Two of the seven Sea KINGs acquired by the Pakistan Navy, are prepared for their journey to Karachi by sea. (Photo: Alan Warnes)
PAKISTAN SEA KINGS
On 24 May, Vector Aerospace started work on returning to service three Sea KINGs to the Pakistan Navy. They are part of a separate contract between the UK MOD and the Pakistan Navy for seven former UK MoD Sea KINGs signed last year.
A visit to the facility just two days before the sale of Vector was announced, found work on the three Sea KINGs well under way. They comprise a yellow former RAF Search and Rescue Sea KING HAR3A and two Royal Navy HC4 ‘Junglies,’ which are expected to be flying by late-August.
Vector’s Steve Tamblyn, the Pakistan Navy Sea KING Project Manager, said: “
The first one is due to fly in mid-August, then followed five days later by the second, and then five days after that by the third. “
The other four aircraft are being used for spares. A HC4 and HAR 3A, will be shipped to Karachi, along with the three airworthy examples in October. The other two HC4s have been completed stripped of parts which will be sent alongside the five helicopters.
A team of up to six personnel will go to Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) MEHRAN on the edge of Karachi to rebuild the helicopters and support the first test flights. An official induction ceremony is expected to take place at PNS MEHRAN in early December. Working alongside Vector’s team is a four man Pakistan Navy technical team led by Lt.Cdr. Asif. The three helicopters will work alongside six Mk45/45As which in recent years have been upgraded with SEASPRAY 5300 AESA maritime radars in the ASW/ASuW role.
Alan Warnes
Published: 12 July 2017
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