Pakistan Navy participates in NATO Naval exercises

[fatman17]

Pakistan Navy participates in NATO Naval exercises

ISLAMABAD, Mar 12 (APP): Pakistan Navel Ships are for the first time participating in joint naval exercises with NATO Naval Forces in the Mediterranean on invitation of Turkey. Exercises “MAVI BALINA-2008” is being hosted by Turkey and is held in Mediterranean Sea from March 7-16. Pakistan Navy ships, PNS TARIQ and PNS MOAWIN have already joined NATO Naval Group at Turkish Naval base Aksaz, says a message received here Wednesday.

These ships will make a “port Call” at Antalya from March 16-18 and remain open to the public with the aim to enhance goodwill between the two brotherly nations.

Pakistan Naval Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Noman Bashir assisted by Pakistan Army and Naval Attache to Turkey, Colonel Zubair Ahmed also have paid a visit to Aksaz Naval Base where they met with the senior command of Turkish Naval Forces.

A colourful event was organized in the shape of a dinner onboard PNS Tariq which was attended by a large participants representing both military and civil sphere of the community.

Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey, Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah was present on the dinner to receive the esteemed guests.

 

[solid snake]

Any other navies taking part besides these two?

 

[EagleEyes]

NATO members.

 

[fatman17]

NATO members.

my naval source claims that italy and usa are also participating but this needs confirmation.

 

[IceCold]

Pakistan Navy is in a bad shape. Unless and untill we upgrade it to the level of an international modern blue water navy, i dont see any purpose conducting an exercise of this scale with NATO.
Now i am in no way underestimating the professional capabilities of the navy personal, they are the best in the business, but men without proper equipment cant win. Navy has been neglected for so long and even now there isnt much of an appropriate funding given to it to upgrade itself. We are still using ex british frigates of the 60s and 70's era.

 

[fatman17]

Pakistan Navy is in a bad shape. Unless and untill we upgrade it to the level of an international modern blue water navy, i dont see any purpose conducting an exercise of this scale with NATO.
Now i am in no way underestimating the professional capabilities of the navy personal, they are the best in the business, but men without proper equipment cant win. Navy has been neglected for so long and even now there isnt much of an appropriate funding given to it to upgrade itself. We are still using ex british frigates of the 60s and 70's era.

icecold as much as i respect your opinion i tend to disagree with your view on the PN.
PN will never be a blue water navy. its is not their doctrine.

a lot of investment is being made in the PN which we havnt seen because it is WIP (work in progress) new chinese F-22 frigates, new subs (merlin or u-214), littoral ships (MRTPs).

remember the sub-fleet is the flagship, cutting edge asset of the navy and a lot of time, effort and money is being invested in this area. new agosta's are now operational.

PC-3s are being procured (total strength will be 10) for ASW and coastal surveillance.

3-5 Hawkeye-2000 radar mounted on the PC-3 airframe are being purchased.

eventually the JF-17 will take-up a naval role in support of our surface ships.

so i hope you get my meaning. be patient brother.

 

[EagleEyes]

I think Pakistan do have a capability to maintain a professional navy with a PROPER equipment. We dont have to be the greatest navy, but the equipment does count.

F-22p, i swear if it turns out to be the Type 053/H3, i will be very disappointed. I do know that Pakistan will be operating these ships for a long time, and for that very reason we need to have quality at least if not the quantity to control the seas in our area and provide qualitative deterrence to the Indian Navy.

Sino claims that this picture is the F-22p, i hope not so. Because i see no stealth.

Image: Type 053H2G/H3 Jiangwei Class Missile Frigate - SinoDefence.com

 

[IceCold]

icecold as much as i respect your opinion i tend to disagree with your view on the PN.
PN will never be a blue water navy. its is not their doctrine.

a lot of investment is being made in the PN which we havnt seen because it is WIP (work in progress) new chinese F-22 frigates, new subs (merlin or u-214), littoral ships (MRTPs).

remember the sub-fleet is the flagship, cutting edge asset of the navy and a lot of time, effort and money is being invested in this area. new agosta's are now operational.

PC-3s are being procured (total strength will be 10) for ASW and coastal surveillance.

3-5 Hawkeye-2000 radar mounted on the PC-3 airframe are being purchased.

eventually the JF-17 will take-up a naval role in support of our surface ships.

so i hope you get my meaning. be patient brother.

Sir i know that PN is not a blue water navy however after the gawadar port gets active, our primary role will automatically change from a point defensive navy to offensive one which means that we would have to leave home waters and go into the international waters for this purpose. Without building a strong navy that can challenge IN, we will not be able to do so and hence couldnot take advantage of the strategic importance of Gawdar. So for a navy to operate in international waters, PN currently does not have the capability nor the resources to even successfully defend two ports against the IN yet alone operating in international waters is a whole different scenario.
I do agree sir with all of the things that you mentioned about PN getting however i still believe they are inadequate. F-22p is a light frigate, P3c is a capable platform but without a proper aircover, they are flying ducks. JF-17 still will need time to materialize inorder to fully function for the Naval role. Subs yes indeed that will be something to cheer about and indeed enhance the capability of the PN but so far we are nowhere in signing the deal.
Currently in a changing world scenario, instead of the army navy should be given the top priority if we ever want to achieve the importance of gawdar port otherwise we might have to see another east pakistan type scenario.

 

[IceCold]

I think Pakistan do have a capability to maintain a professional navy with a PROPER equipment. We dont have to be the greatest navy, but the equipment does count.

F-22p, i swear if it turns out to be the Type 053/H3, i will be very disappointed. I do know that Pakistan will be operating these ships for a long time, and for that very reason we need to have quality at least if not the quantity to control the seas in our area and provide qualitative deterrence to the Indian Navy.

Sino claims that this picture is the F-22p, i hope not so. Because i see no stealth.

Image: Type 053H2G/H3 Jiangwei Class Missile Frigate - SinoDefence.com

F-22p is an improved version of the Type 053/H3 with certain acquired features of the more modern type 054 most notebly the stealth. This is according to Wikipedia. HOwever i still dont understand why isnt their much information about the F-22p on any chinese site. This makes we wonder is it really an improved version of the Type 053 or just a marketing techinque by the chinese.

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

We require some Punch in PN ...
I was hoping to see Elle Class Frigates enter in PN last year but the deal was dropped. Type-23 should have been inducted. Type 21 is getting obsolete and either we should turn to US for Lease of some Frigates or some frigates of Milgem Class be introduced in PN on urgent Basis. Surface fleet with addition of only F-22P will not strenghten the PN.

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

This Pic of Supposed F-22 is not what Pakistan Agreed with China. That is why it was not procured. PN requires something which is near to 054 type.

 

[fatman17]

my naval source claims that italy and usa are also participating but this needs confirmation.

US, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Greece, Turkey and Pakistan. it was a major excercise.

 

[fatman17]

Sir i know that PN is not a blue water navy however after the gawadar port gets active, our primary role will automatically change from a point defensive navy to offensive one which means that we would have to leave home waters and go into the international waters for this purpose. Without building a strong navy that can challenge IN, we will not be able to do so and hence couldnot take advantage of the strategic importance of Gawdar. So for a navy to operate in international waters, PN currently does not have the capability nor the resources to even successfully defend two ports against the IN yet alone operating in international waters is a whole different scenario.
I do agree sir with all of the things that you mentioned about PN getting however i still believe they are inadequate. F-22p is a light frigate, P3c is a capable platform but without a proper aircover, they are flying ducks. JF-17 still will need time to materialize inorder to fully function for the Naval role. Subs yes indeed that will be something to cheer about and indeed enhance the capability of the PN but so far we are nowhere in signing the deal.
Currently in a changing world scenario, instead of the army navy should be given the top priority if we ever want to achieve the importance of gawdar port otherwise we might have to see another east pakistan type scenario.

i dont dis-agree with you - all i am saying that these things take time.