UNDISCLOSED DESTINATION: December 27 – A group photograph of missile firing crew with Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir as Pakistan Navy successfully tests surface to air missile. – Photo by APP

KARACHI: Pakistan Navy successfully tested its air defence capability in Sonmiani on Monday. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir witnessed the surface-to-air missile firing along with Vice Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar, the Air Defence Commander of Pakistan Navy. All missiles successfully hit their targets.

A combination of SAM series was tested which gave the navy the flexibility to operate with a range of missiles and strengthen the ground-based air defence.

The area of responsibility of the air defence battalion stretches from Sir Creek in the east to Jiwani in the west. A large number of officers of armed forces also witnessed the firing.

Chief of the Naval Staff praised the efforts put in by the air defence battalion of coastal command and urged officers and men to ensure an impeccable defence.

The Commander of Marines said in a briefing on the occasion that air threat being very dynamic in nature had assumed multiple dimensions in today’s warfare and was continuously changing with rapid technological developments.

He said the induction of the state of the art weapons and equipment would augment PN’s ground-based air defence capabilities against hi-tech aircraft and incoming missiles.

The missiles are equipped with highly sensitive infrared homing head which can intercept high-speed aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. These SAMs are ‘Fire and Forget’ type missiles.

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...