The Pakistan Navy, also known as the Pak Navy, is a branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is tasked primarily with the naval defence of Pakistan. It was founded in 1947 and has been active in the Indo-Pak Wars, Middle-Eastern Conflicts, the War on Terror, and UN Peacekeeping missions.
Modernization of Pakistani Navy
Pakistani Naval modernization efforts include the development of new ships and submarines. The country has acquired three French-built Agosta-90 submarines worth $950 million. These are equip with advanced air-independent propulsion systems and Exocet SM-39 anti-ship missiles. The submarines is commission into the Pakistan Navy in 1999. The country is also acquiring medium-altitude, long-duration unmanned combat aerial vehicles. The navy also plans to procure indigenous gunboats.
The first ships to be acquired by Pakistan were two ex-RN LEANDER-class frigates in 1988. The two ships were extensively refitted in 1991-93. After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, US President George Bush was advised to suspend his certification of Pakistan as being involved in nuclear weapons development. The Pressler Amendment was subsequently invoked. The remaining six ex-RN AMAZON-class frigates were acquired in 1993-94 and modernized to meet future Pakistani Navy requirements.
Pakistan’s naval development has slow by economic constraints and maritime blindness among Pakistani leadership. Pakistan is now upgrading its existing fleet of four Type 054A/P frigates from China and is acquiring the same type of vessels from other friendly nations. These foreign-made platforms will complement the local construction of Pakistani frigates. The Pakistani Navy and the PLA Navy have deep ties and have cooperated on bilateral exercises, training, and high-level exchange visits.
The Pakistani Navy also recently completed a major acquisition of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. This upgrade will enhance Pakistan’s ISR capabilities. The Pakistan Navy is also implementing intelligence-based operations in collaboration with the Customs Department, the Maritime Security Agency, and Anti-Narcotics Force.
P282 missile as a nuclear deterrent
The P282 missile is an example of a nuclear-deterrent ship-launched ballistic missile that Pakistan may use to hunt down ballistic missile submarines, although the missile is likely to have conventional attack capabilities. This missile could be a stepping stone to a submarine-based SLBM, providing a more flexible and survivable sea-based nuclear deterrent for Pakistan.
While the P282 missile’s development would not immediately escalate Pakistan’s nuclear threshold, it could help the Pakistani military deter future Indian aggression. It could also increase Pakistan’s capability to launch retaliatory attacks. It would provide an early warning capability to the Pakistan Navy, which could help it respond if the India were to fire missiles into Pakistani territory.
The P282 missile is not only a nuclear deterrent, but it also offers Pakistan an asymmetrical combat force that can sink an Indian aircraft carrier if a conflict were to break out. The P282 missile can be launch from a sea-base launcher and can also aime at land.
In addition to its nuclear deterrent, Pakistan also plans to modernise its conventional naval capabilities. These include investing in ship-launched hypersonic cruise missiles and anti-submarine missiles. This would help Pakistan counter the aggressive buildup in India’s Indian Ocean.
Chinese frigates in Pakistani waters
The Pakistan Navy has recently spotted Chinese frigates operating in its waters. They are formally classify as Type 054A/P frigates and built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding. They are technologically advance, highly capable platforms that have a wide surveillance potential.
The Chinese frigates are expect to increase Pakistan’s maritime defence capabilities. They are equip with hi-tech weapons and have the latest combat management and electronic warfare systems. China has built four frigates of the Type 054A/P class for the Pakistan Navy. PN officials believe the frigates will enhance Pakistan’s maritime defense capabilities.
In addition to the Chinese frigates, the Pakistan Navy has also acquired frigates from other nations. Most of its major surface combatants and submarines came from different Asian and European countries. However, the acquisition of two China-made frigates represents an important moment in Pakistan’s history. The acquisition of these vessels is part of a $62 billion development project involving the two countries. The new frigates are expect to guard Gwadar port.
Pakistani Navy officials have expressed concern about the reliability of the Chinese frigates. The ships have been equip with a number of problems, including a defective onboard imaging device and a single 76mm gun that failed to lock on to its target. The Pakistan Navy also found that the ships had a defective infrared sensor system and a defective SR-60 radar. These weapons were design to search for missiles as well as other ships, but both of these systems had faults and could not properly function during high power transmissions.
P3-C Orion aircraft
The Pakistan Navy has recently upgraded its fleet of P3-C Orion aircraft. The aircraft offer to the country through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, and were deliver to Pakistan in September 2006. They are four-engine versions, and have a longer range than other Pakistani maritime patrol aircraft.
The aircraft are equipp with a Harpoon AGM-84 missile. The US Navy also deployed a fleet of P-3C Orions in the former Yugoslavia in the late 1990s. In addition, they are equip with a WESCAM 20 multi-sensor system that includes a thermal imager and CCD sensors. The Boeing SLAM-ER missile was also integrat into the P3-C Orion in February 2004.
The P3-C Orion is a four-engine turbo-prop maritime surveillance and anti-submarine aircraft. It can carry a mix payload of weapons and is equip with magnetic anomaly detection equipment also equip with radar, gyroscope, and acoustic sensors. It is capable of carrying an integrate tactical picture of its battle space, and is expect in service by 2012.
The Pakistan Navy is an important partner nation for U.S. and Coalition Maritime Forces. It fully supports cooperative strategies in the Area of Responsibility of U.S. Central Command.
Daphne and Agosta corvettes
Pakistan’s submarine fleet is in need of an upgrade. It is currently support by three French DCNS Agosta-90B (Khalid) submarines and two Agosta-70 (Hashmat) submarines. The Pakistan Navy has been searching for replacement submarines for over ten years. However, the current fleet is too small for the Navy’s requirements.
The Pakistan Navy’s surface fleet consists of four new Zulfiqar-class multi-mission frigates and five heavily-aged Tarqiq-class frigates. These frigates are equipp with air-launch Harpoon Block-II AShMs and are consider capable of carrying out anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare.
In a joint-program with Turkey, the Pakistan Navy planned to acquire four Corvette-class multi-mission ships. However, regulatory issues in Turkey stalled the project. Moreover, the Pakistan Navy lacked the funds to pursue viable alternatives. That’s where Chinese-built corvettes come in.
Pakistan is in the process of modernizing its Navy to meet the needs of a rapidly-growing maritime force. The country’s aging fleet of frigates will need to replaced with new ships. In order to combat these growing threats, the Pakistan Navy is seeking assistance from the Chinese PLA Navy. The Chinese PLA Navy has already offered the Pakistan Navy four F-22P light frigates. Of these, one is currently in the process of construction in Karachi Shipyard. The new frigates are capable of embarking Harbin Z-9 helicopters.
The Pakistan Navy is also seeking surplus submarines. While it is unlikely to acquire surplus units from the West, it might be able to acquire several Type-209/1200 SSKs. It is also interest in buying smaller coastal submarines for littoral defence and special forces operations.
