Pakistan Naval Air Arm

After the second war with India in 1965, the concept of establishing the navy-based aviation service was conceived by the Pakistan Navy who forwarded the idea to the Government of Pakistan as part of the war strategy to sustain the purely defence of nation's maritime interests.^:63–66.[3]

The Navy had been long aware of the usefulness and tactical advantages of the air-wing after witnessing the United States Naval Aviators' actions in the Vietnam War, and the V-Adm. Muzaffar Hassan, the Navy Commander, had been made attempts to establish the naval aviation but this was impossible to achieve in the absence of generous support from the outside sources.^:213[4][5]

Furthermore, the strong objectives came from the Air Marshal Abdur Rahim Khan, the Air Commander, who had been very hostile towards any idea of modernizing the navy and loath to risk its precious aircraft in over-the-water operations.^:63[6] The lack of funds and donations from the United States Navy, the concept was never materialized though the Navy entered in talks with the United States Government of transferring the three to four Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft before the third war with India in 1971.^:64[6]

After the first missile attack in Karachi in 1971, the Navy hastily established the naval air arm by leasing a civilian aircraft, the Fokker F27, from the Pakistan International Airlines whose pilots volunteered to carry the naval observers on a maritime reconnaissance on 6 December 1971.[7] Cdre. A. W. Bhomba, the senior forward observer, mistakenly identified his own ship, PNS Zulfiqar forming defences at that time, and gave clearance to the Pakistan Air Force to carry out the bombing mission to target the ship– a friendly fire incident that further hampered Navy's operational scope.[7]

After the third war with India in 1971, the Air Arm continued to exists and was able to induct the Sea King helicopters from the United Kingdom through the transfers from the Royal Navy on 28 September 1974– this led to the establishment of the 111 ASW Squadron in the Naval Aviation.[8] The first naval air station, PNS Mehran, was inaugurated in Karachi, in the vicinity of the Faisal Air Force Base, on 26 September 1975.^:155–156[9]

An Atlantique plane belonging to the Italian Navy. The downed Pakistan Navy plane was an identical one.

The Atlantique Incident was a major international incident that occurred on 10 August 1999 when a Pakistan Naval Air Arm patrol aircraft—a Breguet Atlantique with 16 personnel on board—was shot down in the border area of the Kutch region by Indian Air Force jets. Pakistan and India both claimed the aircraft to be in their respective airspace.

Some experts stated that the Atlantique was probably conducting a "probe" on India's air defence system, mainly the radar equipment in the border area; however, they advised that it was not part of any planned aggressive military action by Pakistan.[10] Foreign diplomats who visited the crash site noted that the plane "may have strayed into restricted space", and that Islamabad was unable to explain why it was flying so close to the border; they however added that India's reaction to the incident was not justified.[11] Many countries, the G8, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as the western media questioned the wisdom behind Pakistan's decision to fly military aircraft so close to the Indian border.[12]

On 21 September 1999, Pakistan lodged a compensation claim at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, accusing India of shooting down an unarmed aircraft. Pakistan sought about US$60 million in reparations from India and compensation for the victims' families. India's attorney general, Soli Sorabjee, argued that the court did not have jurisdiction,[13] citing an exemption it filed in 1974 to exclude disputes between India and other Commonwealth States, and disputes covered by multi-lateral treaties.

On 21 June 2000, the 16-judge Bench headed by Gilbert Guillaume of France ruled—with a 14–2 verdict—upholding India's submission that the court had no jurisdiction in this matter.[14][15] Pakistan's claims were dropped, without recourse to appeal, and the outcome was seen as a decision highly favourable to India.[16][17] The Pakistan government had spent close to 25 million Pakistani rupees (approx. $400,000) on the case.[18]

On 22 May 2011, Tehreek-i-Taliban attacked the PNS Mehran naval base and destroyed P-3C Orion aircraft.[19]

Sea King MK-45/45A helicopters were acquired from UK on 28 September 1974 and 111 ASV/ASW Squadron was established. PN Sea Kings are fitted with Exocet AM-39 Anti Ship missile in ASV role and MK-46 torpedoes and Depth Charges in ASW role. The primary roles assigned are ASW and ASV along with infinite secondary roles such as SAR, MEDEVAC, HVBSS, Para Drop, VVIP/Passenger Ferry, MEDEVAC etc. Since its inception, 111 Squadron has been a linchpin of the PN operations. Be it a multi-national exercise e.g AMAN, KAKADU or mass relief operation such as earthquake of 2005, Flood Relief Operations in Punjab and Sindh in 2010 and Flood Relief Operations in Sindh in 2011, 111 squadron has always been at the forefront. This squadron has the unique capability to undertake Night Search and Rescue over sea. The squadron is routinely tasked at short notices to undertake challenging and risk prone helicopter operations. At present squadron has 06 Westland Sea King Helicopters. Avionics suite of PN Sea Kings is being upgraded to enhance its sensors capabilities.

Squadron consist of six Z-9C helicopters. Newly established squadron is completely integrated with fleet operations. Aircraft is equipped with Radars, ESM and Sonar. It can also carry variety of weapons. The primary roles assigned are ASW and Reconnaissance along with infinite secondary roles such as SAR, MEDEVAC, Command and Liaison and Training etc.

The Squadron came into being in 1970 following the deal with Royal Navy for the acquisition of two Whitby Class Frigates. The A/C was to be operated from ship’s deck in limited ASW roles i.e with MAD and MK 44 torpedoes. Later the Whitby class frigates deal was scrapped however; the deal to procure Alouette helicopter from France was retained. The Squadron was formed in 1977 with four SA-319 Alouette aircraft. Initially four pilots were trained in France. In 1982 two more Alouette a/c with radar and in 2008 two Alouette a/c with upgraded instruments and avionics were added to the inventory of the Squadron. Presently Squadron has a total of 7 aircraft in its inventory.

F-27 Fokker Aircraft were acquired in 1982 and 27 Maritime Squadron was established. Squadron is the nursery for Fixed wing pilots, Navigators of Pakistan, and Foreign Navies. Fokker Aircraft are fitted with State of the Art Radar, ESM and FLIR. 27 Squadron is a multirole squadron performing variety of tasks like Surveillance, OTHT/VECTAC, ASW, Para drop, Logistic Support as primary roles and infinite secondary roles such as SAR, VVIP/VIP Ferry, Command and Liaison etc. 27 squadron proved as vanguard in earthquake of 2005, Flood Relief Operations in Punjab and Sindh in 2010 and Flood Relief Operations in Sindh in 2011. The squadron also actively participated in multi national exercises of AMAN and Naseem Ul Bahr.

28 Squadron is the linchpin of Pakistan Navy operations. It is equipped with latest RADAR, ESM, and Acoustic processor for sonobouys and MMS for IR and optical search. It can carry multiple weapon load of Anti Ship missile Harpoon and Anti Submarine Torpedo / Depth charge. It perform various operations of Surveillance, Anti Submarine Warfare, Anti surface Vessel, Maritime Interdiction Operations, Search & Rescue, and Military Operations Other than War (MOOTW). 28 Squadron is actively participating in major exercises.

29 ASW Squadron was established at PNS MEHRAN in the year 1976, the 29th year of Pakistan’s independence and hence its name. This squadron is the front line unit of Pakistan Navy and had been entrusted with the tasks of Surveillance, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Vessel, Over the Horizon Targeting, Photography, Intelligence gathering and Training. The Squadron has flown BREGUET 1150 ATLANTIC which was a French origin all-weather maritime patrol aircraft, powered by two Rolls Royce Tyne MK-21 engines. Besides its other roles, it was capable of mine laying, delivering Air to Surface Missile (AM-39), Depth Charge (MK-11) and Torpedo (MK-46) at high speeds. Squadron has the unique distinction of firing the first ever “Exocet Missile” on 27th February 1985.

The 111 ASW Squadron, which consists of the Sea King, is primarily programmed for missile launch capability targeting dived submarines and releasing depth charges.[8] In 1977, the 333 ASW squadron was established with the induction of the Aérospatiale Alouette II and the Alouette III rotary aircraft, in which the first group of naval aviators were trained in France.[20]

With the acquiring of the Tariq-class destroyers from the Royal Navy, the Navy was additionally able to acquire three Westland Lynx utility helicopters which were inducted into the 222 ASW Squadron.[21]

In 2006, the Navy established the 222 ASW squadron with the introduction of the Harbin Z-9 which is equipped with sensors and radars to support its ESM measures.[22] All Pakistan naval air arm's rotary-wing aircraft are designed for anti-submarine warfare and electronic warfare support measures.[8]

In 1973, the Navy entered into talks with France to acquire the Breguet Atlantic aircraft for its patrolling missions,^:40[23] and acquired the aircraft on 14 August 1976, that established the 29 ASW Atlantic Squadron and is tasked with maritime reconnaissance missions.[24]

In 1982, the 27 ASW Squadron was established with the induction of the Fokker F-27 aircraft, followed by the acquiring of the P-3C Orion aircraft in 1996 after a long delay due to the imposition of the Pressler Amendment in 1990.^:152[6] The P-3C Orion gave the Navy strike capability but one of these planes was lost due to an accident while carrying out routine exercises in local coastal waters on 29 October 1999.^:263[25]

Previous aircraft operated were the BN-2 Islander, Harbin Y-12, Breguet Atlantic, Westland Lynx, and the Sikorsky UH-19[36][37]