P3C Orion,star of Pak Navys air arm

The destruction of two P3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft marks a huge dent to the capabilities of the Pakistan Navy.

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The destruction of two P3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft marks a huge dent to the capabilities of the Pakistan Navy. The star of the small air wing of the Pakistan Navy is the US-built maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine aircraft,eight of which were ordered from the US in 2004 at an estimated cost of 970 million.

At the time of the sale,the aircraft were described to be vital in the fight against terror in Afghanistan; they would be used for maritime interdiction operations and restricting the movement of terrorists along Pakistans southern border.

Indian intelligence reports suggest that Pakistan was in possession of five P3C Orions when the attack at the airbase took place. With two of them having been destroyed,it effectively wipes out 40 per cent of the fleet.

Besides reconnaissance,the aircraft are also the most potent anti-submarine platform available with Pakistan. The aircraft is designed to track down and hunt submarines and surface vessel

Additionally,Pakistan has ordered two of its new P3 Orions to be fitted with airborne,early warning systems,making them even more potent by increasing the detection range for enemy aircraft. The upgrade,experts feel,was part of American efforts to protect its interests in the region,given that a bulk of its military supplies for Afghanistan are routed in through the Karachi port.

The advanced reconnaissance aircraft,while highly potent against India,are very useful in protecting American warships and supply ships approaching and offloading goods at the Karachi port. The US has been extremely careful about protecting its warships since the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole in Yemen.

What makes the destruction of the two aircraft at Faisal more alarming for Pakistan is the very strong possibility that they were the two new aircraft that had been handed over by the US in April last year.

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Deliveries of the eight aircraft are expected to be complete by 2012.