The Pakistan Navy inducted ATR-77 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) in a ceremony held at Pakistan Naval Aviation base Mehran, Karachi,
This aircraft is based on the twin-engine turboprop ATR 72 platform.
Pakistani military’s media wing, ISPR, said “These newly inducted and upgraded aircrafts are equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors which will provide operational flexibility to PN Fleet.”
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee highlighted the importance of developing geo-strategic environment in Indian Ocean Region and emphasized the need to have potent naval forces in order to counter emerging challenges. ATR-77 also feature Aerodata’s mission management system, called AeroMission, for Anti-Submarine operations.
Pakistan Navy is undergoing a massive modernization and expansion programs and these aircraft would help Pakistan Navy to expend its fleet, said Umair Aslam, Director General, Global Defense Insight.
These maritime patrol aircrafts (MPAs) would enhance the anti-submarine warfare capabilities of Pakistan Navy and Pakistan can also utilize these aircrafts for other tasks including maritime patrolling and Search & Rescue (SAR), Umair Aslam told Defense Arabia.
Pakistan Navy is also acquiring 10 Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircrafts (LRMPAs), so a combinations of these MPAs and LRMPAs would enhances Pakistan navy’s Anti-ship & Anti-Submarine warfare capabilities, Umair noted.
While addressing at the ceremony, Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami highlighted that Pakistan Navy is maintaining perpetual readiness through forward deployments in order to deter and give befitting response to any nefarious designs of adversary.
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