Pakistan navy test fires missiles, torpedoes: AFP

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan on Friday successfully test fired new missiles and torpedoes from ships, submarines and aircraft in the Arabian Sea, the navy announced.

"Pakistan navy fleet today tested its fire power in the north Arabian Sea to assess lethality, precision and efficacy of its weapon system," it said.

The navy did not disclose range or technical details but said "this included successful firing of a variety of missiles and torpedoes from the ships."

The tests included anti-surface missiles from an F-22P frigate, acquired recently from China, air-to-surface missiles from P-3C aircraft and sub surface-to-surface missiles from Agosta 90B submarines that originate from France.

"While reassuring Pakistan navy's commitment of defending the motherland, this strike capability would also send a message of deterrence to anyone harbouring nefarious designs against Pakistan," the statement said.

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Pakistan Navy to get US frigate: Daily Times

LAHORE: USS McInerney, a US Navy frigate, is slated for transfer to Pakistan following its decommissioning, a report in the Stars and Stripes, a US military newspaper, said on Friday.

The 30-year-old vessel will fly the flag of Pakistan after retirement from the US Navy next year.

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China delivers warship to Pakistan: navy: AFP

KARACHI — China on Thursday delivered the first of four state-of-the-art frigates commissioned by nuclear-armed Pakistan from top ally Beijing, a naval spokesman said.

"The first F-22P Frigate constructed for the Pakistan navy at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai was delivered to Pakistan on Thursday," said Lieutenant Commander Shakeel Ahmed.

In keeping with contracts signed between China and Pakistan in 2005, the frigates will be equipped with anti-submarine helicopters, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and other defence systems.

"The F-22P frigates will not only enhance the war fighting potential of the Pakistan navy but will also strengthen the indigenous ship-building capability of the country," said Ahmed.

The announcement came two days after Pakistan hit out at India, branding its rival's first nuclear-powered submarine "detrimental" to regional peace and vowing to take "appropriate steps" to maintain a "strategic balance".

Relations between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan have plummeted since Islamist gunmen killed 166 people in Mumbai last November, attacks that New Delhi blamed on banned Pakistani group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

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China to hand over first Frigate to Pakistan on Thursday: Pakistan Daily

Pakistan Navy would receive first of the four state‑of‑the‑art Frigates F‑22P type on July 30 as Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nauman Bashir has reached China for formal taking over of the fighting vessel, National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence Production was told on Saturday.

The meeting of the parliamentary body was presided over by MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmed who is also Chairman of the Standing Committee.

Giving briefing to the Standing Committee the representative of the Directorate General of Defence Production said that the weapons systems to be installed on the ship to be handed over to Pakistan have been successfully demonstrated at the optimum performances and ranges.

Pakistan Navy is acquiring four new F‑22P class frigates under collaboration with China as first three ships are being constructed at Hudong Shanghai and last one at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering works.

F‑22P frigates are equipped with modern weaponry and sensors.

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Pakistan navy needs submarine, aircraft, says Naval Chief : Online News

ISLAMABAD: Chief Pakistan Navy Admiral Noman Bashir has said that the Pakistan navy needs aircrafts and submarines and negotiation to buy submarine and aircraft from Germany is underway.

Pakistan navy would chalk out future strategy after evaluating the future challenges, he said this while talking to media men after convocation of Bahria University on Saturday.

Pakistan navy cannot be strong without submarine and aircraft and we are holding talks with Germany in this respect but so far nothing has been finalized, he said. The world, he said, has become global village and Pakistan navy is ready to meet any challenges in future.

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Lockheed to supply F-16, C-130, P 3 Orion to Pakistan: APP

KARACHI, Nov 26 (APP) - Lockheed Martin, USA will supply upgraded F-16 jets, C-130 transport planes and P 3 Orion surveillance aircraft to Pakistan armed forces. This was stated by President Lockheed Martin, Middle East and Africa, Gen (rtd) James Jamerson in an interview here Wednesday.

To a question, he said that he had meetings with top officials of Ministry of Defence, Chief of Naval Staff and Air Chief of Pakistan Air Force.

“I have discussed with the Naval Chief the Orion aircraft up-gradation project,” he said mentioning that Orion aircraft were being upgraded for Pakistan Navy in the United States and they will soon come to Pakistan.

Regarding the supply of F-16 jets, he said that these fighters were upgraded and overhauled in Pakistan as well as in USA.
“We are also supplying equipment and parts to Pakistan for F-16s overhauled in Pakistan. Similarly, we are also upgrading F-16s in USA for supply to Pakistan,” said the Lockheed Martin President.

James said that his company was also upgrading a number of C-130 for Pakistan Air Force in USA.

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Pakistan offers UN help to combat high sea piracy: Dawn

By Our Correspondent

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 25: Pakistan on Monday offered to help the international community combat the menace of piracy off the coast of Somalia and the Red sea.The offer to supplement United Nations’ efforts to combat piracy was made at a meeting between Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Adbullah Hussain Haroon and Belgian Minister of Defence Pieter De Crem and heads of UN peace-keeping operations.

They were discussing issues relating to the peacekeeping troops presently being deployed by the United Nations world over under the UN Security Council mandate.

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Pakistan to get refurbished warship from US: PTI

Islamabad, Oct 19 (PTI) Pakistan will receive a refurbished warship from the United States for being a "major non-NATO ally", a special status which allows it to receive surplus defence equipment from the American armed forces.

President George W Bush signed an order on Friday enabling Pakistan to receive the multi-purpose frigate USS McInerney. The US Congress had approved the transfer on September 27.

Since the warship is 32-years-old, Pakistan has asked for it to be refurbished at a cost of USD 65 million. The overhaul will include the fitting of an anti-submarine missile system, modern guns and other weapons.

Though equipment received from the US under the excess defence article (EDA) arrangement are free, Pakistan will have to bear the expenses for the refurbishing. The Pakistan Navy is expected to receive the frigate in August 2010.

The US recently completed the delivery of 14 refurbished F-16 jets to Pakistan under the EDA arrangement.

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