#Pakistan

Earlier we reported that Česká zbrojovka (CZ) had tentative plans to partner with Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) to locally produce a licensed variant of the CZ 807 in 7.62x39mm locally within Pakistan. Most recently we have seen official confirmation that POF is taking serious steps to produce the rifle in its entirety, with a full hand over of the technical data package and manufacturing rights from CZ to POF.

Earlier on TFB we reported that POF had increased their ammunition production in Pakistan three-fold. We speculated that rising security concerns might have been the cause for this but this has turned out to perhaps not be the case at all. This week at IDEX 2017 , POF released a statement that indicated a very dramatic increase in sales to the UAE and MENA region in general (through Abu Dhabi). Essentially POF is forcasting doubling all of their sales to the region for the next year. The article additionally mentions that POF will try to push “affordability and technological upgrades” as a prime company offering. Although the Pakistani state owned weapons company might not be providing DARPA with the latest and greatest, I can see a niche that POF can occupy in catering to militaries that don’t have budgets like the United States and Russia, but still want technological upgrades to keep up with the competition. On top of this projection, POF has signed a letter of understanding with Beretta on importing and selling Beretta products in Pakistan. Beretta’s ARX-200 was in competition for the Pakistani’s next service rifle, but appears to have lost out to CZ. This understanding with Beretta, if not for military and LE needs, might just be for civilians, as the shotgun sporting industry in Pakistan is very relevant. Along with the CZ deal, and POF’s prior agreement with Fiochi, international business has been relatively good at POF.

Right on the heels of Iran’s state ammunition factory doubling ammunition output, Pakistani Ordnance Factory (POF) announced a three fold increase in ammunition due to expanding POF’s brass mil. At first glance this could be a strategic measure, amping up for more fighting in the FATA areas or even preparing for conflicts with India. But as cited by Quwa, it probably has more to do with POF exporting ammunition to Saudi Arabia (also a strategic measure on the Saudi side in the Yemen fight), in addition to competing to supply brass to Italian gunmaker Fiocchi. There might also be a local civilian factor as specifically quoted by the Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif while visiting the new production facilities. Most of the news reports about this development appear to show that the output is just in brass, and isn’t whole cartridges for issue. Which probably points more to the overseas exporting to companies like Fiocchi that would then use the brass to load their own rounds. One would suspect that the brass is in 7.62x39mm but this could possibly not be the case if Fiocchi is involved.

We’ve written a number of posts on TFB about the Pakistani company Daudsons. Far from the rough copies hammered together (although remarkably accurate) in the gunmaking village of Dharra Adam Khel in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakthunkhwa. Daudsons is really leading the Pakistani civilian small arms producing industry (Pakistani Ordnance Factory is Government run) with their polymer framed handguns. Although maybe not comparable to the common striker fired polymer framed handguns in the United States, Daudsons is a great leap in the right direction of quality from Pakistan.

A TFB reader recently sent me these photos of the “44 Bore” cartridge from Pakistan. Despite much of the Federally Administered Tribal Area’s (FATA) lawlessness, there is a significant legal firearms community in Pakistan. Pakistani law stipulates that military calibers such as 9x19mm, 5.56x45mm, or 7.62x51mm are illegal to own. Thus the Pakistani legal firearms community more or less “creates” alternative cartridges for recreation and sporting usage.

The Pakistani state arms company Pakistan Ordnance Factory has updated their clone of the Israeli Corner Shot weapon system, with their POF Eye system. We covered the POF Eye on TFB back in 2008, but since then the company has been continually updating the design. Most recent is the addition of an LCD screen mounted on the users back, that allows team members behind the user to see what the user is observed through the system. In addition the system now has an ocular device that straps to the user’s helmet, and a battery pack that straps to a vest. The battery pack is configured so a battery can be inserted by the user from above for a quick “reload” of batteries.

Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF), the state owned small arms, light weapons, and ammunition manufacturer has entered into negotiations and a Letter of Understanding to locally produce the CZ 807 rifle, in 7.62x39mm for a Pakistani Army contract, understandably replacing POF’s currently produced under license G3s and Type 56s. This is resulting from a year long process the Pakistani Army has undergone to fielding a new infantry rifle. Original contenders were Zastava, FN Herstal, Beretta, and CZ, among others. From what we see so far, the CZ 807 has been apparently chosen, with the results from the recent International Defense Exhibition & Seminar Exposition 2016 (IDEAS Expo 2016) being held in Karachi.

Earlier we covered the DS Trushot made by Pakistani arms company Daudson, based in Peshawar. In addition to firearms, the same company makes a 40mm high velocity grenade launcher as well. It comes in a standalone variant, as well as a UBGL version to be affixed to an AKM via a set of Philips screws clamping the launcher to the barrel. The UBGL version looks awfully low on the rifle, much lower than many Russian GP30s or even an M203 when mounted to the rifle. Unfortunately the specifications don’t list the weight of the device but looking at the bulk associated with it, in addition to the statement that they are made of steel, I would imagine very heavy compared to European or American grenade launchers. Operation consists of unlatching the breech, pushing it forward, inserted a grenade, closing it, engaging the safety lever that rotates almost 180 degrees to fire, aiming in on the quadrant sight, and firing via a trigger similar to the GP30 design. The company has stated that the launchers have been used in “Anti-terrorist operations” but I can’t find any photographs of use by the Pakistani police or military forces supporting this.

Daudsons Armoury is a Pakistani defense manufacturer based in Peshawar, that is starting to really come into prominence within Pakistan. The company makes a number of different products, from break open double barrel shotguns to 40mm high velocity automatic grenade launchers. Daud, or “داوود”  in Arabic, is the Islamic version of Christian Biblical David, who is considered a prophet in Islam, and thus is a popular name among many Muslims, Pakistanis included. Thus, Daudsons Armoury probably should have been named Daud’s Son’s Armoury. The company appears to have been formed in 1954.

Due to a previous post on small arms development in the Federally Administered Tribal Region of Peshawar, in Pakistan, TFB received some excellent first hand knowledge of firearms standards in Pakistan, from a Pakistani firearms enthusiast. One of the common assumptions about Pakistani firearms from our side of the market, especially ones from Peshawar are that they are all handmade contraptions of metal that will be lucky enough to last you several magazines safely, and maybe a couple hundred rounds operationally. Of course, this is no slight to the gunsmiths in Peshawar who are able to churn out many thousands of rounds of ammunition and hundreds of small arms from within mud walled huts by hand.

At the 2016 Eurosatory defense trade show, Czech gunmaker CZ debuted for the first time its improved 806 Bren 2 rifle on the international market. The Bren 2 was announced in October of 2015, and improves on the 805 Bren by being lighter, having an improved selector with no two round burst feature, and other improvements based on feedback from the Army of the Czech Republic.

Found these pictures in a facebook group.

When the subject of the gun making markets in the village of Dharra, within the autonomous region of Peshawar, Pakistan comes up, most of us wouldn’t be wrong to think of the copying of older firearms designs, such as your typical Peshawar Kalashnikovs, Martini Henrys, Tokarevs, and the list goes on and on. However, recently the gun markets have been pushing towards modernity in their new designs, much like any firearms community the world over. These designs have some interesting characteristics and twisting of various old time features alongside the new. Whether that means they are safe to fire is a whole other ball game but just from an enthusiasts perspective, the rifles and handguns coming out of the gun markets are some kind of eye candy, and makes me wonder what is going on in the minds of some of these guys! The majority of variants appear to be AK based platforms, including an interesting twist on things with incorporating an AR charging handle into the top cover of an AK. This modernity doesn’t seem to have reached handguns yet, as most of the handguns sold appear to be Turkish imports from the various Turkish companies out there. A really interesting note is that these gunmakers are putting alot of effort into adding design elements of the AR15 into their rifles. Such as charging handles, carrying handles, entire rail systems, stocks, etc… You would think that in a part of the world where the AK has been the most reliable, more people would want to stick with the status quo. However, similar to the Iraqi Army wanting M16s over AKs, or even the Karen Hill tribes in Burma wanting M16s as well, the AR platform turns up in the oddest of places. Either way, the ingenuity put into these designs is quite something, and remember that most of this is being made by hand in Peshawar.

Earlier this week, we reported about the Pakistani Army seeking a new rifle to replace its aging license-produced Heckler & Koch G3 and Chinese Type 56 rifles, and now new details – and most excitingly, new images – have come to light.

The latest country to seek an upgrade to their aging fleet of small arms is Pakistan, according to statements made last week by military officials from that country. The current Pakistani rifle suite consists of license-produced Heckler & Koch G3 rifles, and Chinese Type 56 rifles based on the Russian AK and AKM. From DefenseNews.com: