ISLAMABAD - Pakistan, a key ally in the US-led war on terrorism, said on Wednesday that it had acquired eight P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft from the United States, which would help boost its naval capabilities.
The Pentagon said at the time the aircraft would improve Pakistanâs border security and its ability to restrict movement of militants. However, Pakistan Navy spokesman Captain Aamir Naeem Baig said the aircraft were designed for maritime surveillance and could not be used for chasing militants along the land border with Afghanistan, where Islamic guerrillas are most active.
A statement from the Pakistan Navy said the aircraft, worth up to $970 million, were being provided free by the United States and would be fitted with modern avionics and missions systems by the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin Corp LMT.N. Admiral Shahid Karimullah, Pakistanâs chief of naval staff, said the Orions would âadd a new dimension to the offensive punch of Pakistan Navy fleetâ. Pakistanâs fleet of P-3Cs now stands at 10 with the induction of eight new planes. |