Three Chinese companies and one from Belarus are sanctioned by the US for supplying Pakistan with ballistic missile components

According to the State Department, Pakistan’s long-range missile program and its ballistic missile program both use parts that the US has sanctioned three Belarusian and three Chinese businesses for providing. The businesses are called Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant in Belarus, Xi’an Longde Technology Development, Tianjin Creative Source International Trade, and Granpect Co. Ltd. in China.

A spokesperson for the State Department, Matthew Miller, stated on Friday that these organizations have taken part in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their delivery systems. This includes any efforts by Pakistan to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer, or use such items. According to Miller, US efforts to disrupt procurement networks that support proliferation activities of concern is part of the country’s commitment to fortifying the global nonproliferation framework.

China, Pakistan’s all-weather partner, has been the primary provider of weapons and defense hardware for Islamabad’s military modernization initiative. The long-range ballistic missile program in Pakistan was provided with unique vehicle chassis by Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant.

According to a State Department Factsheet, Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which is in charge of developing Missile Technology Control Regime Category (MTCR) I ballistic missiles, uses such chassis as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles. We estimate that Xi’an Longde Technology Development Company Limited provided Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program, which was intended for NDC, with missile-related technology, including a filament winding machine.

Rocket motor casings may be made using filament winding machines. Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program received equipment related to missiles from Tianjin Creative Source International Trade Co Ltd. This equipment included stir welding equipment (which the US believes can be used to make propellant tanks for space launch vehicles) and a linear accelerator system (which the US believes can be used to inspect solid rocket motors).

The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which develops and manufactures Pakistan’s MTCR Category I ballistic missiles, was most likely the recipient of Tianjin Creative’s purchases. Granpect Company supplied large-diameter rocket motor testing equipment in collaboration with SUPARCO of Pakistan.

Furthermore, Granpect Co. Ltd. endeavored to provide Pakistan’s NDC with apparatus for evaluating large-diameter rocket motors.