Pakistan Naval Air Arm - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Pakistan Naval Air Arm (unofficially Pakistan Naval Aviation) is the naval aviation

Naval aviation

Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...

branch of the Pakistan Navy

Pakistan Navy

The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...

.

The Naval Air Arm is tasked to carry out air surveillance, limited aerial warfare, and reconnaissance

Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....

operations. The Naval Air Arm was created after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...

and it is designed to operate in all facets of naval operations ranging from surveillance, tracking and subsequent destruction of enemy units. The arm also takes part in operations other than war such as search and rescue, casualty evacuation, relief operations. Early in its inception the Naval Air Arm was dependent upon the Air Force

Pakistan Air Force

The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...

and the Army

Pakistan Army

The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...

to meet its training requirement of air and ground crew.

Formation

The Naval Air Arm was created after the careful analysis of Operation Trident during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

. It was established that lack of early warning from seaward, for example the absence of a naval air surveillance capability, had allowed the Indian Navy to close Karachi harbour for attacks. After studying various available options, the French Breguet Atlantique

Breguet Atlantique

The Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic is a long-range reconnaissance aircraft, primarily designed for use over the sea. It is used in several NATO countries as a reconnaissance and patrol aircraft as well as anti-submarine aircraft. The Atlantic is also capable of carrying air-to-ground missiles...

was selected and acquisition formalities were completed in 1974. Finally the first squadron was raised in 1976, with three Atlantiques.

Naval Air Squadrons

On 28 September 1974, the first of the six Westland Sea King

Westland Sea King

The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines , British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a...

helicopters was also acquired from the United Kingdom, marking the introduction of naval aviation and rotary wing aircraft in the service. 111 Squadron was established for these rotary wing aircraft.

To support the Naval Air Fleet, the naval base

Naval base

A naval base is a military base, where warships and naval ships are deployed when they have no mission at sea or want to restock. Usually ships may also perform some minor repairs. Some naval bases are temporary homes to aircraft that usually stay on the ships but are undergoing maintenance while...

, P.N.S. Mehran

P.N.S. Mehran

Pakistan Naval Station Mehran is a Pakistani naval station and headquarters of the Naval Air Arm. The base is situated in Karachi, Pakistan....

was commissioned on 26 September 1975 as Naval aviation's headquarters. The base is approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Jinnah Terminal. Sea King helicopters were the first machines to fly from this base. Atlantique and Aérospatiale Alouette III

Aérospatiale Alouette III

The Aérospatiale Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation. It was manufactured by Aérospatiale of France, and under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India as Hal Chetak and Industria Aeronautică Română in Romania.The Alouette III is the...

helicopters soon joined the Naval Air Arm. As the formation year of 1976 coincided with 29th year of Pakistani independence, the first squadron of Atlantiques was named 29 ASW Squadron. In 1977, six Alouette helicopters were acquired from France leading to the formation of 333 Squadron. In 1982 Fokker F-27 Aircraft were acquired, leading to the formation of 27 Squadron.

In early 1994, three Lynx helicopters

Westland Lynx

The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...

were acquired from the United Kingdom leading to the formation of 222 Squadron. In 1996, three P-3C Orion aircraft

P-3 Orion

The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine 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. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...

were acquired from United States and were inducted into 28 Squadron of the Naval Air Arm. The delivery of these long range maritime patrol aircraft had earlier been withheld due to the application of the Pressler Amendment in 1990. One of these planes was lost due to an accident while carrying out routine exercises in own coastal waters on 29 October 1999.

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

Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...

jets. Pakistan and India both claimed the aircraft to be in their respective airspace. However, the wreckage fell well within Pakistani territory, giving credence to the Pakistani claim.

The Indian Air Force stated that the Atlantique was trying to return to Pakistani airspace after intruding more than 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) and as such was headed towards Pakistan. At the speed of 400 knots at which the shoot-down occurred most of the wreckage could have been expected to land at least 25 miles (40.2 km) away; the fact that all of the wreckage fell in Pakistani territory would tend to vindicate Pakistani claims that the aircraft did not violate Indian airspace. This incident resulted in escalated tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

Tehreek-i-Taliban attack

On 22 May 2011, Tehreek-i-Taliban attacked the PNS Mehran naval base and destroyed 2 P-3C Orion aircraft.

Aircraft inventory

P-3C Orion

| 1996
| MPA
| 5
|6 P-3C Orion more on order.A total of 7 were in current inventory 2 were destroyed in PNS Mehran by terrorists which will be given by the USA on lease.
|-valign="top"
|

Breguet Atlantic

| 1976
| MPA
| 2
| 2 were delivered during 1970.
|-valign="top"
|

Westland Lynx

| 1982
| Surveillance

Surveillance aircraft

A surveillance aircraft is an aircraft used for surveillance — collecting information over time. They are operated by military forces and other government agencies in roles such as intelligence gathering, battlefield surveillance, airspace surveillance, observation , border patrol and fishery...

/ASW

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

/SAR

Search and rescue

Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...

| 3
| 3 delivered as of 2003.
|-valign="top"
| Westland Sea King

Westland Sea King

| 1974
| ASW

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

, ASuW

Anti-Surface Warfare

Anti-surface warfare is a type of naval warfare directed against surface combatants. More generally, it is any weapons, sensors, or operations intended to attack or limit the effectiveness of an adversary's surface ships....

, SAR

Search and rescue

| 6
|
|-valign="top"
|

Fokker F27

The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...

| 1982
| ASW

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

/Transport
| 7
| 7 were delivered as of 2004.
|-valign="top"
|

Hawker 800

| 1985
| Electronic warfare

Electronic warfare

Electronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...

| 1
| 1 was delivered as of 2009.
|-valign="top"
|

Aérospatiale Alouette III SA-319B

Aérospatiale Alouette III

| 1977
| Training, SAR

Search and rescue

, Reconnaissance.
| 8
| 8 were delivered as of 2009.
|-valign="top"
|

Harbin Z-9

|-See also:-External links:* * *...

| 2009
| anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

| 12+
| 12 are in service as of 2011.
|-valign="top"
|

Dassault Mirage 5

The Dassault Mirage 5 is a supersonic attack aircraft designed in France by Dassault Aviation during the 1960s, and manufactured in France and a number of other countries. It was derived from Dassault's popular Mirage III fighter, and spawned several variants of its own.-Early development:The...

| 1995
| ASuW

Anti-Surface Warfare

| 12+
| 12 are in service operated by Paf.

Retired aircraft

Grumman HU-16 Albatross, 4 present in October 1980, possibly retired by August 1981.

Active Squadrons

Fokker F27

| ASW

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

/Transport
|
|-valign="top"
| 28 ASW

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

/ ASuW

Anti-Surface Warfare

Squadron

| 1996
| P-3C Orion

| MPA
|Future supply of 7 more under an agreement with Lockheed Martin signed in 2006. Two upgraded P-3C Orion delivered on 7th Jan 2010 while one was delivered in Nov 2009. Another two advanced P-3C Orion aircraft to be delivered.
|-valign="top"
| 29 ASW

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

Squadron
| 1976
| Breguet Atlantique

Breguet Atlantique

Britten-Norman Defender

|-External links:*...

| EEZ Patrol
| On 15 September 2004 it was announced that a third BN2T Defender surveillance aircraft was to be sold to Pakistan for operation by the Maritime Security Agency in the roles of coastal patrol, fisheries protection and other unspecified littoral duties. This aircraft was fitted with autopilot and role radios, camera floor with video camera, plotting table and antennae for locally installed communications systems. Provision was made for future installation of a FLIR

Forward looking infrared

Forward looking infrared cameras, typically used on military aircraft, use an imaging technology that senses infrared radiation.The sensors installed in forward looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other thermal imaging cameras, use detection of infrared radiation, typically emitted from a...

camera, safety equipment such as dinghies and rear sliding door with static line equipment for parachutists.
|-valign="top"
| 100 Squadron
| 1985
| Raytheon Hawker 800

Raytheon Hawker 800

|-See also:-References:* Gunston, Bill. Hawker: The story of the 125. -External links:* * *...

Reconnaissance aircraft

A reconnaissance aircraft is a manned military aircraft designed, or adapted, to carry out aerial reconnaissance.-History:The majority of World War I aircraft were reconnaissance designs...

/ Surveillance

Surveillance aircraft

Dassault Mirage 5

| ASuW

Anti-Surface Warfare

| Operated by the Pakistan Air Force

Pakistan Air Force

from PAF Base Masroor, flying an anti-shipping variant of the Dassault Mirage 5

Dassault Mirage 5

. Aircraft are armed with the AM-39 Exocet anti-ship missile.
|-valign="top"
| 9 Squadron
| 2009
| Harbin Z-9C

Harbin Z-9

|-See also:-External links:* * *...

| ASW

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

| Harbin Z-9EC

Harbin Z-9

|-See also:-External links:* * *...

anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

helicopter inducted 23 September 2009, configured with pulse-compression radar, low frequency dipping sonar, radar warning receiver and doppler navigation system. Armed with torpedoes. To be carried on the F-22P Zulfiquar class

F-22P

The F-22P or Zulfiquar Class Frigate , is a general purpose frigate being built by China and Pakistan for the Pakistan Navy . The first ship, PNS Zulfiquar, was handed over to the PN on 30 July 2009 and the second, PNS Shamsheer, on January 23, 2010...

frigates.
|-valign="top"
| 111 Squadron
| 1974
| Westland Sea King Mk.45

Westland Sea King

| ASW

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

, ASuW

Anti-Surface Warfare

, SAR

Search and rescue

Aérospatiale Alouette III

| Training, SAR

Search and rescue

, Reconnaissance.
| Primarily tasked with training pilots for the Westland Sea King

Westland Sea King

. Also perform search and rescue

Search and rescue

, command / liaison and visual reconnaissance. Regularly deployed to sea embarked on Pakistan Navy ships. Squadron set up in 1977 with four SA-319B, later increased to seven aircraft.
|-valign="top"
| 222 Squadron
Stingrays
| 1982
| Westland Lynx

Westland Lynx

| Surveillance

Surveillance aircraft

/ASW

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

/SAR

Search and rescue

Inactive squadrons

| SAR

Search and rescue

|Inherited to Navy by Air Force tasked with the SAR

Search and rescue

. It is believed that the aircraft are retired in 1981.

External links

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