US gifts Pakistan eight aircrafts

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Thursday, 01 September , 2005, 01:17

Islamabad: The United States has provided eight long-range maritime patrol aircraft free-of-cost to Pakistan Navy, giving a major boost to its ability to carry out long-distance surveillance as well as fire Harpoon missiles at enemy targets.

"The P-3C Orion aircraft are being provided free-of-cost by the US Navy and the expenses for modification of aircraft avionics systems will be met mostly from the US military aid," a Pakistan Navy statement said in Islamabad on Wednesday.

P-3C Orion is a long-range maritime patrol aircraft with an endurance of about 18 hours and can carry Harpoon missile.