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Pakistan Navy receives seven Sea King helicopters from UK

Dawn.com Published May 31, 2017
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The rotorcrafts are expected to be delivered to Pakistan late this year. —Dawn.com
The rotorcrafts are expected to be delivered to Pakistan late this year. —Dawn.com

The Pakistan Navy has received the seven surplus Westland Sea King multi-role helicopters it had ordered from the United Kingdom (UK) in 2016, IHS Jane's Defence Weekly reported Wednesday.

The magazine, which reports on intelligence on global military and commercial defence activity, quoting the High Commission of Pakistan in London, said the platforms for the helicopters were officially handed over in a ceremony in London on May 24.

The ceremony was attended by Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Syed Ibne Abbas, and Christopher Bob Richardson from the UK Ministry of Defence, among others.

The helicopters will undergo maintenance services by Vector Aerospace before they are shipped to Pakistan. The delivery is scheduled for later this year.

The defence magazine further stated, "The high commissioner lauded the historic relationship between the armed forces of Pakistan and the UK," adding he appreciated the role UK played in "capacity building of Pakistan Armed Forces both in terms of equipment support and training".

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average indian
May 31, 2017 06:22pm
Great. This is how India and Pakistan spend their money. When majority of people in both countries are living below the poverty line, the best way to spend is on weapons that kill each other. Kudos to our 'development'.
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Sameer
May 31, 2017 06:27pm
Yes. Our forces will definitely be able to put them to good use. Vital for CPEC and naval structure oversight.
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DW
May 31, 2017 06:35pm
Isolated Pakistan
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sangun
May 31, 2017 06:35pm
Did pak pay for it?
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INSANE_Astronomer
May 31, 2017 06:36pm
@average indian rightly said
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Ali
May 31, 2017 06:47pm
@average indian Do you not think that you are being a bit harsh here, and perhaps a bit shortsighted. Some military expenditure is necessary to maintain battle worthiness. It cannot be that any country can survive without a decent military.
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VL
May 31, 2017 06:53pm
@sangun ; No India did;)
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Princess_of_DHUMP
May 31, 2017 06:57pm
@Ali After 70 years of independence if you are not able to manufacture what many countries are now developing for decades and instead take pride in the fact that you diverted your limited resources despite having a large, under fed, poor, sick populace then that my friend is a real problem. You get a Sea King or you get a Lion King - You call yourself an Asian Tiger or Bengal Tiger - the fact is you will remain vulnerable till you get your priorities straight
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Sarai alamgir
May 31, 2017 07:39pm
@Princess_of_DHUMP For your information, Pak is successfully building and selling fighter jets, which cant be said for India, you guys have been planning the Tejas jet for as long as i can remember, and Pak has overtaken you in terms of military hardware production, so please do your research before you write comments on this Pakistani news website.
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Indian guy
May 31, 2017 07:49pm
Great.
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Kazi Nadeem
May 31, 2017 07:52pm
They are not good choppers based on there safety record. As per Wikipedia since 2012, Westland Sea Kings have been involved in forty-six significant accidents and incidents, involving forty-eight aircraft, during their service career. So Pakistan will be spending more money to maintain them.
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Dangit
May 31, 2017 07:54pm
@average indian Couldnt agree more. The surplus we earn, we happily give away for aged machinery that will cost us more to maintain and cause more casualties on both sides. I think we should crowdfund new governments for a start.
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Mango man
May 31, 2017 07:57pm
@Sameer These are used choppers, dont know how much life is left in them.
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Indians=DRAVIDIANs
May 31, 2017 08:00pm
@average indian Dont worry about Pakistan, these deals are worth pennies compared to What India is buying. Poverty is far greater there, and daily farmers are committing suicides in Indian Punjab.
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makkeshwar adinath shivalingam
May 31, 2017 08:03pm
@Mango man last 3 days back a minister of maharashtra was about to loose bcoz of chopper crash ! it is 15 year old !
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Baluchistani
May 31, 2017 08:16pm
These helicopters are good addition for our security. We should also buy some aircraft carriers to use them far.
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IMTIAZ ALI KHAN
May 31, 2017 08:17pm
What a sad day for Pakistan all we do is buy these foreign made materials. Payments keep coming as they the foreign companies do most of the spare part selling. This is why I believe our leaders are substandard in IndoPak. Defense shields, weapons, planes, ships all mostly from foreign sources, billions after billions spent. While both remain third world countries with massive, massive poverty like no other place. Did I mention lack of education also, the cycle of violence only ends when we learn to see the common family we are and how long we lived with each other and where we are coming from the great Sindhu Dharti Maa. IndoPak Blood Brothers 4 Life!
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Saeeds
May 31, 2017 08:19pm
@average indian This is what people of both side want , government and politician are just the following there people wishes. If People stop hating each than both governments will shake hand next moments.
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Saeeds
May 31, 2017 08:21pm
@Princess_of_DHUMP Well said. Simple logic but very hard to understand by our Awam
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NARADA MUNI
May 31, 2017 08:21pm
These are used and reconditioned helicopters. But good anyways..
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NotKnown
May 31, 2017 08:22pm
@Baluchistani nice thought
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Asim Malik
May 31, 2017 08:40pm
I don't think pointing fingers at each other for who did what good and bad is not an ethical way of projecting rights and wrongs. The argument is that, it's been more half a century since independence for both nations and what are still stuck in past, we should be more focused on bettering the living standards of common man for good health, education and infrastructure development. Yes you procure such platforms but which can be used for dual purposes during disaster management from within your own resources and don't look outside for help.
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Choudhry
May 31, 2017 08:47pm
This is used military equipment.
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The end is near
May 31, 2017 09:06pm
Used and very old helicopters.
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Qureshi (USA)
May 31, 2017 09:12pm
Surplus helicopters being obsoleted by UK and sold to Pakistan. Could have built 100s of schools and paid teachers nice salary. First priorities should be education, population control, electricity, clean water and health care. Make peace with neighbors so whole South Asia can prosper.
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Pk
May 31, 2017 10:49pm
@Indians=DRAVIDIANs Brother I salute your indepth knowledge about India..but what I know is that farmers here drive Pajeros..and are not forced to sell their land to foreign occupiers.
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Princess_of_dhump
May 31, 2017 11:18pm
@Sarai alamgir I am as much Pakistani as you are only not oblivious to ground realities. Assembling parts manufactured abroad does not mean you have an aviation industry
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LAHORI KID
May 31, 2017 11:19pm
@Ali , Not if you get along with all your neighbors,your region have peace,nothing wrong with what he said, I happen to agree with him, our governments have no balance, the governments should take care of the people who elected them, than they can go out and buy a big gun so they can feel superior. Without the people, what exactly are you trying to protect? Land? Big deal.
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raja farhat abbas
May 31, 2017 11:20pm
@sangun ...They are a gift from the Brit's who love us. :-)
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Mujtaba
May 31, 2017 11:23pm
These are retired helicopters by Usa in 2006... First flight in 1950 i wonder why Pakistan got it when there were better options
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Ali Asghar
May 31, 2017 11:56pm
Waste of money on extremely old and obsolete platform.
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Taha
May 31, 2017 11:59pm
@Kazi Nadeem Just like india on the Russian jets
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IQI
Jun 01, 2017 12:47am
Keep them fighting and we shall keep supplying them .No demand = No supply = ?
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syed
Jun 01, 2017 12:47am
@average indian India is the biggest importer of arms and ammunition from world over. Keep your advice to yourself.
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East Indian
Jun 01, 2017 02:23am
Just for your information, Indian Navy Sea King helicopters grounded because UK did not supply spare parts under pressure from USA
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Muhammad Ashtar
Jun 01, 2017 03:26am
News about acquring of these sea king helicopters by Pakistan is deficient. It doesn't tell what is the total cost. Nor it provides any information how much they will be useful to improve operational capabilities of our naval forces. I have one more question in my mind. Why we can not make such machines ourselves?
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helloWorld
Jun 01, 2017 04:15am
@average indian Do you really not know why India spends money on defense? Tell me one strong country in this world who has no defense capabilities or doesn't believe in flexing it's muscles. Indian defense needs to grow as Indian economy grows to grow it's clout around the world.
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Mujahid
Jun 01, 2017 04:19am
Pakistan buys western technology and shares it with China also. Pakistan also acquires Russian and Chinese technology. Pakistan manufactures 80% of the needed equipment and buys 20%. Pakistan is a CPEC country and going through a mega change. Before long Pakistan will be offering Helicopters for sale just like like Tanks and Air crafts.
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oricle
Jun 01, 2017 04:41am
Just a note on UK military sales of used goods. Some years ago Canada bought second hand submarines, my Canadian cousin told me that they break down so often and it would have been cheaper to buy new ones. He said in jest,he felt that the British cousins took them to the dry cleaners
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Tamilselvan
Jun 01, 2017 06:43am
@average indian . One cannot develop with weak borders. Defence is an integral part of development.
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NKAli
Jun 01, 2017 07:02am
Nothing is mentioned in the news of the final cost Sea King helicopters that are fairly old in design and manufacture. However, if the PN is satisfied who are we to fancy a remark? Salams to PN
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A
Jun 01, 2017 07:18am
@ Makkeshwar Adinath Shivalingam .......... " last 3 days back a minister of maharashtra was about to loose bcoz of chopper crash ! it is 15 year old ! Very true . Luckily the accident could be avoided. If you factor in GST the Coptor is in reality 20 years old. And all these Coptors are not maintained in good condition at Mumbai Airport which is the most inefficient Airport. GST plays majour role in hiding the real age and conditions of the Coptor
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Manu
Jun 01, 2017 07:43am
This is sad that a nation pays $14 Billion interest on loan and $20 B exports.
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steevan
Jun 01, 2017 12:37pm
@Baluchistani aircraft carrier cost way more than your entire defense budget
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