Pakistan navy re-activates P-3C naval aircraft

Pakistan navy has re-activated two P-3C Orion long range maritime patrol aircraft, which had been grounded some five years ago due to non-availability of spares from the United States.

The roll out ceremony was held in the port city of Karachi yesterday with completion of the overhaul and up-gradation work on the two planes.

P-3C aircraft were manufactured in 1990 at the Lockheed plant in California. The aircraft last flew in Pakistan during 1999.

With the overhaul of both the aircraft becoming due, they were grounded for five years. Later a contract to re-activate two P-3C grounded aircraft was signed between Lockheed and US Navy in January 2005 following lifting of all Pakistan-specific military sanctions by the US. Maintenance work on both the aircraft was undertaken concurrently by Lockheed and PN personnel and technicians.

P-3 C Orion is a four-engine, highly maneuverable, all weather aircraft primarily designed for reconnaissance, anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel operations.

It is 116 feet long and has a maximum speed of 410 kts. It is one of the fastest turbo prop aircraft and most widely used Distinguished features of Orion are longer endurance, multiple role capability, variety of integrated sensors and above all capacity to carry wide array of anti surface and subsurface weapons like Harpoon, torpedos, depth charges, mines and rockets. By virtue of its extraordinary weapon carrying capability, P-3C is known as ‘Airborne Destroyer'.

Pakistan Navy is committed to the maritime component of operation 'Enduring Freedom’ and has reiterated its pledge to continue playing an active role in the global war on terrorism, reiterated Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir while speaking at the roll out ceremony.

Admiral Tahir further said there is an urgent need to deny the use of sea routes for acts of terrorism.

He said illegal activities like arms smuggling, proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and drug and human trafficking must be deterred and neutralized to make the world a peaceful and safer place.

Re-activated P-3Cs will contribute significantly to this end, besides PN ships which already make an important part of Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan (CMCP), an international coalition of world navies including Pakistan, operating in the Gulf and horn of Africa to deter terrorism and human smuggling.

The Chief of the Naval Staff extended his gratitude to the US government for its generous support in re-activation and operationalisation of the aircraft.

He termed the roll out 'the first step in the process of developing a full fledged P-3C capability' based on acquisition and modernization of nine aircraft and hoped that it will bring a major transformation in naval air arm in terms of assets and capability.

Pakistan navy plans to induct eight more P-3Cs in coming years.

The US will provide these planes free of cost to Pakistan but expenses on their modification and up-gradation will be borne from the US military aid package to Pakistan.

UNI XC SAM RP RK1630

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