Pakistan’s Naval Survelliance Bolstered by U.S. P3C Orion Aircraft

The Pakistani Navy will receive the P3C Orion surveillance aircraft from U.S. later this year, indicating strengthening defense ties between the two countries, said state media, quoting the country's ambassador Sherry Rehman in Washington.

The Pakistani ambassador emphasized that Pakistan-US interactions were crucial to push forward bilateral defense ties and the Navy's key role in securing North Arabian sea lanes as part of the anti-piracy international coalition was widely appreciated by the US.

Pakistan’s agreement with Lockheed Martin for the delivery of seven Orion aircrafts was signed seven years ago. Of these, three aircraft were delivered in 2010, while two were delivered in 2011.

The Orion is a four-engine turboprop, anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft with a distinctive tail stinger or ‘MAD Boom’, used for the magnetic detection of submarines. They are used by most of the world’s naval forces including the U.S., Japan, New Zealand and Brazil, primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare.

In addition to the Orions, the Pakistan navy is also operating seven aging Fokker F27-200 Friendship naval surveillance aircrafts, acquired during the 1980s.