KARACHI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday congratulated Army Air Defence for enhancing its capability and lethality, said an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement.

“Pakistan Army Air Defence displayed its firepower capability at air defence firing ranges near Karachi,” it said. “Firing by all air defence weapon systems was culminating event of two-week-long Exercise Al Bayza-2019,” it said, adding that Gen Bajwa and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan witnessed the firepower display.

The hallmark of the event, the ISPR said, was the first-ever fire by recently inducted Long Range Air Defence Weapon System LY80. Induction of LY-80 has realised the concept of a comprehensive, layered and integrated air defence capability with enhanced lethality, it added.

“Interacting with the officers and troops, COAS congratulated Army Air Defence for successful conduct of firepower capability display,” said the statement.

“The COAS said that LY-80 has greatly enhanced air defence capability of Army Air Defence while strengthening it at national level along with PAF, the overall custodian of the defence of Pakistan air space. CAS Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan also congratulated Pak Army for induction of LY-80 which has reinforced Pakistan’s overall Air Defence capability.”

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2019