ISPR says live firing, autonomous tests show readiness as Sindh CM hails exercise as key milestone in defense
Pakistan Navy demonstrated its operational readiness and combat readiness through a comprehensive exercise in the North Arabian Sea, showcasing both conventional and unmanned capabilities.
The Pakistan Navy has carried out a comprehensive exercise in the North Arabian Sea, testing surface-to-air missiles, loitering munitions and an unmanned surface ship, the army’s media wing said on Saturday.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the drills included the successful actual firing of a LY-80(N) surface-to-air missile from a long-range vertical launch system. The missile successfully engaged and neutralized an aerial target, validating what the Navy described as the long-range capabilities of its modern air defense systems.
The exercise also included the use of loitering munitions against surface targets. These weapons, which can hover over an area before attacking, successfully destroyed targets and demonstrated the Navy’s precision strike capabilities in modern naval warfare, the ISPR said.
Furthermore, offshore tests of an unmanned surface ship were carried out in difficult conditions. The autonomous ship was tested for maneuverability, precision navigation and performance in adverse weather conditions. Testing validated the platform’s ability to combine high-speed performance with mission-critical durability, and the ISPR described it as a low-risk, high-impact system that offers “the stealth of a tactical interceptor.”
The exercise was witnessed by the Commander Pakistan Fleet and involved the employment of both conventional and unmanned systems, highlighting the Navy’s ability to operate advanced technologies in line with the evolution of naval warfare.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf said the exercises demonstrated the operational and combat readiness of the Pakistan Navy. He commended the officers and staff for their professionalism and operational competence, and reaffirmed the Navy’s resolve to ensure maritime defense of Pakistan and safeguard national maritime interests under all circumstances.
Read: Pakistan Navy successfully tests indigenous anti-ship ballistic missile
In its statement, the ISPR said the exercise showcased the “operational and combat readiness” of Pakistan Navy through a comprehensive exercise in the North Arabian Sea, displaying both conventional and unmanned capabilities, as dictated by the evolution of naval warfare.
The developments drew praise from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who described the successful test of the LY-80 missile as a major milestone for national defence.
“I congratulate Pakistan Navy, scientists and engineers for the successful test of LY-80 missile,” he said, adding that “Pakistan scientists have raised the country’s head with pride through LY-80 air defense missile system.”
He said the Navy’s professional capability and its reliance on indigenous technology was commendable and termed the LY-80 system as proof of that progress. “The Sindh government salutes the scientists and forces serving national defense,” he said.
The prime minister said the successful missile test sent a clear message to adversaries and marked an important step towards making Pakistan’s defense “impregnable”. He added that the country’s defense was in “strong hands”, that self-sufficiency in modern defense technology was an important national achievement and that “there would be no compromise on national security”.
The exercise comes as regional navies increasingly incorporate autonomous systems and long-range missiles into their maritime operations, underscoring the growing emphasis on advanced technologies in naval defense.
