Pakistan Navy
- Jan 25, 2024
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The main Pakistan Naval Aviation base is located at Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Mehran, located on the western side of the runway. It operates a fleet of Alouette IIIs, Sea Kings, Atlantics, F-27 Friendships and P-3C Orions. The US Government recently agreed to donate seven P-3Cs to the Pakistan Navy through its Foreign Military Sales process, although they will be refurbished in Pakistan. To date two aircraft are believed to have been delivered, joining the two P-3Cs that were returned to service in September 2006 after years of being in store due to a lack of spares. China has sold six Harbin Z-9EC anti-submarine helicopters to the Pakistan Navy for use on their Type 21 destroyers, with the first of these delivered on 23rd September, 2009.
The Atlantics and the Sea King Mk. 46s are equipped with the AM-39 Exocet for the anti-shipping role. The Lynx HAS.3s acquired from the Royal Navy in 1994 have recently been withdrawn from service, due to various reasons, so it is believed that the naval air arm has lost its capability to use Sea Skua and Mk 46 Lightweight Torpedoes in the anti-submarine role from helicopter platforms.
Also based at PNS Mehran althought not part of the Naval Aviation are two BN-2 Defenders flown by the Maritime Surveillance Flights 93 Sqn. The Flight is mainly tasked for patrolling Pakistans Economic Exclusion Zone and reports to the Director General of the Maritime Security Agency.
222 Squadron was deactivated by 2007 following the withdrawal of its Lynx HAS.3 helicopters. The squadron was resurrected in late September 2009 to operate six newly-delivered HAIG Z-9EC Haifuns in the same anti-submarine role as its predecessors.
PNS Mehran, Karachi
HQ Pakistan Naval Air Arm
27 Squadron
F-27-200MPA Friendship
F-27-400M Troopship
28 Squadron
P-3C-II.75 Orion
29 Squadron
Br.1150 Atlantic
111 Squadron
Westland WS-61 Sea King Mk.45
Westland WS-61 Sea King Mk.45B
222 Squadron
Z-9EC Haitun
333 Squadron
SA316 B Alouette III
SA319 B Alouette III Astazou
VIP/EW Flight
Hawker 850XP
HQ Karachi
Maritime Security Agency
PNS Mehran, Karachi
Maritime Surveillance Flight
93 Squadron
BN-2T Maritime Defender
The Atlantics and the Sea King Mk. 46s are equipped with the AM-39 Exocet for the anti-shipping role. The Lynx HAS.3s acquired from the Royal Navy in 1994 have recently been withdrawn from service, due to various reasons, so it is believed that the naval air arm has lost its capability to use Sea Skua and Mk 46 Lightweight Torpedoes in the anti-submarine role from helicopter platforms.
Also based at PNS Mehran althought not part of the Naval Aviation are two BN-2 Defenders flown by the Maritime Surveillance Flights 93 Sqn. The Flight is mainly tasked for patrolling Pakistans Economic Exclusion Zone and reports to the Director General of the Maritime Security Agency.
222 Squadron was deactivated by 2007 following the withdrawal of its Lynx HAS.3 helicopters. The squadron was resurrected in late September 2009 to operate six newly-delivered HAIG Z-9EC Haifuns in the same anti-submarine role as its predecessors.
PNS Mehran, Karachi
HQ Pakistan Naval Air Arm
27 Squadron
F-27-200MPA Friendship
F-27-400M Troopship
28 Squadron
P-3C-II.75 Orion
29 Squadron
Br.1150 Atlantic
111 Squadron
Westland WS-61 Sea King Mk.45
Westland WS-61 Sea King Mk.45B
222 Squadron
Z-9EC Haitun
333 Squadron
SA316 B Alouette III
SA319 B Alouette III Astazou
VIP/EW Flight
Hawker 850XP
HQ Karachi
Maritime Security Agency
PNS Mehran, Karachi
Maritime Surveillance Flight
93 Squadron
BN-2T Maritime Defender
