Pak navy to soon acquire AWACS, UAVs
Pakistan navy will soon acquire airborne early warning aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles to strengthen its capabilities, naval chief Admiral Noman Bashir said on Thursday.
Pakistan navy will soon acquire airborne early warning aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles to strengthen its capabilities, naval chief Admiral Noman Bashir said on Thursday.
Addressing a ceremony in this southern port city, Bashir said the induction of the Chinese-made Z-9 helicopters, airborne early warning aircraft, UAVs and additional P3C Orion surveillance aircraft would be a force multiplier for the navy's air arm. He did not give details about the number of aircraft to be acquired by the force.
A contract for HDW Type-214 submarines would also be concluded soon to enhance the navy's sub-surface defence capability, he said.
The ceremony was organised to mark the induction of a Fokker aircraft and commissioning of a test bench for engines of the P3C aircraft at the naval aviation base PNS Mehran in Karachi, a statement said.
Commodore Adnan Nazir, commander of naval aviation, said the Fokker, being a versatile and multi-role aircraft, would augment the operational flexibility of the navy's air arm.
The setting up of engine test bench is aimed at achieving self-reliance in overhauling and maintaining the engines of P-3C aircraft, Nazir said.