Pakistan Navy test-fires surface-to-air missiles

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy today successfully test-fired several surface-to-air missiles to assess its air defence capabilities, officials said.

Three surface-to-air missile tests were carried out in Sonmiani area of Sindh province, a navy spokesman said, adding all missiles hit their targets precisely.

Naval chief Admiral Noman Bashir and Air Defence Commander Vice Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar witnessed the drill.

"The successful testing will add to the defence capability of the Pakistan Navy," Bashir said.

A combination of surface-to-air missiles was tested, the navy said in a statement.

The "fire and forget" missiles are equipped with highly sensitive infrared homing heads that can intercept high speed aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

These weapons give the navy the flexibility to operate with various missiles and strengthen the ground-based air defence, the statement said.

The area of responsibility of the navy's Air Defence Battalion stretches from Sir Creek in the east to Jiwani in the west, it added.

Officials said the induction of modern weapons and equipment will augment the navy's ground-based air defence capabilities against hi-tech aircraft and missiles.