Pakistan's strategy with this rocket force seems to be conventional deterrence backed up by a veil of secrecy on the numbers. Some theatre.
I personally disagree on this point.
But, if we are to discuss this issue, further official information is needed. Otherwise, this debate is meaningless.
We have no industrial base that can make these systems at any half decent rate. I'd forgive the quality of the R&D if we had numbers - quantity has a quality of its own afterall. But sadly we don't have the industrial base.
If you ask anyone in Pakistan about the level of our industrialization they'll tell you exactly how bad it is. But as soon as you say SPD they suddenly start expecting miracles of secret industries. It's all the same. SPD is in Pakistan and has access to the same industrial capacity and talent as most of the rest of the country. There are no secret underground factories churning out hundreds of baburs (fatah4 excuse me) every year lol.
Some Pakistani friends and I often argue about the issue of "Independent defense industry." This stems from the fact that our two cultures have completely different definitions of "Independent defense industry."
As I've said before, neither India nor Pakistan can completely and 100% independently produce a single, qualified bullet for a modern assault rifle. This is based on China's understanding of "Independent defense industry," not Pakistan's standards. This is not meant to disparage India and Pakistan. In fact, 99% of countries worldwide cannot achieve this. ------ If you break down the industrial capacity required to produce a bullet, you'll find a lot of secrets.
============================
In the 1950s, after the Korean War, China began developing strategic weapons. At the time, a large number of soldiers returning from the Korean War were sent directly to northwest China. Simultaneously, the Chinese government recruited scientists and technicians nationwide. This formed the Second Artillery Corps, the predecessor of the PLARF.
According to statistics, millions of soldiers and technicians were directly involved in these projects, and over 10 million were indirectly involved. However, the PLARF now has only a little over 100,000 personnel.
After investing enormous resources in developing these strategic military projects, the Chinese government has continuously translated these achievements into civilian applications. These transformations have played a significant role in China's large, state-owned enterprises, renowned universities, and renowned infrastructure projects.
It's no exaggeration to say that any of China's major achievements today can be attributed to these individuals.