fatman17
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 32,563
- Reaction score
- 98
- Country
- Location
Fleet Review - Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy's (PN) fleet future depends on many permutations like the current geo-political push and pull, complications in bi-lateral relations especially with the US and availability of funds to implement the PN's Force development plans-2020.
PN has not played a major role in the US sponsored Global War on Terror (GWoT) which has been reserved for the Pakistan Army (PA) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF). However, it has made sure that it plays a major role in the on-going multi-national counter-piracy campaign in its area of responsibility (AOR) around the Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The PN has been part of the NATO Multi-national Task Force CFT-150 and CTF-151.
Against this backdrop, the PN feels it has four major objectives to achieve;
1 - The defense of Pakistan's maritime interests against India, where the PN planners believe the gap between itself and the IN continues to widen in the favor of the latter.
2 - The continued pursuit of a major role in the multinational counter-piracy alliance / campaign, a position that the PN regards as key to successfully promoting itself as a global partner for the protection of maritime interests in the Arabian sea and beyond.
3 - Encouraging its key ally China to project its naval presence westwards, into the Indian Ocean to counter-balance the presence of the Indian Navy.
4 - Oversee the commercial maritime interests in the Arabian sea.
Fleet and Base Expansion;
PN's main bases continue to be located at Karachi and at new facilities 60 miles south at Qasim, from where the majority of the surface fleet operates.
The Navy continues to develop its Jinnah Submarine base at Ormara, about 160 miles west of Karachi where it maintains three Khalid class (Agosta 90B) submarines and two Hashmat class (Agosta 70) boats. The base is being expanded to also harbor future submarine fleet expansion. The Navy also hopes that the Chinese will also use these facilities in the future to berth their submarines, as co-operation with the Chinese deepens in the naval sphere.
It is assumed that the PNs submarine service in the shape of the 5th submarine squadron would play a key role in defensive and offensive missions. Acquired from France in 1978, the two Agosta 70 SSKs PNS Hashmat (135) and Hurmat (136) were modified in the mid 80s to fire Harpoon SSMs.
Much newer are the three Agosta 90B SSks. PNS Khalid (137), Saad (138) (AIP) and Hamza (139) were built by DCN and commissioned in 1999, 2003 and 2008 respectively. These boats are armed with the Exocet SM 39 SSM and are being modified to also fire the Harpoon SSM. In addition two of the three boats are being retro-fitted with the 200Kw MESMA AIP, which will quadruple dived endurance at 4 Kt.
The PN is looking to expand its SSK fleet as its main adversary; the Indian Navy is closing the technology gap and in fact may overtake the PN in the coming decade. The PN is negotiating with China for the supply of six submarines in a wider geo-strategic shift to encourage Chinese involvement in IOR. The precise type of submarine has not been disclosed but it is rumored to be a modified version of the Yuan class with the addition of AIP. The timeframe from finalization of contract and supply of the boats could be up to 10 years.
In a related development, the PN defense planners are keen to gain a nuclear deterrent capability in the shape of a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) / (SLCM) to deter an attack by a nuclear armed rival in the shape of the Indian Navy.
The PN airbase at Turbat in Baluchistan province has become the designated home of the P-3C Orion fleet. Situated near the Iranian border, the stations distance from India means that it is regarded as a relatively safe location to mount air operations. In 2005 the US agreed to donate up to seven - P-3C Orion MPAs plus an eight for spares. The first two P-3Cs were delivered in 2007 and the remaining aircraft are due for delivery after upgrading in 2012, the Orions are required for airborne intelligence gathering, and reconnaissance as well as anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare. Two older P-3Cs were delivered in 1996 and the Navy wants to modernize them with newer reconnaissance systems. The PNs older Atlantique 150 continues to soldier with the naval air arm in the ASW role along with six Seaking MK-45 ASW helicopters which are capable to fire Exocet AM-39 ASMs.
China is a close ally of Pakistan, and has already positioned itself as a important weapons supplier to Pakistans defense forces and particularly the Navy.
In 2005, the PN signed a contract for the supply of four Sword class (F-22P) frigates and a batch of six Z-9EC ASW helicopters equipped with active dipping sonar. These 123 meter long, 3,194 surface combatants are based on the Jiangwei II class (Type 053H3), modified to PN requirements.
PNS Zulfiqar (2510, Shamsher (252), Saif (253) were built in China, whilst PNS Aslat (254) was built at Karachi dockyards and delivered in June 2011.
Additionally the PN is expected to order up to four more frigates possibly derived from the larger Jiangkai design - and up to eight more missile craft possibly of the Houjian class - from china for delivery during the coming decade.
PNS Alamgir is the first of eight Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates requested by Pakistan. Whether the US will supply further ships is now open to question after relations deteriorated following the operation to kill Osama Bin Laden.
The PN is also keen to receive a unspecified number of SH-60F helicopters for ship borne operations in a bid to narrow the capability gap with the Indian Navy.
The other major surface combatants in operation are the six Tariq class (Type 21) frigates, which have been the workhorse of the PN fleet since they were acquired from the UK in 1993-94 to replace the eight Brooke and Garcia class destroyers, returned to the US following the sanctions imposed by it in 1990. The Tariq Class frigates are scheduled for retirement from the PN fleet by 2020.
The PNs four Jurrat class fast attack craft (FAC) are equipped to fire the C-802 ASM system. Two - MRTP 33 FAC, ordered from Turkey in 2007 and 2008 are armed with the Harpoon Block 2 SSM and a 25mm gun. In late 2010 a contract was signed with China for the supply of two 500 ton missile patrol vessels, possibly of the Houjain class and construction of the first vessel started in March 2011.
In the coming decade the PN is expected to expand its Special Service Group Navy (SSGN), an independent commando battalion. It is believed that its numbers rest between 1,500 and 1,800 personnel. The SSGN is increasingly been trained for anti-terrorist activities.
modified version of a article in a defence journal
Pakistan Navy's (PN) fleet future depends on many permutations like the current geo-political push and pull, complications in bi-lateral relations especially with the US and availability of funds to implement the PN's Force development plans-2020.
PN has not played a major role in the US sponsored Global War on Terror (GWoT) which has been reserved for the Pakistan Army (PA) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF). However, it has made sure that it plays a major role in the on-going multi-national counter-piracy campaign in its area of responsibility (AOR) around the Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The PN has been part of the NATO Multi-national Task Force CFT-150 and CTF-151.
Against this backdrop, the PN feels it has four major objectives to achieve;
1 - The defense of Pakistan's maritime interests against India, where the PN planners believe the gap between itself and the IN continues to widen in the favor of the latter.
2 - The continued pursuit of a major role in the multinational counter-piracy alliance / campaign, a position that the PN regards as key to successfully promoting itself as a global partner for the protection of maritime interests in the Arabian sea and beyond.
3 - Encouraging its key ally China to project its naval presence westwards, into the Indian Ocean to counter-balance the presence of the Indian Navy.
4 - Oversee the commercial maritime interests in the Arabian sea.
Fleet and Base Expansion;
PN's main bases continue to be located at Karachi and at new facilities 60 miles south at Qasim, from where the majority of the surface fleet operates.
The Navy continues to develop its Jinnah Submarine base at Ormara, about 160 miles west of Karachi where it maintains three Khalid class (Agosta 90B) submarines and two Hashmat class (Agosta 70) boats. The base is being expanded to also harbor future submarine fleet expansion. The Navy also hopes that the Chinese will also use these facilities in the future to berth their submarines, as co-operation with the Chinese deepens in the naval sphere.
It is assumed that the PNs submarine service in the shape of the 5th submarine squadron would play a key role in defensive and offensive missions. Acquired from France in 1978, the two Agosta 70 SSKs PNS Hashmat (135) and Hurmat (136) were modified in the mid 80s to fire Harpoon SSMs.
Much newer are the three Agosta 90B SSks. PNS Khalid (137), Saad (138) (AIP) and Hamza (139) were built by DCN and commissioned in 1999, 2003 and 2008 respectively. These boats are armed with the Exocet SM 39 SSM and are being modified to also fire the Harpoon SSM. In addition two of the three boats are being retro-fitted with the 200Kw MESMA AIP, which will quadruple dived endurance at 4 Kt.
The PN is looking to expand its SSK fleet as its main adversary; the Indian Navy is closing the technology gap and in fact may overtake the PN in the coming decade. The PN is negotiating with China for the supply of six submarines in a wider geo-strategic shift to encourage Chinese involvement in IOR. The precise type of submarine has not been disclosed but it is rumored to be a modified version of the Yuan class with the addition of AIP. The timeframe from finalization of contract and supply of the boats could be up to 10 years.
In a related development, the PN defense planners are keen to gain a nuclear deterrent capability in the shape of a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) / (SLCM) to deter an attack by a nuclear armed rival in the shape of the Indian Navy.
The PN airbase at Turbat in Baluchistan province has become the designated home of the P-3C Orion fleet. Situated near the Iranian border, the stations distance from India means that it is regarded as a relatively safe location to mount air operations. In 2005 the US agreed to donate up to seven - P-3C Orion MPAs plus an eight for spares. The first two P-3Cs were delivered in 2007 and the remaining aircraft are due for delivery after upgrading in 2012, the Orions are required for airborne intelligence gathering, and reconnaissance as well as anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare. Two older P-3Cs were delivered in 1996 and the Navy wants to modernize them with newer reconnaissance systems. The PNs older Atlantique 150 continues to soldier with the naval air arm in the ASW role along with six Seaking MK-45 ASW helicopters which are capable to fire Exocet AM-39 ASMs.
China is a close ally of Pakistan, and has already positioned itself as a important weapons supplier to Pakistans defense forces and particularly the Navy.
In 2005, the PN signed a contract for the supply of four Sword class (F-22P) frigates and a batch of six Z-9EC ASW helicopters equipped with active dipping sonar. These 123 meter long, 3,194 surface combatants are based on the Jiangwei II class (Type 053H3), modified to PN requirements.
PNS Zulfiqar (2510, Shamsher (252), Saif (253) were built in China, whilst PNS Aslat (254) was built at Karachi dockyards and delivered in June 2011.
Additionally the PN is expected to order up to four more frigates possibly derived from the larger Jiangkai design - and up to eight more missile craft possibly of the Houjian class - from china for delivery during the coming decade.
PNS Alamgir is the first of eight Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates requested by Pakistan. Whether the US will supply further ships is now open to question after relations deteriorated following the operation to kill Osama Bin Laden.
The PN is also keen to receive a unspecified number of SH-60F helicopters for ship borne operations in a bid to narrow the capability gap with the Indian Navy.
The other major surface combatants in operation are the six Tariq class (Type 21) frigates, which have been the workhorse of the PN fleet since they were acquired from the UK in 1993-94 to replace the eight Brooke and Garcia class destroyers, returned to the US following the sanctions imposed by it in 1990. The Tariq Class frigates are scheduled for retirement from the PN fleet by 2020.
The PNs four Jurrat class fast attack craft (FAC) are equipped to fire the C-802 ASM system. Two - MRTP 33 FAC, ordered from Turkey in 2007 and 2008 are armed with the Harpoon Block 2 SSM and a 25mm gun. In late 2010 a contract was signed with China for the supply of two 500 ton missile patrol vessels, possibly of the Houjain class and construction of the first vessel started in March 2011.
In the coming decade the PN is expected to expand its Special Service Group Navy (SSGN), an independent commando battalion. It is believed that its numbers rest between 1,500 and 1,800 personnel. The SSGN is increasingly been trained for anti-terrorist activities.
modified version of a article in a defence journal
