(Source: US Navy; issued Aug. 9, 2004)
MANAMA, Bahrain --- Patrol Squadron (VP) 9 hosted a maritime surveillance familiarization visit of four Pakistani naval aviation experts in Bahrain Aug. 1-5.
The Pakistani delegation consisted of a naval aviator, a tactical officer, a maintenance officer, and an air crew operator, and was given tours of Commander, U.S. Navy Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet spaces and VP-9 spaces, briefs on U.S. maritime patrol and surveillance capabilities and procedures in the 5th Fleet area of operations, and taken on two familiarization flights aboard U.S. P-3C Orion aircraft.
“There’s very little difference between the way our countries do business,†said Pakastani Tactical Officer Cmdr. Sajjad Akbar. “The differences are mainly due to differences in the aircraft and the equipment. It’s all very similar.â€
One flight was conducted in cooperation with a Pakistani Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft.
“We gained a better understanding of just how proficient the Pakistani maritime patrol forces are,†said Cmdr. Rod Urbano, commanding officer of VP-9. “We worked with the Atlantique and saw that their procedures and tactics are very similar to ours, and that working together we can be very effective in patrolling the areas in and around the North Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.â€
However, in addition to their other maritime patrol aircraft, Pakistan has a P-3C squadron of their own. The familiarization visit was a big step toward its operational employment.
“We’ve been able to see how VP-9 operates, and since we’re looking forward to operationalizing our own squadron of P-3Cs very soon, that has been a great help,†said Akbar. “Just seeing how the aircraft and the crew and the squadron operate has been a huge help.
“Secondly, we have been able to clarify coalition requirements, so the opportunities we have to help the coalition, we know what is required of us,†he said. “That is a great advantage, so we can be a big help.â€
Pakistan is already a key coalition partner in the global war on terrorism, and the visit only increased confidence between the nations.
“Communications between the aircraft [U.S. P-3C and Pakistani Atlantique] were very smooth,†said Urbano. “The riders were able to see the capabilities of our aircraft, and they saw the ease of operating with U.S. forces. These opportunities just increase the comfort level between our two countries, and we hope to be able to do this more and more in the future,†he added.
As for the future, both parties are optimistic.
“We know that by ourselves, we really cannot cover all of this ocean,†said Urbano. “Only through cooperation with our coalition allies will we be able to do a better job in thwarting all the international terrorist organizations. So for us, it’s a welcome opportunity. We can only grow stronger with these interactions.â€
Anti-smuggling, anti-drug trafficking and protection of shipping is a primary concern for us, said Akbar, but like everyone, our focus has shifted now toward the global war on terrorism.
“As soon as our P-3Cs are online, we’ll hopefully be even more active in the coalition,†he added.
OSINT alert. No link provided at time of receipt
MANAMA, Bahrain --- Patrol Squadron (VP) 9 hosted a maritime surveillance familiarization visit of four Pakistani naval aviation experts in Bahrain Aug. 1-5.
The Pakistani delegation consisted of a naval aviator, a tactical officer, a maintenance officer, and an air crew operator, and was given tours of Commander, U.S. Navy Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet spaces and VP-9 spaces, briefs on U.S. maritime patrol and surveillance capabilities and procedures in the 5th Fleet area of operations, and taken on two familiarization flights aboard U.S. P-3C Orion aircraft.
“There’s very little difference between the way our countries do business,†said Pakastani Tactical Officer Cmdr. Sajjad Akbar. “The differences are mainly due to differences in the aircraft and the equipment. It’s all very similar.â€
One flight was conducted in cooperation with a Pakistani Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft.
“We gained a better understanding of just how proficient the Pakistani maritime patrol forces are,†said Cmdr. Rod Urbano, commanding officer of VP-9. “We worked with the Atlantique and saw that their procedures and tactics are very similar to ours, and that working together we can be very effective in patrolling the areas in and around the North Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.â€
However, in addition to their other maritime patrol aircraft, Pakistan has a P-3C squadron of their own. The familiarization visit was a big step toward its operational employment.
“We’ve been able to see how VP-9 operates, and since we’re looking forward to operationalizing our own squadron of P-3Cs very soon, that has been a great help,†said Akbar. “Just seeing how the aircraft and the crew and the squadron operate has been a huge help.
“Secondly, we have been able to clarify coalition requirements, so the opportunities we have to help the coalition, we know what is required of us,†he said. “That is a great advantage, so we can be a big help.â€
Pakistan is already a key coalition partner in the global war on terrorism, and the visit only increased confidence between the nations.
“Communications between the aircraft [U.S. P-3C and Pakistani Atlantique] were very smooth,†said Urbano. “The riders were able to see the capabilities of our aircraft, and they saw the ease of operating with U.S. forces. These opportunities just increase the comfort level between our two countries, and we hope to be able to do this more and more in the future,†he added.
As for the future, both parties are optimistic.
“We know that by ourselves, we really cannot cover all of this ocean,†said Urbano. “Only through cooperation with our coalition allies will we be able to do a better job in thwarting all the international terrorist organizations. So for us, it’s a welcome opportunity. We can only grow stronger with these interactions.â€
Anti-smuggling, anti-drug trafficking and protection of shipping is a primary concern for us, said Akbar, but like everyone, our focus has shifted now toward the global war on terrorism.
“As soon as our P-3Cs are online, we’ll hopefully be even more active in the coalition,†he added.
OSINT alert. No link provided at time of receipt