Eight PC Orion planes inducted in Pak Navy
By Our Defence Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Shahid Karimullah on Wednesday said that US Navy has offered provision of two frigates to Pakistan Navy.
“These Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates are not only more equipped than Chinese F-22P version but also bigger in size,” said the Admiral while talking to media persons after launching of a book at the Bahria University Auditorium.
He said the bigger space at the frigate would enable the PN to have installed more arms and equipment onboard the ship.
The Perry class carry Harpoon missile system, Auto Neilera Gun, Lamps Mark-2 Helicopters, Vulcan Phalanx type of anti-missile defence system and SQS type SONAR set for detecting enemy vessels.
He said Pakistan Navy has warmly accepted this offer and looking forward to have approval of the project by the US Congress.
When asked about the price of these frigates, he said, this will be negotiated once the Congress approves the project.
Answering a question regarding acquiring of nuclear submarine, the CNS said, “we will have to develop it indiginously one day to meet with our requirements instead of looking towards others.”
Responding to another question regarding the capability of cruise missile recently developed by Pakistan, he said, another test of this version would be undertaken in due course but it may take some time to make it possible to fire from a frigate.
Regarding the delivery of the P-3C Orion aircraft being supplied by the US, he said, the delivery of these aircraft is in phases as the first lot of two aircraft is expected by January next and other two in December 2006. Other four of the lot would be delivered some time after 2006, he added.
On the repair and overhaul of existing two P-3C Orions, he said work on them will be completed by end of this year thus making them airborne.
About the supply of the 5 frigates by China, he said, one of these would be manufactured in China while rest would be in Pakistan and this project is expected to complete by 2013. It may take four years to complete the first frigate and US frigates would prove to be a stop-gap arrangement, Admiral Shahid Karimullah said.
Agencies add: Pakistan, a key ally in the US-led war on terrorism, said on Wednesday that it had acquired eight P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft from the United States, which would help boost its naval capabilities.
The Pentagon notified the US Congress of the plan to supply the planes to Pakistan in November, raising concerns in Pakistan’s rival and neighbour India which has since considered the aircraft for its own military.
The Pentagon said at the time the aircraft would improve Pakistan’s border security and its ability to restrict movement of militants. However, Pakistan Navy spokesman Captain Aamir Naeem Baig said the aircraft were designed for maritime surveillance and could not be used for chasing militants along the land border with Afghanistan, where Islamic guerrillas are most active.
A statement from the Pakistan Navy said the aircraft, worth up to $970 million, were being provided free by the United States and would be fitted with modern avionics and missions systems by the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin Corp.
The Bush administration also approved shipment of two F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan in July after Washington lifted a two-decade ban on the supply of the planes to Pakistan. The policy charge was in recognition of Pakistan’s role in helping the United States after the Sept. 11 attacks on US cities in 2001.
Admiral Shahid Karimullah, Pakistan’s chief of naval staff, said the Orions would “add a new dimension to the offensive punch of Pakistan Navy fleet”. Pakistan’s fleet of P-3Cs now stands at 10 with the induction of eight new planes.