Pakistan Navy Inducts WS-61 Sea King Helicopters Received from Qatar

Pakistan Navy has inducted the 10 WS-61 Sea King helicopters gifted by Qatar into the Pakistan Naval Air Arm’s No. 111 Squadron.

The Navy also commissioned PNS Tughril, the first of four Type 054-A/P frigates ordered by the country. It was built in Shanghai and launched in August 2020. China’s Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard completed the process in just 14 months. It is a multi-mission capable ship, fitted with weapons such as Surface-to-Air (SAM) and Supersonic Surface-to-Surface Missiles (SSM).

“I congratulate all those who were involved in the ship of the Type 054 class-frigate and Sea-King helicopter projects and I commend the efforts of Ministry of Defence Production, Pakistan Navy, our Chinese partners and Qatar Emiri forces for successful induction of these platforms in Pakistan Navy,” President of Pakistan Arif Alvi said.

Islamabad signed an initial contract for two Type 054 A/P frigates in 2017. An additional contract for two more ships was announced a year later. According to the contract, all four ships are to be built in China and the first two are expected to be delivered to the country by year-end.