reported to be a larger operation than the earlier Operation told News18 that the attack on Nur Khan marked a decisive point in the ongoing confrontation between the two within the Indian government see the possible relocation of Pakistan's military headquarters as a sign of pressure. "Relocating GHQ's command-and-control systems would take years and billions of dollars and is going to be a challenge for a debt-ridden economy," they added, "Drone attacks revealed weaknesses in overlapping radar coverage, especially near the capital. The inability to protect GHQ and Nur Khan undermines Pakistan's narrative of military parity with India."As the conflict evolves, Pakistan's military establishment is now confronting hard questions about its vulnerability and readiness. The GHQ, once seen as a symbol of secure command, now appears now, no final decision has been announced, but the growing calls to move headquarters underline a fundamental shift in Pakistan's defensive calculations. The government remains tight-lipped, even as sources confirm that senior leadership is weighing options with urgency.
News18
07-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Did Pakistan Detect Indian Missiles? How Does A Radar System Work? Explained
Last Updated: Pakistan's radar and missile defence technologies include Chinese-made HQ-9/P & LY-80 systems. However, the effectiveness of these radars may be limited to India's SEAD strategies India's Operation Sindoor destroyed nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, with questions arising whether Islamabad's radar system was able to detect New Delhi's missiles. Pakistan media has reported that its air defence forces engaged in the incoming threats. According to Pakistan Today, the country's military has invested in various radar and missile defence technologies, including the Chinese-made HQ-9/P and LY-80 systems, to enhance its capability to monitor and intercept aerial threats. Let us understand how does a radar system work, and what is Pakistan's defence system. What Is A Defence Radar System? Militaries across the world use a specialised electronic system to detect, track, identify and monitor airborne, surface-to-surface and space-borne aircraft, missiles, drones and ships. It plays a crucial role in early warning, surveillance and target acquisition within a country's air defence and missile defence strategy. How Does Radar Missile Operation Work? The system operates by transmitting electromagnetic waves (radio or microwaves) and analyzing the reflected signals (echoes) to provide real-time information about potential threats. These systems are critical for air defense, missile defense, maritime surveillance, and battlefield awareness. Radar is an acronym for 'Radio Detection and Ranging", and it works by emitting a burst of radio waves and then listening for their reflection off objects. Detection: In the first step, the radar can calculate the distance, speed, and direction of the target depending on the time it takes for the waves to return and the shift in their frequency (Doppler shift). In some instances, a missile radar system may work in conjunction with an external system, to detect potential targets. Once a target is identified, the missile is launched. Tracking: The updates allow the radar to follow moving targets, predicting their trajectory. The missile's onboard radar continues to emit radio waves and monitor their reflections, updating the target's real-time location. The data obtained through the system is then processed by the missile's computer, which calculates a trajectory to intercept the target. The missile can adjust its path dynamically based on the continuous feedback from the radar system. Homing: In the homing phase, missiles zero in on the targets. As it comes close to the target, it switches to a different type of radar known as 'terminal guidance". This radar gives more precise information about the target's location, enabling the missile to make exact adjustments. Once the missile reaches its target, the warhead is detonated, resulting in the destruction of the target. What Is Pakistan's Key Missile Detection Network? Pakistan's radar system includes US-made TPS-77 Multi-Role Radar, China's YLC-18A, LY-80 LOMADS and HQ-9P long-range air defence system. Let us understand them in detail. HQ-9/P Air Defence System: The long-range Surface-to-Air missile system has a range of about 125 km. The HT-233 phased-array fire control radar, which works with active radar homing (ARH) and inertial navigation system (INS). This radar can detect targets at a distance of up to 150 km. The HQ-9/P is considered an advanced version of the Chinese S-300 PMU, capable of destroying complex aerial threats such as fighter jets, cruise missiles. LY-80 and LY-80EV: The medium-range air defence system has a range of 40-70 km. It was formally inducted into Pakistan's military in 2017. The semi-active radar homing (SARH) and INS usage are capable of targeting low-altitude flying objects. They are primarily deployed to protect military bases and infrastructure near the border. FM-90: It is a short-range air defence system. It can target drones, helicopters, and low-lying aircraft. These systems are used for the protection of military bases and airports near the border. These are deployed to increase the threat posed to the Indian Air Force and strengthen its defence system. However, the effectiveness of these radars may be limited to India's SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) strategies. TPS-77 Multi-Role Radar: The US-made Multi-Role Radar is a highly advanced system manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It is designed for long-range air surveillance and situational awareness. It has a detection range of up to 463 km and has the ability to track target at altitudes from ground level to 30.5 km. It can detect high-altitude aircraft and low-level threats such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and cruise missiles. Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 07, 2025, 16:43 IST News explainers Did Pakistan Detect Indian Missiles? How Does A Radar System Work? Explained
News18
07-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Balakot, BrahMos And Now Operation Sindoor: Chinese Radars Fail Pakistan Again
Last Updated: Pakistan's Chinese radar systems failed to detect Indian strikes again, exposing major flaws seen before in 2019 Balakot air strike and the 2022 BrahMos missile incident Following India's precision air strikes on May 7 in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), serious questions have once again arisen over the reliability of Pakistan's radar and air defence infrastructure. Intelligence sources indicate that Pakistan's Chinese-supplied radar systems failed to detect the latest Indian strikes, repeating a pattern of critical failures seen during past high-profile military actions by India, including the Balakot air strike. Pakistan's radars had also failed to detect the accidental firing of a BrahMos missile from India in March 2022. Reports suggest that Pakistan's radar system, based on Chinese technology, was unable to register the Indian strikes in real time. This is not the first time such a lapse has occurred. During the 2019 Balakot air strike, Pakistan's radar coverage was similarly ineffective, prompting Islamabad to make emergency acquisitions of air defence systems from China. Wednesday's strike under Operation Sindoor has only deepened concerns within Pakistan about its defensive preparedness. In 2014, shortly after the Narendra Modi government came to power in India, Pakistan rushed to purchase nine LY-80 LOMADS (Low to Medium Altitude Air Defence Systems) from China, touted as among the most advanced in the world. However, their performance has reportedly been far below expectations. The BrahMos Missile Incident A glaring example of Pakistan's radar system failure occurred on March 9, 2022, when a supersonic BrahMos cruise missile was accidentally launched from Ambala, Haryana. The missile travelled 100 km within Indian airspace and another 105 km inside Pakistani territory before crashing in Mian Channu, Punjab province. Pakistan's radar failed to detect it at any stage. It was only after the missile landed that the Pakistani Army held a briefing on the incident, clearly indicating the system's inability to track high-speed threats. In response to the underperformance, Pakistan handed over a list of 388 defects in the LY-80 systems to China, 103 of which were newly discovered and 285 previously reported. Among these, 255 faults were classified as requiring immediate attention. The first six systems were delivered between 2015 and 2016, with another batch arriving in 2019. Notably, the systems of the 96 LOMAD regiment were found to contain the highest number of unresolved issues, largely due to a lack of spare parts and inadequate technical support from the supplier. Defence Capabilities In Doubt The LY-80 system, formally inducted into Pakistan's military in 2017, claims to intercept missiles and aircraft at altitudes ranging from 15 metres to 18 kilometres and within a range of 40 kilometres. Its radar component is said to detect targets at distances of up to 150 kilometres. However, Indian supersonic and ballistic missile systems, due to their extreme speed and altitude, reportedly remain invisible to Pakistan's radars until impact, rendering the defences effectively useless in a real-time conflict scenario. The repeated failures of Pakistan's Chinese-made air defence technology have not only exposed critical vulnerabilities but also cast serious doubts on its ability to counter advanced missile systems from India. As tensions escalate in the wake of Operation Sindoor, these shortcomings may have strategic implications for regional security and Pakistan's long-term defence posture. First Published: May 07, 2025, 13:33 IST
