Pakistan Naval Air Arm

Last updated

Pakistan Naval Air Arm
Pakistan Naval Air Arm insignia.svg
Pakistan Naval Aviation logo
Founded9 December 1971;52 years ago (1971-12-09)
Country Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan
Type Naval aviation
Role Sea-to air-combat
surface attack
Anti-surface warfare
Search and Rescue
Aerial reconnaissance
Weather observation
Size5,000 personnel, 85 aircraft
Part of Pakistan Navy
Headquarters PNS Mehran in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Nickname(s)PNA
Anniversaries Navy Day: 6 September
Engagements
See list
Commanders
Commander Naval Aviation
(COMNAV)		Pakistan Navy Commodore.svg CDRE Syed Talat Hussain
Insignia
Roundel Roundel of Pakistan - Naval Aviation.svg
Fin Flash Pakistan Finflash bordered.svg
Aircraft flown
Helicopter Harbin Z-9, Alouette III, Westland Sea King
Patrol P-3C Orion, ATR P-72 ASW, Embraer Lineage
Reconnaissance GIDS Uqab, Hawker 850XL, EMT Luna X-2000

The Pakistan Naval Air Arm (unofficially: Pakistan Naval Aviation) is the naval aviation branch within the Pakistan Navy that is responsible for aerial operations from the seaborne platform. [1]

Contents

The naval aviation branch is responsible for conducting the land-based strike capability, fleet air defence, evacuation and extraction, search and rescue, maritime reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. [2] Early in its inception the Naval Air Arm was dependent upon the Air Force and the Army to meet its training requirement of air and ground crew. [1]

The Commander Naval Aviation (COMNAV) command is usually held by a senior officer of Commodore rank who directs the field operations of the naval aviation.

History

Establishment

After the second war with India in 1965, the concept of establishing the navy-based aviation service was conceived by the Pakistan Navy who forwarded the idea to the Government of Pakistan as part of the war strategy to sustain the purely defence of nation's maritime interests.: 63–66  [3]

The Navy had been long aware of the usefulness and tactical advantages of the air-wing after witnessing the United States Naval Aviators' actions in the Vietnam War, and V-Adm. Muzaffar Hassan, the Navy Commander, had made attempts to establish naval aviation but this was impossible to achieve in the absence of generous support from outside sources.: 213  [4] [5]

Furthermore, strong objections came from Air Marshal Abdur Rahim Khan, the Air Commander, who had been very hostile towards any idea of modernizing the navy and loath to risk its precious aircraft in over-the-water operations.: 63  [6] The lack of funds and donations from the United States Navy meant the concept never materialized though the Navy entered into talks with the United States Government to effect the transferring of three to four Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft before the third war with India in 1971. [6]

After the first missile attack in Karachi in 1971, the Navy hastily established the naval air arm by leasing a civilian aircraft, the Fokker F27, from the Pakistan International Airlines whose pilots volunteered to carry the naval observers on a maritime reconnaissance on 6 December 1971. [7] Cdre. A. W. Bhomba, the senior forward observer, mistakenly identified his own ship, PNS Zulfiqar forming defences at that time, and gave clearance to the Pakistan Air Force to carry out a bombing mission to target the ship – a friendly fire incident that further hampered Navy's operational scope. [7]

After the third war with India in 1971, the Air Arm continued and was able to induct Sea King helicopters from the United Kingdom through transfers from the Royal Navy on 28 September 1974– leading to the establishment of the 111 ASW Squadron in the Naval Aviation. [8] The first naval air station, PNS Mehran, was inaugurated in Karachi, in the vicinity of the Faisal Air Force Base, on 26 September 1975.: 155–156  [9]

Atlantique Incident

The Atlantique Incident was a major international incident that occurred on 10 August 1999 when a Pakistan Naval Air Arm patrol aircraft—a Breguet Atlantique with 16 personnel on board—was shot down in the border area of the Kutch region by Indian Air Force jets. Pakistan and India both claimed the aircraft to be in their respective airspace.

Some experts stated that the Atlantique was probably conducting a "probe" on India's air defence system, mainly the radar equipment in the border area; however, they advised that it was not part of any planned aggressive military action by Pakistan. [10] Foreign diplomats who visited the crash site noted that the plane "may have strayed into restricted space", and that Islamabad was unable to explain why it was flying so close to the border; they however added that India's reaction to the incident was not justified. [11] Many countries, the G8, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as the western media questioned the wisdom behind Pakistan's decision to fly military aircraft so close to the Indian border. [12]

On 21 September 1999, Pakistan lodged a compensation claim at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, accusing India of shooting down an unarmed aircraft. Pakistan sought about US$60 million in reparations from India and compensation for the victims' families. India's attorney general, Soli Sorabjee, argued that the court did not have jurisdiction, [13] citing an exemption it filed in 1974 to exclude disputes between India and other Commonwealth States, and disputes covered by multi-lateral treaties.

On 21 June 2000, the 16-judge Bench headed by Gilbert Guillaume of France ruled—with a 14–2 verdict—upholding India's submission that the court had no jurisdiction in this matter. [14] [15] Pakistan's claims were dropped, without recourse to appeal, and the outcome was seen as a decision highly favorable to India. [16] [17] The Pakistan government had spent close to 25 million Pakistani rupees (approx. $400,000) on the case. [18]

PNS Mehran Attack

On 22 May 2011, Tehreek-i-Taliban militants attacked PNS Mehran air station and killed 18 Navy Personnel while 16 were injured. 2 P-3C Orion aircraft were also destroyed in the attack. [19]

Organization

Squadrons

Rotary-wing

Established on 17 January 1982, the 111 ASW Squadron, which consists of the Sea King helicopters, is primarily programmed for missile launch capability targeting dived submarines and releasing depth charges. [8] [20] [21]

  • 222 Squadron (ASW)

With the acquisition of Tariq-class destroyers from the Royal Navy, the Navy was additionally able to acquire three Westland Lynx utility helicopters which were inducted into the 222 ASW Squadron. [22] They were later retired in 2003. [23]

In 2006, the Navy re-equipped the 222 ASW squadron by introducing the Harbin Z-9 helicopters which are equipped with sensors and radars to support the F-22P class frigates. [24] [8] [20] [21]

  • 333 Squadron (ASW)

In 1977, the 333 ASW squadron was established with the induction of the Aérospatiale Alouette II and the Alouette III rotary aircraft, for which the first group of naval aviators were trained in France. [25] [8] [20] [21]

Fixed-wing

  • 27 Squadron (ASW)

In 1982, the 27 ASW Squadron was established with the induction of the Fokker F-27 aircraft. All of its Fokker F-27 aircraft were retired on 21 January 2020 in an impressive phasing out ceremony. [26]

28 ASW squadron was formed by the acquisition of P-3C Orion aircraft in 1996 after a long delay due to the imposition of the Pressler Amendment in 1990. [6] The P-3C Orion gave the Navy strike capability but one of these planes was lost due to an accident while carrying out routine exercises in local coastal waters on 29 October 1999. [27]

  • 29 ASW Squadron (ASW, EW)

In 1973, the Navy entered into talks with France to acquire the Breguet Atlantic aircraft for its patrolling missions, [28] and acquired them on 14 August 1976, that established the 29 ASW Atlantic Squadron and is tasked with maritime reconnaissance missions. [29] A single Hawker 850XP was also inducted in Aug 2010 for IW/EW. [30]

After the retirement of the Breguet Atlantic aircraft from service [31] the squadron has been re-equipped with ATR-72 turboprop airliners upgraded into two variants, the RAS-72 Sea Eagle for Maritime Patrol / ASW [32] [33] and other variant being utilized in transport role.

  • 47 UAV Squadron (ISR)

47 UAV squadron consists of GIDS Uqab UAVs used for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). [34]

Aircraft

Current inventory

AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
Maritime Patrol
ATR 72 France / Italy ASW / maritime patrol 5 [38]
Hawker 800 United Kingdom Surveillance / EW850XP1 [39]
Lockheed P-3 Orion United States ASW / maritime patrol P-3C 6 [39]
Embraer Lineage Brazil ASW / SIGINT / ELINT 1000 19 on order [40]
Helicopters
Westland Sea King United Kingdom SAR / utility Mk.45 19 [39]
Harbin Z-9 China SAR / utility5 [39]
Aérospatiale Alouette III France Liaison / utility7 [39]
UAV
GIDS Uqab Pakistan Surveillance20 [41]
LUNA NG Germany SurveillanceAt least 2 [42]

Retired aircraft

Retired aircraft of Pakistan Naval Aviation include the Harbin Y-12, Fokker F-27, Mil Mi-14, Breguet Atlantic, Westland Lynx and the Sikorsky UH-19 [22] [43] [44] [26]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed P-3 Orion</span> Maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft family

The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engined, turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner; it is easily distinguished from the Electra by its distinctive tail stinger or "MAD" boom, used for the magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) of submarines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ATR 72</span> Regional turboprop Airliner Series

The ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop, short-haul regional airliner developed and produced in France and Italy by aircraft manufacturer ATR, a joint venture formed by French aerospace company Aérospatiale and Italian aviation conglomerate Aeritalia. The number "72" in its name is derived from the aircraft's typical standard seating capacity of 72 passengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing P-8 Poseidon</span> American maritime patrol aircraft

The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is an American maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft developed and produced by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and derived from the civilian Boeing 737-800. It was developed for the United States Navy (USN).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan Navy</span> Maritime service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces

The Pakistan Navy (PN) is the uniform naval warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The President of Pakistan is the Supreme Commander of the Navy. The Chief of the Naval Staff, a four-star admiral commands the navy. The Pakistan Navy operates on the coastline of Pakistan in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. It was established in August 1947, following the independence of Pakistan from the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bréguet 1150 Atlantic</span> Type of aircraft

The Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic is a long-range maritime patrol aircraft designed and manufactured by French aircraft manufacturer Breguet Aviation.

The Indian Naval Air Arm is the aviation branch and a fighting arm of the Indian Navy which is tasked to provide an aircraft carrier-based strike capability, fleet air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare.

<i>Zulfiquar</i>-class frigate Class of Pakistan Navy frigates

The Zulfiquar-class frigate, also known as F-22P or in English: Sword class, is a class of multi-mission guided missile frigates, in service with the Pakistan Navy. The class is based on an updated model of the Chinese design, the Type 053H3. The frigates were designed and built jointly in Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China and the KS&EW Ltd. in Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan Marines</span> Military unit

The Pakistan Marines or simply as Pak Marines, is an expeditionary and amphibious warfare uniform service branch within the Pakistan Navy, consisting of the naval officers and other personnel to perform their duties within the Marines. Pakistan Marines are responsible for providing force protection in littorals, using the mobility of the Pakistan Navy to provide creeks defence, ground based air defence and Force protection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PNS Mehran</span> Airport in Sindh Province, Pakistan

The PNS Mehran is the naval station and the premier air–to-air/air–to–ground training naval air station located in the joint vicinity of the Faisal Air Force Base in Karachi, Sindh, in Pakistan. Established in 1975 with the cooperation of the Pakistan Air Force, the PNS Mehran serves in the capacity as the headquarter of the Naval Aviation Branch of the Pakistan Navy, and grown to its present inventory of 41 multi role aircraft. The latest addition in the Air Arm is the ATR-72.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">INS Garuda</span> Airport in Kochi, India

INS Garuda, is an Indian naval air station located in Kochi, in the state of Kerala. Commissioned on 11 May 1953, it is the oldest operating air station of the Indian Navy.

Pakistan Naval Station Makran, known as PNS Makran formerly known as Coastal Naval Air Station, Pasni, is a Naval air station and a military airport located in Coastal city of Pasni, Balochistan. It's one of four active Naval Air Arm bases.

The Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971 refers to the maritime military engagements between the Indian Navy and the Pakistan Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The series of naval operations began with the Indian Navy's exertion of pressure on Pakistan from the Indian Ocean, while the Indian Army and Indian Air Force moved in to choke Pakistani forces operating in East Pakistan on land. Indian naval operations comprised naval interdiction, air defence, ground support, and logistics missions.

Military exercises are conducted by the Pakistan Armed Forces to increase combat readiness, and to identify problems in logistics, training, and current military doctrine. They also test the ability of units to work together. Lastly, they act as a visible expression of military might, which acts as a deterrent to potential enemy action. An important component of each exercise is the after-action assessment. Since 1989 the four branches services have increasingly begun coordinated exercises.

PNS <i>Khaibar</i> (D-183) Tariq-class destroyer of the United Kingdom and later Pakistan

PNS Khaibar (DDG-183) is the Tariq-class destroyer currently in active duty in the Surface Command of the Pakistan Navy since 1994.

PNS <i>Tippu Sultan</i> (D-185) Pakistani naval ship

PNS Tippu Sultan (DDG-185), a Tariq-class destroyer, served in the Pakistan Navy after it was acquired in 1994. Her design was based on the British Type 21 frigate, and previously served in the Royal Navy as HMS Avenger as a general purpose frigate.

Rear-Admiral Abdul Waheed Bhombal, SI(M), best known as A. W. Bhombal was a two-star rank admiral in the Pakistan Navy and the chairman of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation from 1980 until retirement from military service in 1986. Bhombal was disciplined by the Pakistani Navy for his role in the friendly fire sinking of PNS Zulfiqar after the missile attack on the Port of Karachi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander, Pakistan Fleet</span> Appointment in Pakistan fleet

Commander Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK) is a formal title in the Pakistan Navy to denote the head as the commander of Pakistan Fleet Command with duties sanctioned by the navy for fleet support, progressive transition of the fleet, and ensuring effectiveness of the force. The COMPAK is also assigned with responsibilities to ensure combat and staff capabilities of the fleet such as deployment of the forces, in addition to ensure equipment capacities designed to improve "operational readiness".

<i>Tughril</i>-class frigate Class of multi-role warships for the Pakistan Navy

The Tughril-class frigates, formally classified as the Type 054A/P frigates, are a series of modified guided-missile frigates built by Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding (HDZH), for the Pakistan Navy. The Type 054A/P is a modified derivative of the Type 054A frigate and was specifically customised to meet the operational requirements of the Pakistan Navy; the class features several capabilities - including anti-surface warfare (ASuW), anti-aircraft warfare (AAW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and low radar observability. The frigates form the mainstay of the Pakistan Navy's active naval fleet. The class also supplants the obsolete Tariq-class destroyers.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pakistan Navy Official Website". www.paknavy.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 4 July 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  2. ↑ John Pike (1 January 1987). "Pakistan". Globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 18 May 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  3. ↑ Goldrick, James (1997). No Easy Answers. New Delhi, India: Lancer's Publications and Distributors. pp. 63/65/66. ISBN   1-897829-02-7.
  4. ↑ Tahir-Kheli, Shirin; Neuman, Stephanie G . (1984). "§Defense Planning in Pakistan". In Neuman, Stephanie G . (ed.). Defense Planning in Less Industrialised States: The Middle East and South Asia (1st ed.). Massachusetts, U.S.: Lexington Book, Co.
  5. ↑ See Mountbatten to Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir William Dickson (Chief of Defence Staff) . Undated letter but probably late February 1959 and written in response to Dickson's letter
  6. 1 2 3 Goldrick, RAN, Rear-Admiral James (1996). "§(Towards a Submarine Arm: 1966-1971)". No Easy Answers: The Development of the Navies of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka 1945—1996 (PDF) (1st ed.). London, UK: Spantech and Lancers. p. 270. ISBN   1897829027. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Trident, Grandslam and Python: Attacks on Karachi". Archived from the original on 26 September 2009.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "111 PNAS". www.paknavy.gov.pk. 111 PNAS. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  9. ↑ USA, IBP (2009). "§(The Pakistan Navy)". Pakistan Intelligence, Security Activities and Operations Handbook (googlebooks). Lulu.com. p. 230. ISBN   9781438737218 . Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  10. ↑ "Pakistan Attacks Indian Aircraft". Globalpolicy.org. 12 August 1999. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  11. ↑ "South Asia | Pakistani plane 'may have crossed border'". BBC News. 13 August 1999. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  12. ↑ "Islamabad's Post-Kargil Challenges". Defencejournal.com. 6 April 1999. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  13. ↑ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – World". Tribuneindia.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  14. ↑ "Cour internationale de Justice | International Court of Justice". Icj-cij.org. Archived from the original on 15 October 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  15. ↑ "Case Concerning the Aerial Incident of 10 August 1999" (PDF). www.icj. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India – Main News". Tribuneindia.com. 22 June 2000. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  17. ↑ "SOUTH ASIA | World court blow for Pakistan". BBC News. 21 June 2000. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  18. ↑ "Govt comments sought in Atlantique case – Newspaper". Dawn.Com. 17 July 2002. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  19. ↑ Waldron, Greg (23 May 2011). "Taliban destroy two Pakistan navy P-3Cs". Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "Pakistan Navy Official Website". www.paknavy.gov.pk. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  21. 1 2 3 "Scramble". www.scramble.nl. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  22. 1 2 Shabbir, Usman. "Westland Lynx HAS 3". PakDef Military Consortium. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  23. ↑ "Lynx Helicopters Available for Sale - History of PIA - Forum". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  24. ↑ "222 ASW Squadron". www.paknavy.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  25. ↑ "333 ASW squadron". www.paknavy.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  26. 1 2 "Pakistan Navy Bids Farewell to Fokker F27 - History of PIA - Forum". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  27. ↑ Anwar, Muhammad (2006). Stolen Stripes and Broken Medals: Autobiography of a Senior Naval Officer. AuthorHouse. ISBN   9781425900205 . Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  28. ↑ Mr Bhutto in at Large. Indian National Congress. All India Congress Committee. 4 August 1973. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  29. ↑ "29 ASW Squadron (Atlantic)". www.paknavy.gov.pk. 29 ASW Squadron (Atlantic). Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  30. ↑ "Pakistan Navy Official Website". www.paknavy.gov.pk. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  31. ↑ "Pakistan Navy Phases Out Breguet Atlantic Aircraft - History of PIA - Forum". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  32. ↑ Team, Quwa (5 July 2020). "ATR-72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA)". Quwa. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  33. ↑ Hemanth (10 July 2019). "RAS delivers second RAS 72 Sea Eagle aircraft to Pakistan Navy". Naval Technology. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  34. ↑ "Orbats". www.scramble.nl. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  35. 1 2 "Understanding the Western Coast of Pakistan". Maritime Study Forum. 18 April 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  36. ↑ "Ground Breaking of new Runway at Naval Air Station Ormara". Pakistan Defence. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  37. ↑ Techie (13 November 2020). "CNS Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi Visited Strategic Naval Installations At Gwadar And Ormara". PAKDEFENSE. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  38. ↑ "Pakistan Navy inducts 5th ATR Aircraft". 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal . Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  40. ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (6 September 2021). "First 'Sea Sultan' Maritime Patrol Aircraft Joins Pakistan Navy". navalnews.com. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  41. ↑ Waldron, Greg (25 July 2011). "Pakistan navy inducts first UAV squadron". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  42. ↑ Dominguez, Gabriel (6 January 2020). "Pakistan Navy inducts LUNA NG UAVs and second ATR-72 MPA". Jane's. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  43. ↑ "World Air Forces 1976". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  44. ↑ "World Air Forces 2004". flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.