ISPR says live firing, autonomous trials show we are ready as Sindh CM hails exercise as key defense milestone
The Pakistan Navy demonstrated its operational readiness and combat readiness through a comprehensive exercise in the North Arabian Sea, showcasing its conventional and unmanned capabilities.
The Pakistan Navy conducted a comprehensive exercise in the northern Arabian Sea, testing surface-to-air missiles, stray munitions and an unmanned surface vessel, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exercises included the successful live firing of a LY-80(N) surface-to-air missile from an extended-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 stray munitions against surface targets. These weapons, which can hover over an area before striking, have successfully destroyed targets and demonstrated the Navy’s precision strike capabilities in modern naval warfare, the ISPR said.
In addition, high seas tests of an unmanned surface vessel were carried out in difficult conditions. The autonomous craft was tested for its maneuverability, navigation accuracy and performance in bad weather. The trials validated the platform’s ability to combine high-speed performance and critical durability, with ISPR describing it as a low-risk, high-impact system offering “the stealth of a tactical interceptor.”
The exercise took place in the presence of the Commander of the Pakistan Fleet and involved the employment of conventional and unmanned systems, showcasing the Navy’s capability to exploit advanced technologies in sync with the evolving naval warfare.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf said the exercises demonstrated the operational and combat readiness of the Pakistan Navy. He commended the officers and personnel for their professionalism and operational competence, and reaffirmed the Navy’s resolve to ensure Pakistan’s seaward defense 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 demonstrated “the operational readiness and combat readiness of the Pakistan Navy through a comprehensive exercise in the North Arabian Sea, showcasing conventional and unmanned capabilities, in line with the requirements of evolving naval warfare.”
These developments drew praise from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who described the successful test of the LY-80 missile as an important milestone for national defense.
“I congratulate the Pakistan Navy, scientists and engineers for the successful test of the LY-80 missile,” he said, adding that “Pakistani scientists have raised the country’s head with pride through the LY-80 air defense missile system.”
He said the Navy’s professional capabilities and reliance on indigenous technology were commendable, calling the LY-80 system proof of such advancements. “The Sindh government salutes the scientists and forces serving national defense,” he said.
The chief minister said the successful missile test sent a clear message to adversaries and marked an important step towards “impregnable” defense of Pakistan. He added that the country’s defense was in “strong hands”, that self-reliance in modern defense technology was a major national achievement and that there would be “no compromise on national security”.
The exercise comes as regional navies increasingly integrate autonomous systems and long-range missiles into their maritime operations, underscoring the growing emphasis on advanced technologies in naval defense.
