Pakistan Navy Purchasing
AEW P-3s From the U.S.
By AMI INTERNATIONAL INC.
The Pakistan Navy is in the process of procuring three Lockheed P- 3 Orion aircraft fitted with
the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 Airborne
Early Warning (AEW) suite. The
U.S. Defense Security Cooperation
Agency notified Congress Dec. 7 of
the Foreign Military Sale to Pakistan.
The total value of the deal is not to
exceed $855 million when all
options are exercised.
The deal calls for the delivery of
three refurbished P- 3 airframes modified with the Hawkeye 2000 AEW
suite as well as associated equipment
and services. Equipment and services
include spare parts, simulators, support equipment, personnel training
and equipment, publications and
technical data, software, ground/
flight testing, and contractor engineering and logistic support services.
The deal could be completed as
early as mid-2007, with the aircraft
being delivered by 2009. The Pakistan Navy continues to upgrade its
surveillance capabilities by procuring the AEW P-3s to provide an
effective air defense network for its
naval forces as well as an enhanced
command, control and communications capability.
AMI INTERNATIONAL INC.
Belgium is seeking potential buyers for the Flower-class minehunter BNS
Myosotis, which was decommissioned in late 2005.
Tripartite design, and a fourth unit
could easily be integrated into the
sea service.
Belgium Seeks Buyers
For Frigate, Minehunter
The Belgian Navy has made the
frigate BNS Wielingen and the
Flower-class (Tripartite) minehunter
BNS Myosotis available for resale on
the international used ship market.
Sources indicate that Bulgaria,
Jordan and Egypt are possible candidates for the Wielingen. Bulgaria has
been negotiating for the Wielingen
and Westdiep since the Bulgarian
Navy took delivery of the BNS
Wandelaar (the first unit of the
three-ship class) in late 2005.
The third unit of the class, BNS
Westdiep, is expected to be decommissioned in early 2008, prior to the
Belgian Navy taking delivery of its
second Karel Doorman-class frigate
from the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Once decommissioned, the Westdiep
will also be available for resale.
The minehunter BNS Myosotis
was decommissioned in late 2005
as part of the general reduction of
the Belgian mine countermeasures
vessel (MCMV) force. Sources suggest that Morocco and Pakistan are
candidates for the vessel.
The Moroccan Navy currently
does not have any MCMVs in
inventory and could use a modern
MCMV as its sits astride the strategic Strait of Gibraltar. Pakistan,
which has been exploring the used
ship market for all types of vessels
during the past two years, currently operates three Minsif-class
MCMVs, which are also of the
India Buys Six
U.S. Navy Sea Kings
The Indian Navy has procured six
U.S. Navy SH- 3 Sea King helicopters for $39 million under a
Foreign Military Sale agreement.
The agreement was completed in
November and involves the refurbishment and delivery of six units
to India by the close of 2008.
The helicopters are currently
stored at the U.S. Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center in
Arizona. The refurbishment package includes a complete inspection
of all critical systems, repainting in
Indian Navy colors and a functional
check prior to shipment.
Philippines Rebids
Attack Craft Program
The Republic of the Philippines will
rebid its Multi-Purpose Attack Craft
