Know that 3 Lynx have been delivered to PN but the confusion started when I saw on some of the posts/treads that the Navy is looking to sell off the helos due to some problem with spares.
I live in Karachi just about three kilometers from PNS Mehran and my offices are on the 7th floor of an office complex roughly 2 kilometers from the port complex. I have yet to see the Lynx flying on its way from Mehran or vice versa. I have seen lots of Orion’s and Atlantics flying on their first patrol of the morning due south east. I have also regularly seen the Sea-King going off on patrol and have seen it dunking its sonar in and around the entrance to main ship channel. I have seen the odd Allouette on communication duties on and off during the week but never a Lynx!!!
Have you seen any snaps of it embarked on any of T-21 -- I mean embarked not just landing on the helipad? It is our first dedicated Shipboard Helo -- but as far as I know and based upon lack of sightings (I have been a number of times on port cruises but have yet to see the helo on the aft helipad of any of Type 21's) the helo is not operational otherwise it would add to the AS capabilities of our ships.
Lynx helicopters were part of Pakistan Navy's 222 squadron; this squadron had to be deactivated in 2003 due to inadequate spares.
Read the bold part of below news for details.
KARACHI: In an attempt to boost its aviation wing, Chinese-built anti-submarine warfare helicopters Z9EC were inducted into the Pakistan Navy at a ceremony on Wednesday. A separate squadron (222) of the ASW helicopters has already been created.
This is the first batch of a series of six helicopters to be procured under a contract signed with M/s China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC).
The deal for these helicopters was signed with the contract for four F-22 P frigates, first one of which has already been inducted into the navy as PNS Zulfiquar.
Z9EC helicopters are capable of detecting and destroying submarines. The aircraft is configured to carry torpedoes and is fitted with pulse compression radar, low-frequency dipping sonar, radar warning receiver and doppler navigation system.
Z9EC helicopter is tailor-made to operate from F22P frigates at high seas and its on-board sensors/weapons enable it to support fleet operations under multi-threat environment.
The need for acquiring ship-borne helicopters was felt with the induction of Type-21 frigates in the PN. Subsequently, three Lynx helicopters were acquired from the United Kingdom, and the 222 squadron was raised in 1996. But after playing an active role the squadron had to be deactivated in 2003 due to inadequate spares.
However, the PN remained focused on this very important operational capability and the quest for new helicopter, dedicated for ship-borne operations. As such on April 4, 2005 a contract was signed for the acquisition of six Z9EC ASW ship-borne helicopters.
Squadron 222 was reactivated on April 5, 2009 and the aircraft was officially handed over to the PN, after trials, on Sept 18.
Talking to media men, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir, who was the chief guest at the induction held at Naval Aviation Base, said the Indian Ocean was experiencing intense activity and about 100 ships from different countries were operating to safeguard their interests. These extraordinary developments were an indicator of the importance of the trade routes in these waters. The PN was also continuously deploying ships and aircraft to guard the country’s maritime interests, he added.
Commenting on the regional stability, the naval chief denied being part of any arms race but expressed the resolve to maintain quality in naval platforms and enhancement of capabilities in consonance with the developments in the region.
He expressed his confidence in Chinese technology and termed it compatible with Western technology.
'Pakistan-China relationship is time-tested and would further be strengthened with such defence collaborations as F-22 P frigates and Z9EC helicopters projects,' he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Commander of the Pakistan Fleet Rear Admiral Asif Sandila highlighted the salient features of the Z9EC project. He said that apart from China, Pakistan was the first country that would operate these helicopters in an anti-submarine warfare role.
'The hub of all operational activities is the integrated processing system that is capable of planning and execution of various kinds of mission profiles,' he said.
'A four-channel automatic flight control system (AFCS) provides a great degree of precision in ASW operating environment.'
Earlier, the PN had also used Sea King helicopters to track down submarines and other missions. Later, the Chinese-made helicopter made fly past and staged a demonstration of its characteristics and maneuverability.
The ceremony was attended by Chinese ambassador Luo Zhao Hui, representatives of M/s CATIC and a large number of senior PN officers and aviators.
DAWN.COM | Metropolitan | Pakistan Navy inducts anti-submarine helicopters
