Indian Defense
Sea Sultan? What We Know About Pakistan’s ‘New’ Submarine Hunter Jet
Pakistan selected the Embraer jet to replace its fleet of 9 US-built P-3 aircraft
The Pakistan Navy on Thursday inducted its first new long-range maritime patrol aircraft. In a ceremony at the PNS Mehran naval base at Karachi, the maritime patrol aircraft, converted from a Lineage 1000 passenger jet built by Brazil’s Embraer, was inducted.
The Embraer Lineage 1000 is a business jet, which can carry around 20 passengers and has a maximum range of 4,400 nautical miles (8,149 km). The Pakistan Navy announced it had contracted to buy two more aircraft of the same series, which would be equipped with “latest weapons and sensors to undertake maritime air operations”.
Why Induction Is Significant
Speaking at the induction of the new aircraft, Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Mohammed Amjad Khan Niazi commended the transition of the force from propeller-driven maritime patrol aircraft to jet-powered ones.
By inducting the Embraer jet, the Pakistan Navy has gone the way of its arch-rival, the Indian Navy, in moving to jet-powered maritime patrol aircraft. In 2013, the Indian Navy inducted its first P-8I maritime patrol jet, built by Boeing. The P-8I, based on Boeing’s ubiquitous 737 passenger jet, replaces the Soviet-era Il-38 and Tu-142M turboprop aircraft of the Indian Navy.
The Indian Navy currently operates 10 Boeing P-8I jets and will eventually have a total fleet of 18 such aircraft.
Pakistan selected the Embraer jet to replace its fleet of 9 US-built P-3 Orion turboprop aircraft, which first entered service in the mid-1990s.
Jet-powered maritime patrol aircraft are faster than turboprop aircraft. Moreover, given their commonality with commercial aircraft in terms of engines and spare parts, jet aircraft offer lower operating costs.
In October last year, then Pakistan Navy chief admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi had said the force would replace the P-3 Orion with a total of 10 converted commercial aircraft. Defence News then reported the selected aircraft was the Embraer Lineage 1000. The publication added the aircraft would be called the Sea Sultan.
In July, Defence News reported that the Pakistan Navy had contracted Italian company Leonardo and South Africa’s Paramount Group to convert three Embraer Lineage 1000 jets to a maritime patrol configuration. “The contract with Leonardo involves the acquisition of two aircraft to join the single Lineage 1000 already in Pakistan, followed by the design, modification, installation and integration of an anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol package,” Defence News reported.
Defence News reported Leonardo would fit a radar system and torpedo-release system currently used by the Pakistan Navy’s fleet of maritime patrol aircraft.
Pakistan, reportedly, signed a $190 million contract with Leonardo in June.
Paramount Group will handle the “pre-conversion maintenance, repair and overhaul” of the aircraft.
According to reports, there are around 28 Embraer Lineage 1000 aircraft in service worldwide. The Pakistan Navy will have to buy the aircraft from private operators worldwide and coordinate conversion and modernisation of the aircraft with vendors.
The P-8I has a maximum take-off weight of nearly 85 tons, nearly twice that of the Embraer Lineage 1000, thus having capability to carry a greater weapons load. Moreover, the P-8I benefits from an assured flow of technology and support from the US Navy and Boeing, unlike the Sea Sultan.
However, the induction of the Sea Sultan will prove a boost to Pakistan’s capabilities to patrol the Arabian Sea and track Indian surface ships and submarines. Moreover, the Sea Sultan fleet may have another role in the future: Spotting targets for the P282 hypersonic missile. Abbasi had claimed last year “In the hypersonic domain, the ship-based, long-range, anti-ship and land-attack P282 ballistic missile is under development.” International experts have assessed the P282 to be similar to China’s fleet of DF-21D and DF-26 anti-ship ballistic missiles. While the accuracy of ballistic missiles in tracking ships is debatable, they are harder to shoot down than cruise missiles.
The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.
“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.
India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.
Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.
The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.
India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade
In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.
The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.
This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.
In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.
According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.
Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System
BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.
Akash Weapon System
The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.
The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.
The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.
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