Pakistan Navy Aviation

[Ak01]

Pakistan​

Guy Martin -
9th December 2024



The Pakistan Navy will in 2026 receive the first Embraer Lineage 1000 aircraft modified by Leonardo and Paramount Aerospace Systems for the maritime patrol role.

In mid-2021, Pakistan contracted Leonardo to convert three Embraer Lineage 1000 aircraft into long-range maritime patrol aircraft for the Pakistan Navy as part of long-term plans to replace the country’s P-3C Orion fleet. Paramount was tasked with handling the pre-conversion maintenance, repair and overhaul of the aircraft as part of the Sea Sultan project.

It is believed the conversion will add electronic support measures/electronic intelligence (ESM/ELINT) sensors, an electro-optical turret, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, satellite communications, chaff/flare dispenser and torpedo/sonobuoy/depth charge launcher.

The Chief of Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy, Admiral Admiral Naveed Ashraf, told defenceWeb that the induction of the Lineage 1000 maritime patrol aircraft into the Fleet Air Arm “is a remarkable addition to our maritime patrol capabilities.”

“The aircraft is presently being modified in South Africa and is expected to be delivered in 2026, with subsequent deliveries planned over the coming years as part of a phased approach to modernise our naval aviation. With its state-of-the-art technology, the Sea Sultan will complement our existing platforms, such as the older P-3C Orion and ATR 72 aircraft, while offering superior performance in terms of range, endurance, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface vessel capabilities,” he said.

The Pakistan Navy has stated an intention to ultimately replace its P-3C Orion fleet with ten converted commercial jets.

The Pakistan Navy inducted the first Lineage 1000 in September 2021, at a ceremony at Pakistan Naval Station Mehran in Karachi. This aircraft is unmodified and used for crew training.

Apart from Paramount, other South African companies are involved in the Sea Sultan project. Aerospace engineering and manufacturing company Aerosud has been contracted to supply two sets of interiors.

After an 18-month design phase, Aerosud in May began embarking on the manufacturing of interior components for the special mission configuration. These configurations include specialised components such as galleys, observer tables, class dividers, and equipment stowages, with a completion date planned for mid-2025.

“This contract not only highlights Aerosud’s technical capabilities but also underscores its strategic approach to collaboration and project execution. By partnering with Paramount Aerospace Systems, Aerosud continues to expand its portfolio of projects, reinforcing its position as a trusted supplier in the aerospace industry,” the company said.

Pakistan to receive South African-modified maritime patrol aircraft from 2026 - DefenceWeb

The Pakistan Navy will in 2026 receive the first Embraer Lineage 1000 aircraft modified by Leonardo and Paramount Aerospace Systems for the maritime patrol

www.defenceweb.co.za

really delayed, i know the systems were cleared for export in 2023, i expeccted delivery in summer 2024, seems like a roadblock in the way

 

[Yasser76]

really delayed, i know the systems were cleared for export in 2023, i expeccted delivery in summer 2024, seems like a roadblock in the way

How so? We contracted Leonardo in Mid-2021 to design and integrate a totally new weapons system from scratch using Embrar platform and they will deliver in 5 years.

That is insanely quick.

 

[Ak01]

How so? We contracted Leonardo in Mid-2021 to design and integrate a totally new weapons system from scratch using Embrar platform and they will deliver in 5 years.

That is insanely quick.

when i say really delayed, i mean relative to the progress that was being made, its clear they stumbled somewhere along the way. Though, the first will always take longer. Will be fun to see what comes out of it

 

[Yasser76]

when i say really delayed, i mean relative to the progress that was being made, its clear they stumbled somewhere along the way. Though, the first will always take longer. Will be fun to see what comes out of it

If they get a prototype flying next year, (4 years after contract signing), that is almost unheard of. I think they got a lot of learnings from the ATR Sea Eagle project so that has possibly quicked things up.

The range and weapons fit on this bird will be very interesting. Could be better then the IN P-8s as they are limited to Harpoon

 

[Toxic]

If they get a prototype flying next year, (4 years after contract signing), that is almost unheard of. I think they got a lot of learnings from the ATR Sea Eagle project so that has possibly quicked things up.

The range and weapons fit on this bird will be very interesting. Could be better then the IN P-8s as they are limited to Harpoon

What will the Sea sultans carry? are they getting more?

 

[Yasser76]

What will the Sea sultans carry? are they getting more?

Unsure, but right now Pak has access to some pretty serious Pakistani, Turkish and Chinese air launched long range systems. Reports state 10 planes

 

[Ak01]

If they get a prototype flying next year, (4 years after contract signing), that is almost unheard of. I think they got a lot of learnings from the ATR Sea Eagle project so that has possibly quicked things up.

The range and weapons fit on this bird will be very interesting. Could be better then the IN P-8s as they are limited to Harpoon

What will the Sea sultans carry? are they getting more?

i suspecct itll be a rasoob based loadout, i Rasoob is a seriously useful system and its one im certain theyll develop further. Expect rasoob on ships, planes, jf-17s, hopefully mirages? expect rasoob everywhere.

 

[Toxic]

Why is the Navy Ignoring helicopters? We currently have more ships then modern helicopters.

 

[Fatman17]

Pakistan to receive South African-modified maritime patrol aircraft from 2026 https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerosp...-modified-maritime-patrol-aircraft-from-2026/

 

[Ak01]

Why is the Navy Ignoring helicopters? We currently have more ships then modern helicopters.

as we discussed above, there isnt really many options. Nothing really fits the bill. It seems like the approach of "it isnt an issue until it is" is being taken

 

[Yasser76]

Why is the Navy Ignoring helicopters? We currently have more ships then modern helicopters.

Yeah, have been saying this for ages. Navy helicopter aviation is in a real dire state.

We have or will shortly have 12 modern western ships with European subsystems

We have 4 new Turghil class from China

Alouttes are on the way out, Sea King is too big (and also very old)

That leaves just 6 20 year old Z-9s to provide helicopters for a fleet of around 22 major modern warshiips, and even these can only operate with Chinese systems.
Leave training and maintence, that will probably give us around 2-3 available for ships. No wonder we rarely see PN Ships with onboard choppers these days.

At a VERY MINIMUM we need

16 AW159 class medium choppers for the ships
16 NH-90/AW101 class heavy chopper for Sea King replacement

 

[Ak01]

Yeah, have been saying this for ages. Navy helicopter aviation is in a real dire state.

We have or will shortly have 12 modern western ships with European subsystems

We have 4 new Turghil class from China

Alouttes are on the way out, Sea King is too big (and also very old)

That leaves just 6 20 year old Z-9s to provide helicopters for a fleet of around 22 major modern warshiips, and even these can only operate with Chinese systems.
Leave training and maintence, that will probably give us around 2-3 available for ships. No wonder we rarely see PN Ships with onboard choppers these days.

At a VERY MINIMUM we need

16 AW159 class medium choppers for the ships
16 NH-90/AW101 class heavy chopper for Sea King replacement

Actually, the sea king is quite good at what it does. The 101 is a terrible replacement. First and foremost the Sea king is a SAR/Transporter. The 101 is really only good at one of those missions. Im good friends with a Royal Navy maintenance tech who works on the 101, they tend to be quite unreliable, but above all else, the issue comes when its time for the SAR role, theyre just too powerful. When i discussed it with him, the rotor downwash has a tendency to push casualties/people under water, making it really tough to recover them. They've only recently been retired and i think the PN should keep them as dedicated SAR assets.

The issue with the 159 is that it has little to no endurance, making it pretty questionable for an antisub mission. The UK's 159s carry no accoustic gear, only torpedos, the sensing is done by the 101 and the killing by the 159. South Korea had theirs fitted with dipping sonar, but with 2x torpedo and a dipping sonar the endurance is only 1 hour, which is really not ideal. You cannot do any meaningful sub hunting with it.

The 101 is still not ideal, it would need modifying, the NH90 is a joke, with cost per flight hour rivalling F-15's

 

[Toxic]

Actually, the sea king is quite good at what it does. The 101 is a terrible replacement. First and foremost the Sea king is a SAR/Transporter. The 101 is really only good at one of those missions. Im good friends with a Royal Navy maintenance tech who works on the 101, they tend to be quite unreliable, but above all else, the issue comes when its time for the SAR role, theyre just too powerful. When i discussed it with him, the rotor downwash has a tendency to push casualties/people under water, making it really tough to recover them. They've only recently been retired and i think the PN should keep them as dedicated SAR assets.

The issue with the 159 is that it has little to no endurance, making it pretty questionable for an antisub mission. The UK's 159s carry no accoustic gear, only torpedos, the sensing is done by the 101 and the killing by the 159. South Korea had theirs fitted with dipping sonar, but with 2x torpedo and a dipping sonar the endurance is only 1 hour, which is really not ideal. You cannot do any meaningful sub hunting with it.

The 101 is still not ideal, it would need modifying, the NH90 is a joke, with cost per flight hour rivalling F-15's

Why not go for an original solution with the AW139 and have Leonardo convert them into proper ASW helicopters?

 

[ghazi52]

 

[Yasser76]

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