PN celebrates P3C Orion aircraft induction

The induction ceremony of two modified P3C Orion aircraft, acquired from the United States, was held at the Pakistan Navy Base Mehran here on Tuesday. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir, was the chief guest at the simple but impressive ceremony. US Brigadier General Mike Nagata of the Office of Defence Representative in Pakistan, and the Consul General of US in Karachi Stephens G. Fakan also attended the ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, the Naval Chief termed this as a historic day on many accounts, and said that with the induction of those aircraft the capability of PN and its Aviation Wing would be enhanced. Admiral Noman Bashir stated that "we have to contribute to make the areas that surround our country on land and the sea safe and secure and that we take this as our responsibility as well as moral obligation."
He further pointed out that today's capability would help us in furthering this very effort. Admiral Noman Bashir said those fully modified aircraft were capable of undertaking the missions that they were designed for. He stated that with the induction of those aircraft the friendship between Pakistan and the US would be further cemented.
The Naval Chief pointed out that the co-operation between the navies of the two countries had also flourished and would continue to flourish. He said, "we already have our crew in the US to take over one frigate hopefully by the end of August and after necessary repair work it will sail for Pakistan by January next year."
Admiral Noman Bashir also asked the aviation crew of Pakistan Navy to maintain those and other aircraft in a professional and able manner. He also said that the P3C programme that "we desired in the 1990s has been materialised in 2010," adding the next set of those aircraft would also be arriving in the later part of this year. Speaking on the occasion, US Brigadier General Mike Nagata said those aircraft were equipped with modern mission systems and avionics would help enhance Pakistan Navy's capability to conduct maritime operations.