Pakistan Ordnance Factories

The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) is a major firearms and a defence contractor headquartered in Wah Cantt, Punjab, Pakistan.[1] Described as "the largest defence industrial complex under the Ministry of Defence Production, producing conventional arms and ammunition to the international standards" by the Government of Pakistan.[2]

Pakistan Ordnance Factories
Native name
Urdu: پاکستان آرڈیننس فیکٹریاں
TypeState-owned company
IndustryFirearms, Defense, Machinery
Founded1951 (1951)
Headquarters
Wah Cantonment, Punjab
,
Pakistan
Area served
worldwide
Key people
Lt General Ali Amir Awan (Chairman)
ProductsPistols, Rifles, Submachine gun, Machine gun, Shotguns, Munitions, Explosives, Machine tools
OwnerPakistan Ministry of Defence
Number of employees
>27,000
Websitewww.pof.gov.pk POF Youtube Channel

The POF was founded by the Government of Pakistan with early collaboration from the former British Royal Ordnance Factory in 1951. The POF engineers, develops, produces, manufactures, and promotes a wide range of different types of infantry and special-purpose weapons, explosives, ammunition, mortars, rockets, and the military gear for Pakistan's military.[3] The POF is owned and sponsored by the Ministry of Defence Production whose corporate leadership comes from a deputation by the Army GHQ of the Pakistan Army.[4] The POF is the earliest and one of the largest military corporations in Pakistan, and later influenced many other military corporations in the Pakistan Armed Forces.[5]

The POF produces ammunition that meets requirements set by NATO specification.[5] Apart from military works, the POF also serves the civilian law enforcement agencies, Civil Armed Forces, and private security markets nationwide.[1]

History
Old logo of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories

During their colonial rule, the British built sixteen ordnance factories in the British Raj, most of which were inherited by India. Pakistan's first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, issued a directive within four months of the formation/creation of Pakistan to establish an ordnance factory in collaboration with British Royal Ordnance Factory to manufacture 0.303 calibre rifles. In December 1951 Pakistan's second Prime Minister, Khawaja Nazimuddin, inaugurated the first four POF workshops in the small town of Wah Cantonment.[6]

Background

Located 45 km from Islamabad and with main manufacturing facilities at Wah Cantonment, POF is a sprawling complex of fourteen production units and six subsidiaries producing conventional arms and ammunition. Research and development projects have been undertaken to minimise dependence on foreign suppliers. Efforts have been made towards self-reliance through innovation and indigenisation, for achieving the following:-

1. Optimal utilisation of surplus capacity of POF.
2. Generation of funds to supplement budget grant.
3. Participative collaboration with the private sector.
4. Enhancing exports.

POF uses technology and equipment that has been acquired from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and China. The factories in POF employ some of the latest state of the art processes, including computerised numerical controlled machines and flexible Manufacturing systems for the production of precision components.

A Stamp was also issued by Pakistan Post on the occasion of golden jubilee of POF (Dt. 28 December 2001) to honour the country's largest defence manufacturing unit's services.[7]

POF has been awarded standards by the International Organization for Standardization. These include ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, and ISO 17025 for meeting the general requirements for Competence of Test and Calibration Laboratories. In 2005, P.O.F was also awarded with safety and health environment standard OHSAS 18001.

During a visit to POF, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz made the following tribute:

"POF is an island of excellence for Pakistan. POF and its employees have played a critical and valuable role in bolstering Pakistan’s defence. We are all proud of what you have achieved. I wish you continued success in the future."

Products
A variety of grenades, artillery shells, mortar shells and other ammunition produced by POF, on display at the IDEAS 2008 Defence Exhibition in Karachi, Pakistan.

POF produce approximately 70 major products for supply to the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force. The main products include automatic rifles, Pistols, light/medium/heavy machine guns, a wide range of mortar and artillery ammunition, aircraft and anti-aircraft ammunition, tank and anti-tank ammunition, bombs, grenades, land mines, pyrotechnics, small ammunition, rockets, military & commercial explosives & propellants and signal stores. [8]

Anti-aircraft & aircraft ammunition
  • 12.7x99 mm NATO
  • 12.7x108 mm Soviet
  • 14.5x114 mm Soviet
  • 20 mm phalanx
  • 23 mm
  • 30 mm
  • 35 mm
  • 37 mm
  • 57 mm
  • Bomb HE AC 500 lb (250 kg)
  • Bomb HE AC 1000 lb (500 kg)

Anti-tank & tank ammunition
  • 40 mm (RPG-7P/7AP)
  • 73 mm (SPG-9)
  • 100 mm
  • 105 mm
  • 106 mm
  • 125 mm
  • Tungsten alloy penetrators & rods

Artillery ammunition
  • 88 mm howitzer
  • 105 mm howitzer
  • 122 mm howitzer
  • 130 mm howitzer
  • 155 mm howitzer
  • 203 mm howitzer

Anti-submarine ammunition
  • Depth charge Mark II Mod 3

Military explosives and Propellants
  • Artillery ammunition propellants
  • Mortar and rocket ammunition propellants
  • Small arms propellants
  • Explosives
  • Pyrotechnics

Grenades
  • ARGES 84 P2A1: Fragmentation grenade
  • Discharger P3 MK1: Smoke discharge/grenade
  • Target Indication MK2: Targeting smoke grenade
  • Fuzes, Detonators & Primers
  • Demolition Stores

Mortars
  • 60 mm mortar/smoke/illuminating signal
  • 81 mm mortar/smoke/illuminating signal
  • 120 mm mortar/smoke

Rockets
  • 122 mm YARMUK Rocket

Small arms ammunition
  • 9x19mm Parabellum
  • 5.56×45mm NATO
  • 7.62×39mm Soviet
  • 7.62×51mm NATO
  • 7.62×54mmR Soviet
  • 12 Bore Shaheen Cartridges
Several HK MP5 and HK G3 variants produced by POF on display at an exhibition

Pistols
  • POF-X – 9 mm calibre pistol
  • POF-4 – 9 mm calibre pistol (Semi-auto version of SMG-PK)
  • POF-5 – 9 mm calibre pistol (Semi-auto version of HK MP5)

Sub-machine guns
  • HK MP5 – 9 mm calibre sub-machine gun produced under license. Variants produced: MP5A2, MP5P3.
  • SMG-PK – 9 mm calibre compact machine pistol. Variants produced: PK1.

Assault rifles
  • HK G3 – 7.62×51 mm calibre assault rifle produced under license. Variants produced: G3A3, G3P4.
  • BW-20 – 7.62×51 mm calibre new assault rifle. Currently in testing for pitch for Pakistan Army next-generation rifle requirements. BW-20 has some similarities with the G3 (around 30%) with the intention to keep manufacturing costs low, however the BW-20 is not an upgrade of the G3. It is a new rifle. POF is also reportedly working on 5.56×45 mm and 7.62×39 mm versions of the BW-20. The latter design will reportedly be compatible with AK magazines. POF will likely pitch the 7.62×39 mm to both the Pakistan Army and the Ministry of Interior’s (MoI) paramilitary units as service adoption for that round grows. In 2015, the Pakistan Army issued a tender for a new-generation assault rifle. It had tested many designs from all over the world, including the FN SCAR, Beretta ARX200, CZ BREN 2, AK-103 and others. In the end, however, the Army did not select any of the 7.62×51 mm designs for local adoption. There were reports of Pakistan requesting the AK-103 from Russia, but the status of that program is unclear. Ultimately, it seems that POF was given the greenlight to design an original rifle. Part of the reason seems to stem from a sense that none of the foreign designs substantially improved upon the G3 in terms of its accuracy and durability. This is not to say the other rifles were not good, but the added improvement they offered may not have justified the total cost of adopting and locally manufacturing a foreign design.[9]
  • PK-18 – New assault rifle 7.62×51 mm calibre (Based on ArmaLite AR-10A), (G3 REPLACEMENT), status is unclear.[10]
  • PK-21 – New assault rifle/SMG 7.62×39 mm calibre (Licensed copy of AK-103), (TYPE 56 REPLACEMENT), status is unclear.[10]

Precision rifles

Hunting rifles
  • .308 Win Sporter – .308 Winchester calibre sporting/hunting sniper rifle.
The Rheinmetall MG 3 machine gun, produced under license by POF, on display at the IDEAS 2008 Defense Exhibition in Karachi, Pakistan

Machine guns

POF Eye
Main article: POF Eye

POF Eye is a special-purpose hand-held weapon system similar in concept to the CornerShot that can fire weapons around corners. It was first revealed at the 5th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2008), held at the Karachi Expo Centre in November 2008. It is designed for SWAT and special forces teams in hostile situations, particularly counter-terrorism and hostage rescue operations. It allows its operator to both see and attack an armed target without exposing the operator to counter-attack.

Exports

In addition to meeting the demands of Pakistan Defense Forces, POF products are in service with over 40 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Ammunition and rifles have been exported to countries such as Iraq, Croatia and Afghanistan for their respective military establishments.

POF specializes in the manufacturing of commercial explosives, hunting ammunition and possesses extensive facilities for the manufacture of brass, copper and aluminum ingots. A state of the art garments factory, manufactures military uniforms and can also cater for the needs of the civil sector.[14]

As of post 2010s, Pakistan has been aiming to push ahead with its export market but facing difficulties due to international guidelines enforced by the United Nations.[15]

In 2017, the POF announced it will be opening a branch in the United Arab Emirates and targeting Middle Eastern markets where it will cater not only the needs of the host country, but throughout much of the Middle East where demands are high.[16][17]

Druing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, POF alleged to have provided arms and ammunition to Ukrainian Military's. The various type of ammunition provided are 122mm Yarmuk HE-Frag rockets,[18][19] 122mm howitzer shells,[20] 155mm artillery shells, M4A2 propelling bag charges, M82 primers, PDM fuses,[21] M44A2 120mm HE mortar bombs,[22] 130mm shells, 40mm RPG7 HEAT ammo, 12.7×99 MM armor piercing cartridges, 12.7×108 mm bullets, and 7.62×54mm bullets.[23]

Incidents

August 2008 bombing
Main article: 2008 Wah bombing

On 21 August 2008, POF's industrial complex was the target of twin suicide bombings by the Tehrik-i-Taliban; 68 people were killed and 81 injured in the attack.[24]

2021 explosion
Main article: Pakistan Ordnance Factories explosion

See also

References
  1. Haider, Mateen (28 November 2014). "Made in Pakistan". Dawn newspapers, 2014. Dawn newspapers. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  2. Pakistan Ordnance Factories. "About Us". Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  3. "NTI on POF". Nuclear Threat Initiatives. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  4. Pakistan Ordnance Factories. "Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  5. staff writer. "History of POF". History of POF. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  6. John Pike. "Wah Cantonment – Pakistan Special Weapons Facilities". GlobalSecurity.org website. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  7. "Golden Jubilee of Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Wah". pakpost.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  8. "Pakistan Ordnance Factories".
  9. "Pakistan Reveals New Rifles – POF BW20 and POF BW21". Quwa. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  10. "Pakistan Ordnance Factories Reveals New PK18 and PK21 Assault Rifles". Quwa. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  11. "IDEX 2017: Pakistan Ordnance Factories aims for growth in UAE market". 20 February 2017.
  12. "Saudi Arabia largest importer of Pakistani arms - Pakistan - DAWN.COM". 6 May 2016.
  13. "Pakistan Ordnance Factories". Archived from the original on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011., Homepage, Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Retrieved 23 October 2016
  14. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Pakistan finalising arrangements to target global arms market". The Express Tribune. 8 November 2012. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  16. "Pakistan Ordinance Factories to open office in UAE". dunyanews tv. 14 February 2008. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017.
  17. "POF to set up office in UAE". The Nation. 20 February 2017. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017.
  18. "До України доставили пакистанські снаряди Yarmuk". 26 March 2023.
  19. "Pakistani Artillery Rockets for BM-21 Grad MLRS are in Use of Ukrainian Military (Photo)". 26 March 2023.
  20. Pakistan, Ukraine, And The Race For Third-Party Ammunition, 6 October 2022, The Drive
  21. Pakistan sending large quantity of artillery ammunition to Ukraine,12 January 2023, Army Recognition.
  22. [ https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1636372521087045637 Ukraine Weapons Tracker], 16 March 2023, Twitter.
  23. Pak emerges as major supplier of ammunition to Ukraine in war with Russia, 15 April 2023, Sunday Guardian Alive.
  24. "Pakistan suicide bombers hit arms factory in Pakistan". BBC. 21 August 2008. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2016.

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