Pakistan Naval Aviation - Updated

[fatman17]

Air-Launched Weapons

Pakistan Navy test-fires anti-ship missile from Sea King helo

Gabriel Dominguez - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

27 September 2017

The PN successfully test-fired what appears to have been an Exocet AM39 ASM from one of its Sea King helicopters on 23 September. Source: Pakistan Navy

The Pakistan Navy (PN) successfully test-fired an anti-ship missile (ASM) from one of its Sea King helicopters on 23 September. The missile “hit the intended target with pinpoint accuracy, reaffirming [the] weapon’s lethality and the offensive punch of the PN fleet”, said the service in a statement.

The live-fire test, which took place in the Arabian Sea, was part of a series of exercises conducted by the PN in the area.

The statement did not provide further details about the missile, but images of the test-firing show the helicopter releasing what appears to have been an MBDA Exocet AM39 radar-guided ASM, which is known to be in service with the PN. However, it is unclear which variant of the missile was fired.

The event took place approximately four months after the PN received seven surplus Sea King platforms from the United Kingdom. The service acquired the helicopters under an intergovernmental contract signed in 2016 that envisages four of the aircraft being used for spares.

Jane’s reported in July that two HC4s had already been completely stripped of parts, while the other two platforms – an HC4 and an HAR 3A that would also be used for spares – would be kept intact for shipment to Karachi, Pakistan.

The remaining three helicopters were expected to be flying again in early September. The platforms include a Royal Air Force Westland (now Leonardo Helicopters) Sea King HAR3A and two Royal Marine HC4 ‘Junglies’. The official induction ceremony is expected to take place at Pakistan Naval Station (PNS) Mehran in early December.

The PN’s 111 Squadron at PNS Mehran already operates six Westland Sea King Mk45/45As in service since 1976. In recent years, the legacy aircraft have been upgraded with Seaspray 5300 radars to significantly increase their
Capability.

 

[Windjammer]

PN Seaking in new color scheme.

 

[fatman17]

PN Seaking in new color scheme.

View attachment 431183

The paint wallas are having a field day with our military.

 

[Advocate Pakistan]

The paint wallas are having a field day with our military.

I really like the new colour scheme. It mixes up with the tarmac well.

 

[blinder]

Last weekend, 5 Sea Kings were moved by road to Folkestone harbour in the UK, destination Belgium.
From there they are/were shipped to Pakistan. So I would expect an inception ceremony later this month, maybe early next year.

Three have large white codes, as follows:
(4517) 17 (former Sea King HAR3A+ ZH544, yellow c/s),
(4518) 18 (former Sea King HC4+ ZF117 dark green c/s), and
(4519) 19 (former Sea King HC4+ ZG821, dark green c/s).
As the last original Sea King Mk45A was coded 16, this seems logical.

The yellow one marked '17' is illustrated here: http://warnesysworld.com/first-two-new-pakistan-navy-sea-kings-now-flying/

(flying from Lee-on-Solent (c) Terry Coombs)

(hovering at Lee-on-Solent, (c) Richard Davies)

The two other airframes will be used for spares as well as two more that remain in the UK.

More work for the painters to get all these airframes in proper Naval grey colours

 

[ghazi52]

All five routed around the M25 early on December 8 before arriving at Folkestone for onward shipment. The remaining two airframes acquired, HC4s ZA296 and ZA299, were stripped for spares at Fleetlands and only the components recovered from them are being shipped to Pakistan. A team of Vector Aerospace and Heli Operations personnel will follow the helicopters to Pakistan to support re-assembly and acceptance of them in January 2018.

 

[Thorough Pro]

They don't operate in environment matching tarmac colour scheme.

I really like the new colour scheme. It mixes up with the tarmac well.

 

[Advocate Pakistan]

Meanwhile the Qataris are ordering NH90 in large numbers, perhaps to replace their 12 Sea Kings. PN can also look into them if the Qataris are willing to sell them at prices affordable to us.

 

[niaz]

How many Sea Kings do we need? It is too large to land on smaller vessels, in its search & rescue role and as a platform for launching anti-ship missiles, 9 Sea Kings should be sufficient.

PN needs lighter helicopters which can land on smaller size vessels to replace the aging Alouettes.

 

[Human One]

How many Sea Kings do we need? It is too large to land on smaller vessels, in its search & rescue role and as a platform for launching anti-ship missiles, 9 Sea Kings should be sufficient.

PN needs lighter helicopters which can land on smaller size vessels to replace the aging Alouettes.

Sea Kings would be useful for missiles, as you mentioned. Not only that, they can be used with supply ships in this role https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_replenishment Looking at the photos above, most of the helicopters seem to be ex-Royal Navy examples used in the Commando Sea role which means, they would be useful for amphibious and land-based operations.

 

[Windjammer]

 

[Rashid Mahmood]

How many Sea Kings do we need? It is too large to land on smaller vessels, in its search & rescue role and as a platform for launching anti-ship missiles, 9 Sea Kings should be sufficient.

PN needs lighter helicopters which can land on smaller size vessels to replace the aging Alouettes.

PN has all Sea Kings (6) rigged for ASW & ASV + SAR.
3 additional SKs are rigged for SAR

QEAF SKs are only rigged for ASV & SAR.

So if we get QEAF SKs (hypothetical), the tasking could be as:

6 x ASW
6 X ASV
6 X SAR
3 X Transport + Ferry

 

[Rashid Mahmood]

Me during an SAR mission,

 

[TOPGUN]

Me during an SAR mission,

View attachment 448328

Mr. Rashid what was your task in the crew ? if you don't mind me asking honored to have you here as always. My father also served in the PN for a few years before going to PNSC.

 

[Rashid Mahmood]

Mr. Rashid what was your task in the crew ? if you don't mind me asking honored to have you here as always. My father also served in the PN for a few years before going to PNSC.

I was the Tactical Warfare Officer (TACCO / OBSERVER)
SAR specialist was the secondary role, like in the above picture handling the rescue hoist.