Could Russia surpass China for arms imports to Pakistan?

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10 years 11 months

Posts: 2,040

Assuming the SU-35 deal goes through.. it'll mean Pakistan will operate the most advanced Flanker variant in Asia..
it also continues a trend that when given the choice, Pakistan will opt for non-Chinese alternative (and if stuck with Chinese, will insist on western modifications).

For Russia, it simply expands a market. They already sell to both Armenia and Azerbaijan, China and Vietnam, and now India and Pakistan.
and why not, the US sells F-16s to Pakistan and offered a better version to India.

Potential things in Pakistan that need replacement
T-37s with Yak-130s (although they recently got a crapload of T-38 Talons from Turkey).
Mi-28 or Ka-52s instead of Z-10s
T-90s over T-84s and MBT-2000s and 3000s
Gorshkov frigates

Original post

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15 years 3 months

Posts: 6,441

Well, they ordered 4 more Mi-24M

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19 years 11 months

Posts: 1,615

Assuming the SU-35 deal goes through.. it'll mean Pakistan will operate the most advanced Flanker variant in Asia..
it also continues a trend that when given the choice, Pakistan will opt for non-Chinese alternative (and if stuck with Chinese, will insist on western modifications).

For Russia, it simply expands a market. They already sell to both Armenia and Azerbaijan, China and Vietnam, and now India and Pakistan.
and why not, the US sells F-16s to Pakistan and offered a better version to India.

Potential things in Pakistan that need replacement
T-37s with Yak-130s (although they recently got a crapload of T-38 Talons from Turkey).
Mi-28 or Ka-52s instead of Z-10s
T-90s over T-84s and MBT-2000s and 3000s
Gorshkov frigates

No! At least not in the near to mid term future, for the reasons that I'm sure have been discussed before on this forum on multiple occasions. Also, I don't think this question merits a separate thread.

Member for

12 years 10 months

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Well, they ordered 4 more Mi-24M

Over and above the Mi-35s ordered before? Source?

Member for

14 years 11 months

Posts: 20

Well, they ordered 4 more Mi-24M

Mi35s

Member for

14 years 11 months

Posts: 20

Assuming the SU-35 deal goes through.. it'll mean Pakistan will operate the most advanced Flanker variant in Asia..
it also continues a trend that when given the choice, Pakistan will opt for non-Chinese alternative (and if stuck with Chinese, will insist on western modifications).

For Russia, it simply expands a market. They already sell to both Armenia and Azerbaijan, China and Vietnam, and now India and Pakistan.
and why not, the US sells F-16s to Pakistan and offered a better version to India.

Potential things in Pakistan that need replacement
T-37s with Yak-130s (although they recently got a crapload of T-38 Talons from Turkey).
Mi-28 or Ka-52s instead of Z-10s
T-90s over T-84s and MBT-2000s and 3000s
Gorshkov frigates

Russia will only sell defensive weapons systems at this point in time. cannot say what the future holds.
replacements
for T37 they are also looking at T-50, Hirkus and L-15. money will be the issue here as in other procurements.
for AH1F they have ordered AH1Z and Mi35. Z10 is under evaluation.
for MBTs they will stick with the Chinese with Ukrainian or German power plants.
for frigates probably more advanced F22Ps from China.
share of imports
US 30%
China 30%

Member for

10 years 11 months

Posts: 2,040

No! At least not in the near to mid term future, for the reasons that I'm sure have been discussed before on this forum on multiple occasions. Also, I don't think this question merits a separate thread.

yes it warrants a separate thread because its not only about the su-35 deal. Russia has already been selling things to Pakistan and now its expanding beyond defensive equipment. Pakistan wants Russian if the option is available.

Member for

10 years 6 months

Posts: 207

there is zero chance of Pakistan buying su-35.its politically not doable and besides Pakistan has no money.there is no substance to this story.but if and when India does an Egypt on Russia then we can talk about this kind of deal.

Member for

15 years 5 months

Posts: 412

there is zero chance of Pakistan buying su-35.its politically not doable and besides Pakistan has no money.there is no substance to this story.but if and when India does an Egypt on Russia then we can talk about this kind of deal.

If hundreds of RD93 engines, MI-17s and MI35s can be sold what political reason is there to not sell SU35s? Doesn't US sell arms to both India and Pakistan?

I think Russians want to play the same game as US and gain economic and political advantages out of it. Things are changing very fast in that regions. Rostech was even negotiating to build a €2.5billion pipeline in Pakistan.

Both countries can benefit from this transaction, Pakistan can show US and China that it has "other options" similarly Russians can make India jealous by going out with someone else.

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17 years 5 months

Posts: 38

It is all about money. Anything is possible. But I believe China offers very favorable financial terms to Pakistan to support sales? The Russian government is not exactly flushed with cash due to sanctions and depressed commodity prices...so can the Russian government afford to underwrite /finance cheap hardware to support sales?

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12 years 7 months

Posts: 4,731

Russia has still $370b reserves for 145m population. China has $3.6T for 1.4b population. Russia produce much larger trade surpluses, less outflows and lower debt relative to population. so money in banking is sufficient. ultimately the this deal or any other wont depend on finances but what it is end impact of Su-35.
like helping countries in Middleast/CIS or Venzuela helps in greater oil production. Chinese are simply not that good in investments and military exports at right places.

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24 years 2 months

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Ohhh YES, Russia is Supa !! Mega, Hypa, Besta, Bigga ... we all know it now.

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14 years 1 month

Posts: 8,850

Ohhh YES, Russia is Supa !! Mega, Hypa, Besta, Bigga ... we all know it now.

I think you guys need to grow up from those childish responses concentrating on the messenger rather than message itself. Russian foreign exchange reserve per capita (~$2,514) is comparable to China (~$2,694), UK (~$2,401) or Germany (~$2,329).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_foreign-exchange_reserves