Pakistan inducts two P3C Orion long-range reconnaissance aircraft into naval fleet
23 Feb 2012
Pakistan has inducted two reconnaissance aircraft that it got from the US at its Karachi naval base.
According to the Dawn newspaper, two modified P3C Orion long-range reconnaissance aircraft were inducted into the PN fleet at Naval Aviation Base.
Two P3C Orion aircraft were destroyed during a siege by terrorists on the night of 22 May last year at the PNS Mehran base. The siege had left 14 people dead including four terrorists.
The American aircraft has been modified to incorporate the avionics and comprise part of US assistance being provided to Pakistan Navy under Foreign Military Funding programme.
Pakistan would receive six such aircraft in three batches of two each.
According to an official, the two aircraft were not replacement for the two planes that were destroyed by terrorists during the attack on the Karachi naval base.
According to a statement, the aircraft are capable of extended surveillance which would help Pakistan Navy maintain requisite vigil in Pakistan's vital area of interest in North Arabian Sea. The area is regarded as an important trade and energy corridor for the global economy and sees intense maritime activity both legal and illegal thus calling for continuous vigil.
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