US to replace aircraft destroyed in Karachi attack

The United States has decided to supply two new P-3C Orion aircraft to Pakistan to replace the ones destroyed in the naval base attack in Karachi in May, the Dawn News reported.

The United States has decided to supply two new P-3C Orion aircraft to Pakistan to replace the ones destroyed in the naval base attack in Karachi in May, the Dawn News reported.

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Sources said the US will also supply new F-16 aircraft and spare parts.

A 15-hour siege that began on the night of May 22 at the PNS Mehran base led to the death of 14 people, including four terrorists.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The terrorists destroyed the Navy’s P-3C Orion aircraft with rockets.

The four-engine, all-weather aircraft is designed for operations against underwater submarines and surface vessels. At about 750 km per hour and 4,300 km range, it is rated as the fastest long-range maritime patrol used worldwide.

The aircraft can carry a wide array of weapons such as harpoons, torpedoes, depth charges, mines and rockets.