Pakistan’s PNS Alamgir Docks in Kuwait

Pakistan’s guided missile frigate PNS Alamgir docks 2nd time in Kuwait for friendly visit during on schedule anti-piracy missionsin Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. Pakistan enjoys brotherly relations with Kuwait in all professional fields. PNS Alamgir weighs around 4100 ton having overall length of 138M fitted with modern weapon and equipped with latest sensor systems.

“Pakistan has always been a staunch supporter of integrated approach to combating the roots of piracy. Pakistan Navy is part of CMCP (Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan) and desire to find the right way forward which would lead not only to the eradication of piracy but also the eliminating the causes of germinating this threat.” said the commanding officer Abdul Munib while media briefing.

“Pakistan has been assigned to command Task Force-150, which covers an area of responsibility including the Gulf of Oman, the North Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.”

The PNS Alamgir’s Crew contains 280 on board staff, size is almost the half of football ground having 
helicopter-hosting capabilities and can carry up to 4,100 tonnes, fuel capacity approx 0.2 mil US Gallons which is consumed with the average of 4-5 normal cruising days.

Pak-Saudi joint naval exercises from today

Navies of the present day world are increasingly focused on policing roles and sharing of resources for maritime security operations against asymmetric threats viz contemporary challenges like terrorism, piracy, narcotics, arms and human smuggling which have greatly impacted the maritime environment.

Pakistan Navy is engaged in Maritime Security Operations in the vital region of North Arabian Sea which enhances national and global economy through maintenance of legitimate maritime order at sea. Pakistan Navy’s outreach to regional and global navies in respect of defence collaboration is a potent mean to advance nation’s foreign office policy objectives.

Aiming to provide formal opportunity for both Pakistan Navy and Royal

Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) to enhance interoperability & tactical proficiency, practice and improve tactics related to Anti Submarine warfare, Anti Surface Warfare, Anti Air Warfare and Air operations, develop common tactics against asymmetric, air, surface, sub-surface and mine threats including defense of port infrastructure, demonstrate MCM capabilities, share and refine the tactical doctrines and to conduct Live Weapon Firing, the biennial conduct of Joint PN – RSNF Naval Exercise Naseem AL BAHR series was evolved.

Since its institution in 1993, the Exercise has matured into an advanced level maritime exercise. The 10th exercise of this series; to be held from 12 – 22 Jan 13 in Pakistani waters, will involve participation of State Of The Art Sea and Air platforms besides Special Forces.

The tempo of the Exercise will be developed progressively, with seminars followed by tactical games during Harbour Phase. Thereafter, sea Phase will be conducted for tactical & operational training workup including Live Weapon Firings at Sea. Side by side, Pakistani and RSNF Special Operating Forces (SOFs) and Marines will also be conducting Joint exercises.

The conduct of Joint Exercise between Pakistan Navy and RSNF in the present geo-political situation, has added significance and it is considered that this will go a long way in enhancing the brotherly relations between the two countries.

Pakistan Navy conducts maiden test of land attack missile system

The Pakistan Navy on Friday conducted the maiden test of a land attack missile system as part of efforts to test the credibility of its "deterrence at sea", a spokespersons said.
The first test of the land attack missile system, which was not identified, was part of the firing of a variety of modern missiles, the spokesperson said in a statement.
"While reassuring Pakistan Navy's commitment and capability to defend the motherland, this firing reaffirms credibility of (the) deterrence at sea," the statement said. All the missiles "successfully engaged the targets with pinpoint accuracy", the statement said.
"Operationalisation of land attack capability ushers in a new era and a quantum increase in the combat potential of the Pakistan Navy," it added.
The missiles were tested in the North Arabian Sea on December 19 and 21 by ships that were recently inducted in the naval fleet. The naval chief, Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila, was present on board PNS Zulfiquar to witness the tests.
"This mega weapon firing event demonstrated lethality, precision and efficacy of modern weapon systems on board the Pakistan Navy fleet's surface platforms," the statement said.

Admiral Sandila appreciated the operational preparedness of the Pakistan Navy's fleet and "emphasized the need to remain ever ready to respond to any challenge to our national security".
The government is cognizant of the navy's "developmental needs and all out efforts are being made to address critical capability gaps," he said.

Pakistan’s new frigates a boost for anti-piracy, maritime security efforts

The Pakistan Navy will next year take delivery of its fourth and final F-22P frigate. The locally built vessel will help it ensure maritime security, not just for Pakistan but also for the international community as the Pakistan Navy combats piracy and other threats in the Indian Ocean region.

Commodore Hisham of the Pakistan Navy, speaking at the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) in Karachi today, said that Pakistan’s Navy has been part of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) since January 2009 in an effort to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

CTF 151 is an international naval task force that operates in the Gulf of Aden and off the eastern coast of Somalia covering an area of approximately 1.1 million square miles. It was established in January 2009 to conduct counterpiracy operations under a mission-based mandate throughout the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) area of responsibility.

Pakistan has from the beginning participated in CTF-151 and so far has rotated 13 ships in the Task Force and commanded it twice. In December the Pakistan Navy will take command for a third time.


With the advent of pirates using hijacked mother ships from which to launch attack skiffs, piracy has expanded far beyond the Somali coast. Pirates have struck as far as the western coast of India, the Somali Basin and close to Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Indeed, Hisham noted that there have been three incidences of piracy on the edge of Pakistan’s EEZ in recent times.

Hisham said that Somali piracy has strategic fallout which includes disruption of trade, a rise in insurance premiums and freight charges and altered routes as shipping companies avoid high risk areas.

Hisham pointed out that terrorists and pirates operate hand-in-glove, as money made through piracy is used to further terrorist activities ashore, which distracts from activity at sea.

Apart from counter-piracy duties, the Pakistan Navy is also part of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150), a multinational coalition naval task force working under the 25 nation coalition of Combined Maritime Forces. It was established to promote maritime security in order to counter terrorist acts and related illegal activities, which terrorists use to fund or conceal their movements. CTF-150‘s Area of Operation covers the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman.

The activities of CTF-150 directly influence events ashore, as terrorist organisations are denied a risk free method of conducting operations or moving personnel, weapons or income-generating narcotics.

Pakistan has five times commanded the Combined Task Force 150 since 2004. Hisham noted that the Pakistan Navy’s contribution to regional maritime security has involved 44 ships in rotation since 2004, which have accumulated more than 50 000 hours at sea. Pakistan Navy ships have had the second highest on-task time in the coalition second only to the United States.

Pakistan’s ability to provide maritime security is being increased with the arrival of its four new F-22P or Zulfiquar class multi-purpose frigates, the first of which was commissioned in September 2009. The Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group, China State Shipbuilding Company, the China Shipbuilding and Trading Company and Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW) are all involved in the production of the vessels.

The first three frigates were built in China at the Hudong Zhonghau Shipyard, while the last vessel is being built by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works. The class carry Harbin Z-9 helicopters and are armed with a 76 mm gun, 30 mm Type 730B close-in weapons systems, FM-90N surface-to-air missiles, C-802 surface-to-surface missiles, ET-52C torpedoes and RDC-32 anti-submarine rockets.

The fourth frigate was launched in June last year at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works. During the launch ceremony the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir said that a strong navy was needed to defend the maritime interests of Pakistan. He said that the country does not have any aggressive plans but needed to protect sea routes, the exclusive economic zone and international energy lines that pass close to the coast. He said this was not only in the interest of Pakistan but the entire international community.