It has been a longstanding tradition of the Pakistani Services Chiefs to outline their major policy and platform achievements as well as future acquisitions and vision in their last official address as the operational commander of the service during the Command Ceremony of the new chief-designate General, Air Chief Marshal or Admiral.

In this regard, yesterday the outgoing CNS Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi gave his speech at PNS Zafar, Naval HQ. The speech provided a rarely-seen insight into Pakistani naval warfare policy, vision, platforms and acquisitions from the Chief himself.

He started the speech with the name of Allah Almighty.

The CNS said, “After assuming command, I envisioned to transform the Pakistan Navy into a highly-capable force with special emphasis on optimum battle preparedness. Alhumdulillah with the untiring efforts of the finest officers and men, who worked as a team, Pakistan Navy has progressed as envisioned. During the last three years, we have witnessed a volatile geopolitical landscape, heightened tension in the region, complex internal security situation and near-conflict with our eastern neighbour driven by Hindutva ideology.

To meet these challenges, I had accorded top priority to combat-readiness and offensive capability of the Navy.”

The CNS further stated that recently “Pakistan Navy’s war plans were reviewed, practiced and our employment and development strategies were aligned with evolving threats and challenges.”

The CNS also revealed changes in the operational battle order and structure of the Pakistan Navy and said: “On the employment side, Pakistan’s geographical position was leveraged to accrue operation advantage. This entailed, reorganizing Destroyer and Patrol Craft Squadrons into Surface Task Groups One, Two and Three and stationing them permanently at Gwadar, Ormara and Karachi respectively.”

The CNS also stated, “To improve efficiency, various organizational initiatives were undertaken. In Naval Headquarters, a three-member middle tier comprising star flag officers as chiefs of staff heading operations, personnel and logistics wings was introduced between the CNS and functionally-grouped branches.”

The CNS said “[Sir] Creek’s Area Defense Plan was revised with an offensive bias through integrated strike groups comprising Marines and SSG elements.”

Commenting on the Pakistan naval warfare fleet numbers and platforms, the outgoing CNS said “Pakistan Navy had historically been operating 8 to 9 major surface warships, which constrained our regional footprint and influence. To redress this, fleet size of 50 plus ships including 20 major warships was envisioned. To this end, four Chinese Type 054A frigates will join the fleet between 2021 and 2023. Four Turkish MILGEM-Class ships will be inducted between 2023 and 2025. Under the MILGEM project, complete design know-how will be transferred to Pakistan Navy and thus the fifth ship, presently under design phase will InshAllah be Pakistan’s first Jinnah-Class frigate, designed and built in Pakistan. Of the two 2300-tonne [DAMEN] corvettes, the lead-ship PNS Yarmook has been inducted, while the second ship PNS Tabuk will join Pakistan Navy fleet by November this year. As a follow up, 6 additional ships with larger tonnage are being contracted[Most likely Type-52D or Type-55 Destroyer]. Furthermore, 20 locally designed and built gun-boats will be inducted by 2025. Fleet Tanker PNS Moawin and Survey Vessel PNS Behr Masah were inducted in 2018 and 2019 respectively and locally designed and built FAC PNS Haibat will InshAllah be commissioned by the end of 2020. Hangor-Class submarine project [Type 039B (upgraded) AIP Submarine, Pakistan variant] in collaboration with China progressing well with four submarines being built in China and four in Pakistan to be delivered in the next few years. Under this project, submarine design and construction capabilities are being acquired to make Pakistan from a submarine-operating navy to a submarine-builder navy. For enabling smooth transition towards Chinese-origin submarines, one Yuan-Class [Type 039B] submarine is being acquired from PLA Navy as a training platform on gratis basis.”

Talking about Naval Air Arm, the CNS revealed the “Activation of aviation bases along the west coast, equipped for day and night operations.”

The CNS further revealed “Naval Air Arm vision was promulgated in 2017. Two PN ATR [Pakistan Navy ATR-72/RAS-72 Sea Eagle Anti-Submarine Warfare and Maritime Patrol Aircraft] aircraft after upgradation in Germany have rejoined the fleet while the third ATR currently being upgraded will rejoin next year. In addition, ten jet Long-Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft [LRMPA] as replacement of P-3C Orion will InshAllah be inducted. In this regard, to lower the cost, commercial jet aircraft have been selected which will be retrofitted with avionics suits, on the ATR [MPA] model. The contract for first jet aircraft has been signed. Moreover, contract for long-range high-endurance Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles [UCAV drones] with satellite link capability has also been signed. PNS Siddiq in Turbat is now a full-fledged naval air station of Pakistan Navy LRMPAs.”

The CNS talking about asymmetric threat and special operations said, “Pakistan Marines vision 2030 approved in 2018 envisions Pakistan Marines to be a Division plus sized force [over 15,000 soldiers]. Similarly, SSGN [Special Services Group (Navy) & Navy Seals] vision 2023, formulated in 2018, envisions SSGN to be a brigade-sized force by 2023 [5000 soldiers approximately].”

The CNS talking about guided-missile warships said, “In offensive missile technology, Pakistan Navy has made major strides into the local development of ship and submarine-launched Harbah Anti-Ship and Land-Attack Cruise Missile [AShCM & LACM] system.”

The CNS talking about hypersonic missiles said, “In the hypersonic domain, ship-based long-range Anti-Ship and Land-Attack P-282 ballistic missile is under development.”

The CNS also announced a new naval base and said, “A major naval base for surface ships is being developed at Gwadar, while Ormara yard will house repair and rebuild facilities for Hangor-Class submarines.” Pakistan Navy’s Hangor-Class submarine construction site is in Karachi.

The CNS while talking about regional and international naval alliances said, “While continuing our participation in Combined Task Force 150 and 151, Pakistan Navy initiated regional maritime security patrols in 2018 in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to protect our maritime interests and fulfil international obligations. Pakistan Navy war exercise Aman-19 witnessed participation of 46 countries, the largest so far in any Aman exercise. Pakistan Navy also undertook first-ever overseas deployment round the African continent and established medical camps in various countries. PNS Aslat [Zulfiquar-Class guided-missile frigate] participated in Russian Navy’s Victory Day parade at St Petersburg, a first for a Pakistan Navy ship.

[CTF-150 multinational naval task force members: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Pakistan, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. CTF-151: CTF-150 members plus Kuwait, South Korea, Singapore, Bahrain, Turkey, Thailand and New Zealand]

The CNS while talking about naval warfare research and development stated that, “A dedicated Naval Research and Development Institute (NRDI) co-located with Pakistan Navy Engineering College was established in 2019 to utilize the potential of uniformed PhD scholars and research students to develop niche technologies and to resolve intricate technical issues faced by Pakistan Navy. NRDI is engaged in design projects of Jinnah-Class frigate and Hangor-Class submarines. NRDI has, in a short time, successfully completed or is working on numerous high-tech projects including UAV jammers, telemetry systems for PN aircraft, video analytics for security systems, {Classified Entry decided to be omitted by PSF Board}, underwater sonar surveillance coastal defense systems, mine warfare data center, unmanned underwater drones, Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV drone), high-speed target drones etcetera.”

Furthermore, on Pakistan Navy’s maritime economy initiatives, the CNS stated, “Maritime Works Organization (MWO) was created in 2018 under Bahria Foundation for the development of coastal infrastructure and offshore marine projects. During my visit to China in 2018, I met the head of the China Geological Survey (CGS) and requested for offshore hydrocarbon resource surveys of Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Consequently, two surveys have been undertaken by CGS ships on gratis basis. This is for the first time in our history that the whole of Pakistan’s EEZ has been surveyed systematically for oil and gas resources. I’m happy to inform that preliminary results of these surveys are promising which places Pakistan amongst top nations with respect to natural gas resource potential. To be exact it is fourth in the world ranking. The third joint expedition with CGS is planned next year and would involve advanced research work with respect to identification of prospective test drilling locations.”

In his closing statements, the CNS stated, “A systematic approach was adopted to provide correct perspective on the light of Muttafaq `Alaih based on Quran and Sunnah. Pakistan Navy’s motto, based on Surah Al Imran verse no. 173 ‘haasbunealleahu va ni’mal vakeel’ [Sufficient for us is Allah, and (He is) the best Disposer of affairs] was promulgated in Pakistan Navy to repose absolute trust in Allah Subhana Wa Ta’Allah under all situations and adversities.”

In the end, the CNS stated, “Ladies and gentlemen, all this wouldn’t have been possible without the blessings of Allah Subhana Wa Ta’Allah, unflinching support extended by the Principal Staff Officers and staff at Naval Headquarters and the Field Commands and indeed all the valiant officers, CPO sailors and navy civilians of Pakistan Navy. It was indeed a singular honour to have commanded the finest body of men and women and I am thankful to each one of them for contributing in the development and progress of the Navy. I am now handing over command of the Navy to Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi.”

“In the end, I would also like to thank the Government for having reposed their trust in me. I also thank Ministry of Defence, Joint Staff Headquarters and sister services for rendering all-out support to Pakistan Navy. I find myself short of words to express my gratitude to Allah Subhana Wa Ta’Allah for His countless blessings throughout my life. As I say farewell to arms, I pray to Allah Subhana Wa Ta’Allah to enable Pakistan Navy to continue to gain strength and achieve the zenith of excellence. Ameen. May Allah Subhana Wa Ta’Allah be our Guide and Protector. Pakistan Navy Zindabaad. Pakistan Paindabaad.”

As soon as the speech ended, the Naval Secretary NHQ, Rear Admiral Mian Zakirullah Jan SI(M) read aloud the Notification issued by Government of Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence on the orders of the Prime Minister which stated “The President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has been pleased to appoint Vice Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi HI(M) (SBt) PN-2931 as Chief of The Naval Staff with effect from 07 October, 2020 and grant him the rank of Admiral from the date he assumes the charge.” After that the CNS Admiral Abbasi handed over the command Scroll to Admiral Niazi who then became CNS. Former CNS Admiral (Retd) Abbasi returned to the stage along with CNS Admiral Niazi.

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1 COMMENT

  1. V still need some more Equipment on our Sea side war front … Specially the Marine invasion vehicles n counter attack n defense equipment … We can provide . Waste range of equipment still in local currency to Pakistan Navy

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