US to train Pak Navy team on surveillance aircraft

ISLAMABAD—A team of pilots, engineers and technicians working for Pakistan Navy is scheduled to leave shortly to be trained at USA on the P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft, defence sources said.
Logistic Services International (LSI) will impart training to Pakistani contingent which has been awarded a contract amounting to USD 30.3 million for the purpose.
But, Pakistan would not be paying to the trainers as the US government will cater for it from the $3 billion aid announced recently by US in favour of Pakistan, said Rear Admiral Shafi, the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations).
“Pakistan Navy deals directly with US Navy under FMS Program and is so far not in picture regarding the contract with LSI,” the Admiral however added.
The LSI Vice President, Phil Voss recently stated on company’s website that the contract, awarded under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, includes conducting site surveys, developing training plans and curriculum, training aircrew and maintenance personnel, and reviewing and updating publications. The training and support is designed to meet Navy training standards. He also claimed that another contract worth 100 million US Dollars for imparting training is being negotiated with the Army.
Three-fourths of the work for the new contract will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida with the rest to be done in Karachi, sources in Pakistan Navy said. The contract is expected to be completed in November 2010.
Three P3C-II¾ Orions were inducted into the Pakistan Navy on 22 January 1999 after numerous delays by USA due to arms embargo. One of the three P-3C-II¾ Orions was crashed on 29 October 1999. Shortly after crash theb remaining two aircraft were grounded. Earlier this year, Portugal’s OGMA was subcontracted by Lockheed Martin to bring the two P-3C Orions back into an airworthiness condition. The work is being done at PNS Mehran and will last until April 2006.
In recognition of Pakistan's role as the frontline state in the war against terror, USA approved the delivery of eight additional P-3C-I Orions after lifting of all military sanctions from Pakistan.
These aircraft would be fitted with modern avionics and mission system by Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of P-3C Orion, according to a Pakistan Navy statement. "The aircraft are being provided free of cost by the U.S. Navy and the expenses for modification of aircraft avionics systems will be met mostly from the U.S. military aid." With the induction of eight P-3Cs, the existing fleet of PN P-3Cs will grow up to 10 aircraft, sources in the Navy said.
It may be mentioned that the Indian Navy (IN) is in talks with the US Navy (USN) to acquire two P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs) for training purposes as a precursor to purchasing a further six to eight platforms required to fill an operational gap.—INP