Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf has confirmed that the navy’s aviation arm is being strengthened through the induction of Jet LRMPs (Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft), marking a major expansion in maritime surveillance capability across the northern Indian Ocean.
Speaking in an interview on March 30, Admiral Ashraf linked the move to Pakistan Navy’s broader modernization drive, which also includes new frigates, corvettes, submarines, cyber systems, artificial intelligence, and space-based integration.
The announcement is strategically significant because maritime patrol aircraft play a critical role in:
- detecting submarines
- cueing anti-ship strikes
- monitoring sea lanes
- supporting long-range reconnaissance
- sustaining deterrence before hostile forces approach the coastline
Exclusive: Admiral Naveed Ashraf speaks to Daily Mirror Sri Lanka. Highlights include:
– PN subsurface capability enhancement through induction of Hangor class submarines
– Collaborative maritime security amid Indo-Pacific tensions (1/2) pic.twitter.com/SmMytMbWMR— DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) March 30, 2026
Sea Sultan Program at the Core
The aircraft referenced are the Sea Sultan long-range maritime patrol aircraft, based on the Embraer Lineage 1000E and heavily modified for naval operations.
Pakistan selected the jet-powered platform to replace its aging Lockheed P-3C Orion fleet.
The Sea Sultan offers several advantages over traditional turboprop patrol aircraft:
- greater speed
- higher operating altitude
- improved endurance
- lower operating costs
- faster response times across the Arabian Sea
Advanced Sensors and Strike Capability
The aircraft is being integrated and modified by Leonardo S.p.A. in collaboration with Paramount Group.
According to the report, the Sea Sultan is expected to carry advanced systems including:
- AESA radar
- electro-optical sensors
- ESM / ELINT receivers
- satellite communications
- sonobuoy launchers
- torpedoes
- depth charges
- chaff / flare dispensers
This gives the aircraft a strong role in:
- anti-submarine warfare
- anti-surface warfare
- intelligence collection
- search and rescue
- over-the-horizon targeting
Strategic Role in the Arabian Sea
The Sea Sultan fleet is expected to operate primarily from PNS Mehran, the main hub of Pakistan Navy’s aviation arm.
From Karachi, the aircraft can rapidly monitor:
- the Arabian Sea
- Pakistan’s exclusive economic zone
- Gulf of Oman
- approaches to the Strait of Hormuz
These waters are among the world’s most strategically important shipping routes.
Linked to Gwadar and CPEC Security
The expansion also reflects Pakistan’s growing focus on protecting maritime trade routes linked to Gwadar Port and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
With Gwadar increasingly functioning as a major logistics node for western China, wider-area surveillance has become strategically essential.
The Sea Sultan’s range allows Pakistan Navy to monitor not only its coastline but also distant maritime approaches across the broader northern Indian Ocean.
Part of a Wider Naval Modernization Plan
Admiral Ashraf described the aircraft as part of a broader shift toward multi-domain operations.
This includes integration with:
- Type 054A/P frigate
- MILGEM corvette
- coastal anti-ship missile batteries
- unmanned systems
- cyber and AI platforms
- satellite surveillance
The Sea Sultan effectively serves as the aerial sensor layer of Pakistan’s future maritime architecture.
Balancing India’s P-8I Advantage
Regionally, the program is likely to be viewed as an effort to narrow the surveillance gap with India.
India already operates the Boeing P-8I Poseidon, one of the most capable maritime patrol aircraft in the Indo-Pacific.
While the Sea Sultan may not match the P-8I’s size and payload, Pakistan appears focused on reducing the intelligence and targeting gap through technology upgrades.
Program Cost and Long-Term Vision
No official cost figure has been disclosed.
However, the report notes that comparable business-jet maritime conversions typically cost between $150 million and $250 million per aircraft.
With a long-term requirement of up to 10 aircraft, the full program could approach $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion.
By 2030, the Sea Sultan could become the backbone of Pakistan Navy’s airborne surveillance posture in the Indian Ocean.
